POLITICAL POINTS

Evening Star, Issue 18054, 23 August 1922, Page 7

POLITICAL POINTS

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter-]

WELLINGTON', August 22, GOVERNMENT AEROPLANES.

The Minister of Defence was asked by Mr Wiiford to-day what has become of the aeroplanes given to the New Zealand Government by the Imperial authorities; whether the Tiraarn company holds them, and 1 on what terms? . Sir Heaton Rhodes denied that the Timam company held all these planes; they were distributed among three companies. Had ho been given notice of the question he could have provided the House with full details of the allocation and

» ft # » SCHOOL SITES.

“ I am unable to find money, except for school sites or extensions which are immediately needed,” explained the Minister of Education in answey to a suggestion from Mr Smith (Taranaki) that he should take advantage of the opportunities now offering to purchase sites and extra areas at very reasonable prices. The Minister admitted that occasionally there were cases where land whichAvould bo needed in a few years was offered on good terms, but under present conditions he could (A nothing more than meet immediate needs.

# ft « ft .LADIES’ CARRIAGES.

When an apprehensive member asked the Minister of Railways if he intends taking the special carriage for ladies off the Wellington-Auckland express as another measure of economy, ho was told to-day that, on the contrary,_ the department is considering placing similar facilities on the Napier and New Plymouth expresses.

» # ft ft POWER BOARD FORMATION.

ALLEGED UNDEMOCRATIC SYSTEM. “Why should 25 per .cent, of the'ratepayers dominate the position?” asked Mr Craigie of the Minister of Works, when raising the question of the method under which power boards are constituted on a petition of 25 per cent, of the ratepayers m a district. The Timam Borough Council, which objected to the Power Board, bad had its 'hands forced by a minority of ratepayers, and he wished to see this undemocratic provision removed from the statute.

The Minister of Works replied that the Power Boards Act, which was on the lines of the Light Railways Act, was on its trial. Some of the boards had made & good- deal of headway, and he was proposing to hokl a conference of all hoards, and when those preliminary steps for formation were well advanced this point could be considered. Ho would, take no action as suggested until the conference had advised him on the subject.

» # « * POLICY SPEECHES.

The LLberal Leader had a gentle gibe at the Prime Minister f#r his selection of the towns from which to distribute bis statements of policy. He had spoken at To Puke, Whangarei, and Fair lie, and now his latest announcements came from Foxton. Mr Wiiford suggested that Mr Massey might try a large town, but he remembered that the experiment was made with Christchurch. Mr Massey had a hot time, and perhaps that accounted for his partiality for small places for policy speeches. The Hon. G. J. Anderson, who made the Ministerial rejoinder, declared that the Prime Minister had at any rate faced his Christchurch audience, despite his bad reception. In this connection? Mr Anderson said he had been told that the Mayor of Christchurch did not exercise that authority he might have shown to secure a fair hearing for the Prime Minister, who was interrupted by what were called locally the Red Feds. Mr Howard: Returned soldiers.

Mr Anderson: No; the men who were prepared to put in a Soviet and be led by a dictator. '

ft ft # ft ANOTHER STATE MINE

lb w-as announced by the -Minister of Mines to might that the Government expected shortly to see the large coal area m Dobson Flats, near Greymouth, in full working order. From tests that had been made, a very large area indeed had been discovered. Mr Anderson added that a change had been made in the policy of the Geological Department. In future it was intended to send an officer wherever be was required by the mining people, instead of allocating them to certain districts. As far as possible it was the desire to meet the wishes of the mining people. * •» * » » WOMEN INSPECTORS.

A suggestion to extendi tho scope of women °teasiigrs’ work was made by Dr Newman in a question to the Minister this afternoon. He said there were capable women in tho teaching profession who for many years have given proof of their ability, and he asked whether it was the intention to appoint any _of these women teachers as inspectors for junior high schools.