POLITICAL POINTS

Evening Star, Issue 18032, 28 July 1922, Page 3

POLITICAL POINTS

[From Ota Parliamentary Pvepobteh.] WELLINGTON, July 27. SOLDIERS AND HOUSES. Housing legislation in its relation to soldier tenants was mentioned in Parliament again this afternoon, when Mr Mitchell asked if anything definite had been decidodt “This matter was brought under my notice about two weeks ago by a deputation from the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and they went away leaving me under the impression that they; would appeal against the judge’s decision,” replied the Hon.. G. J. Anderson (Minister of Labor). He doubted if returned soldiers had benefited from the original legislation, as he bad been informed that a number of people will not let their houses to returned men because of the difficulty in regaining possession. The trouble, arising out of Mr Justice Salmond’s decision, was partly over a shop. Legislation of last session was not intended to apply to shops. The Government had not yet decided what it would do. The law expired at the end of the year, and the Government would consider whether it would be continued anv longer or not. Mr Mitchell: In the meantime men are getting ejected. The Minister: Well, we can’t help that. Are they in shops? Mr Mitchell; No. The Minister: Well, they are in the same position as civilians. •» » * » AMUSEMENT TAN EXEMPTIONS. The exemption of agricultural shows from the amusement tax has led various sports associations to press for a similar concession, and to-day Mr (Mackenzie asked the Prime Minister if boxing, cricket, football, and other athletic games could be exempted. Mr Massey replied that any suck change could only bo made by legislation. What he had in his mind when stating that agricultural shows would be exempted was that anything that had an educative purpose should be exempt. The matter mentioned by Mr Mackenzie came under quite a. different heading, but it would be taken into consideration before legislation came down. * » * * HOSPITAL BOARDS’ LOSS. A question from (Mr J. R. Hamilton to the Minister of Health resulted in confirmation of the report that the license fees of land agents formerly paid to hospital boards will now go to the Consolidated Revenue. The Minister said that when the matter was decided by Cabinet he could not resist the argument that these fees were national, and should be paid, as were other national fees, into the general fund of the dominion. » # # * COMPULSORY VOTING.—PRIME MINISTER SYMPATHETIC. There was an indication in the House this afternoon that the time is coming when every person on the electoral roll will have to avail his or herself of the right of the franchise. Mr Potter brought the matter up by asking Mr (Massey if he would introduce legislation to make voting compulsory, and also to make compulsory notification of the change of address. The latter would mean cleansing of the rolls—a_ thing that had not been done for a long time prior. The Prime Minister replied that the matter of _ compulsory registration was under consideration of the Electoral Department, and he expected to have a report shortly. Personally he had a good deal of sympathy with the suggestion. He thought we should cleanse the” rolls to commence with, and then that every person entitled to vote should have his or her name on the roll, and having got it there should record a vote. The department was somewhat doubtful whether it was possible to have legislation making these changes in time to take effect at the com-, ing election.

* * * * CHEAP NATURALISATION. A complaint from the Danish Consul against a New Zealand £lO charge for naturalisation was mentioned in the House by. Dr Thacker with the object of securing a reduction. The Minister of Internal Affairs described the fee as very small compared with what other countries considered was a fair charge for the privilege of naturalisation. On this being noted, the department had decided to make an increase, but if this « entailed' hardship _ he would look into the law to ascertain if a reduction were possible in such cases. * * * * SOLDIERS’ LANDS—SELECTING THE BOARDS. The representation of returned soldiers’ associations on special boards to investigate the position of soldier settlements was suggested in a question by Mr Wilford to-day. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie replied that in some districts where soldier settlers were not numerous there would be no need to appoint more than - one man to report; in other districts there would be two. A member of these spc : al boards would report to the land board of the district, which would refer the recommendations to the Central Advisory Committee. He was not going to say that land vendors, purchasers, or tenants should have representation, for he wished to make these selections possible of those not interested, Returned soldiers would have the opportunity of giving evidence before these boards.

