POLITICAL POINTS

Evening Star, Issue 18033, 29 July 1922, Page 3

POLITICAL POINTS

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON; July 28. NAVAL DEFENCE. A short amendment of tha 1 Naval Defence Act, introduced -by the Minister of ' Defence, deals with the control of naval l forces in New Zealand. It enables the I Governor-General to delegate to tihe Minister of Defence or any officer of the naval forces his powers under the principal Act; also to make regulations authorising the discharge of officers and men during the period of service, generally prescribing rates, pay, and terms of enlistment. Power is given to issue warrants of appointment, as well as commissions. The former provision that uo enlistment shall lie for a less period than two years is to bo deleted. 1 » v * a | NEGLIGENT MOTORISTS. The motor hog was mentioned again in Parliament to-day, when Mr Witty asked 1 the Minister of Justice to suspend the : license of drivers of motor vehicles who 1 wade the law consistently. Some drivers of motor vehicles, he mentioned, had been fined) a dozen times for excessive driving, hut seemed) to rejoice in it. They would be penalised! much more, ho contended, by taking away their right to drive for some time. The Hon. E. P. Lee replied that he recognised the importance of those who drove motor cars taking precautions in the interest of the public. Considering the great number of people who drove care, ho thought the majority drove carefully. There were some, however, who wore careless, and; in the public interest they should be restrained. He would take the suggestion into consideration, * * # * PENSIONS LIABILITIES. It is shown in the annual report of the Pensions Department that the annual value of pensions in force in March, 1923, Is £2,694,618. Payments annually equal £2 4s 9d poi- head of the European population. This shows a decrease in the gross amount of £3.64,703 compared) with the previous year. The work c,f the War Pensions Appeal Board is shown only in a tabular statement. It heard 596 appeals, dismissing 324 and! upholding twenty-five, while in twenty-nine oases the board reduced pensions. It cancelled' fourteen pensions and made four permanent.