* « « * LOAN ON A SCOW—LABOR DEPARTMEATS VENTURE. The recent criticism of the Labor Department by the member for Wanganui for lending £3,600 on the auxiliary ‘scow Coronation, was the subject of a statement by the Minister of Labor to-day. He referred to the difficulty which faced- the de. partment’s housing branch in securing material or transport for it. During the height of the demand for houses it was brought to their notice that a large quantity of timber lay at Golden Bay, Nelson, but there _ was no shipping available to transport it. A .company was formed to purchase the scow Coronation, which was suitable for altering for this harbor. The owners and the Westhaven Timber Company, which, comprised the same people, made a proposal to the department for a loan of £3,500 towards the purchase and the commissioning of the vessel, security being a first mortgage over the vessel arid an undertaking to insure for £3,500. A further consideration was the company’s undertaking to supply 70 per cent, of its timber output to the department, also to hand over at a price fixed by the Board of Trade 140,000 ft of fully-seasoned timber then lying at Westhaven. Official reports showed that the vessel would be in firstclass condition at the time and worth £5,000. When the period of loan expired in ■ September last the Government called up the money, but the company was not in a position to repay. The’ Government foreclosed, the vessel was taken ever at Whakatane, and on the ■ un south met with heavy weather, with the result that her masts were strained and leaks developed above the water-line- She was repaired, brought to Wellington, and submitted for sale by auction but did not bring the reserve. The Minister declared that any unbiased critic who realised the tonditions at the time the advance was made would admit that the Government did the right tiling under the circumstances. * * * * ■ COAL ROYALTIES. Voicing a Westport complaint regarding a shilling per ton royalty charged by the State on coal mined on its reserves, Mr Holland urged the MinisljjjJ of Mines to reduce the amount so as to encourage further development. The Hon. 6. J. Anderson declined to consider the request, stating that he was satisfied that the amount was not too large. He knew of a case were a lessee who would have been charged one shilling Belling the lease to a company with a provision that he should receive two shiljihgs

royalty, as well ns goodwill. This kind] of thing occurred often; on the .'West) Coast, and he maintained that the State j should have some of this royalty. He was j trying to make the Mines Department pay its way, and waa succeeding very j well eo far. I **» * | LEASING THE HERMITAGE. ,<■ | Concern was shown by Mr Burnett in a question to the Minister of Tourist Resorts to-day over the possibility of valuable bush and scenic assets in alpine country being deprived of the protection now given them by the Tourist Department. If it succeeds in leasing Mount Cook Hermitage to a private individual, as it is proposed, he asked the Minister what precaution would be taken to see that the ’ lessees provided adequate protection. 1 The Hon. W. Ncsworthy replied Uiat 1 every precaution would be taken if*he department succeeded in leasing the Hermitage and the scenic reserves adjoining. » » » # JUGGLING WITH INCREMENTS. The member for Wellington Central ■ suggested in the House that the Railway i Department, is interfering with statutory increments in order to rectify an anomaly created by last season’s retrenchment Act. Increases, he said, were paid on a flat rate of a shilling per day, but deduction in the same cases amounted to Is 4d. and the department was juggling with the scale of increments shown in the Classification Act-. “ The department is not juggling with ( tho position,” replied the Hon. I). H. | Guthrie, who assured the House that the i men were being dealt- with justly. If a | specific complaint was made he would have ( , it investigated. * # # *

REPAPvOA PASTURE.—PLOUGHING OUT DANTHONIA. “Reparoa is" one of the most catisfactory of tho soldier settlements; it is absolutely good land, bought at a cheap rate,” was the reply of the Minister of Lands, when Mr Wilford subtly drew attention to a recent report of tho Agricultural Department. This was mado as the outcome of a rumor that cattle were suffering trom an epidemic of bush sickness, but which experts found to be occasioned by malnutrition. Mr Guthrie said that an expert _from the Agricultural‘Department made investigation., and reported as stated. The Minister added that the soldiers on ono estate were all satisfied. Trouble arose from the fact that when owned by Messrs Watt and Stead tho higher ground was used for depasturing sheep. Mr Witty: And soldiers are trying to feed cattle on it. The Minister admitted that this portion -—four sections in all—was unfit, as it was at present in danthonia; but the Government had let a tender for reploughing and sowing in proper grass. Mr Wilford : Is that tho pumice ground? Mr Guthrie; No; it is high ground on the edge of tho swamp.

# * » « DEFECT IN PASSPORT SYSTEM. Elizabeth Madden, of Christchurch, has petitioned through. Mr Isitt praying for compassionate allowance. Her husband had been ordered by the Magistrate’s Court to pay 30s . weekly towards her maintenance, but ho had left New Zealand, and was a resident at Punta Arenas, Chile. Petitioner had reason to believe that a passport had been issued to her husband, enabling him to leave tho dominion without proper official inquiries having been made. She has seven children under the age of sixteen depending on her for maintenance.