POLITICAL POINTS

Evening Star, Issue 20309, 18 October 1929, Page 13

POLITICAL POINTS

SUNDAY AEROPLANE TRIPS (Froic Ou* Paruamehiaei Eepoetze.] WELLINGTON, October 17. Tho prosecution of an aviator for conducting joy flights on Sundays prompted Air Smith (New Plymouth) to ask tho Alinister of Justice whether he will so amend the Police Offences Act as to include in tho definition of ‘‘ carriage ’’ in that Act the word “aeroplane.” Air Wilford (Alinister of Justice) replied that the opinion of the SolicitorGeneral is being obtained in reference to the necessity for an alteration of the law. * • a » SEVENTH STANDARDS UNNECESSARY. A suggestion from the member for Riccarton that tho Alinister of Education should provide a seventh standard syllabus suitable for all schools and mor© staffing accommodation and equipment in connection with our primary schools has been answered by the Alinister with the reminder that the question of tho reorganisation of the public school system has been referred to a Select Committee in order that the Government may secure tho views of every section in the community interested in tho matter. “It has always,” says Air Atmore, “ been possible for country schools to have a seventh standard, but it is not desirable that this class should be established in localities where pupils can readily attend a post-primary school, such as a secondary or technical school.” ♦ * * * IMPROVEMENT IN SEEDS. Answering a request by- Air Poison (Stratford), who referred to serious losses through inferior seeds, Air Forbes (Alinister of Agriculture) stated that the advantage_ to the farming community of legislation aimed at the securing of pure seed supplies is recognised, but it is doubtful whether a Pure Seeds Bill can be brought down this session. Air Forbes added that as the result of the efforts of the department, in co-operation with seed merchants, imported seeds are now of better quality than previously. * » * * MOTOR FOOLS. “Nob one motorist in ten thousand stops to look 'and listen for the engine at level crossings,” declared Air D. AUDongali (Alataura), when ho told tho House of Representatives that it was no use asking local bodies to spend large sums of money in erecting warning notices. Alotorists, ho said, took not the slightest notice of them. “ Down in the south pars have been known to give the train a broadsider fourteen trucks back from the engine, and if they are going to try to jump through a train of trucks, what is the use of putting up notices. They don’t always stop even when a train is approaching. Sometimes they bolt across, and in some cases they throw nasty signs back to the driver and fireman if they say anything by way of reproof.” Mr AUDougall thought it would be a good idea to have tho engine driver and fireman take tho numbers of otfending motorists, so that the department could prosecute. “To ask local bodies to protect a lot of fools dashing along a highway is mort unfortunate, and the ratepayers have no right to find the money.” Air Nash: They haven’t killed you yet. Air M‘Dongall said he looked out for that, but some motorists would simply glory in killing people. In front of bis home there was a warning notice, ‘ Drive slow here, school.’ Very few took any notice of it. They just dashed by, and sometimes rounded the corner on two wheels. Such people thought they were the kings of the road. It was time this system of putting up notices was cut out altogether, and motorists were compelled to protect themselves in some little way. Air AUDougall had tabled a question protesting against local bodies being forced to spend largo sums on rail crossing signals. Tho answer of the Alinister of Transport was that the Railway Department has borne the whole of the cost of erecting compulsory stop signs at railway crossings. _ After the session it is proposed to review all of the motor regulations, including those relating to road signs generally. * * * * GOLD SHIPMENTS FROM NEW ZEALAND, Tho shipment of gold away from New Zealand will have no effect whatever ou the local bank rate, states Sir Joseph Ward, Finance Alinister, in reply to a member’s question. The gold standard is the basis of the dominion’s monetary system. Although in practice it operates largely through the sterling exchange, under present conditions the volume of credit in New Zealand has no direct relation to the amount of gold held, and the exporting of part of the stock of gold will not lessen the credit available. Bank notes are legal tender in New Zealand at present, and gold is only required for exchange purposes ; and it was in support of our exchanges that a shipment of gold was recently sent abroad. * * » CENSORING THE TALKIES. Aluch controversy has been _ raging lately about the effect of talkie films on the purity of English speech. Apart from this question there arises the difficulty about the censoring of sound pictures, seeing that no suitable equipment is available at the studio of the censor of films. An amount of £4,000 will lie needed to cover the cost of installing suitable equipment at the censor’s office and making the necessary alterations. At tho present time the censoring of talking films has to be done at tho various theatres equipped with sound production apparatus. It is stated that this arrangement is satisfactory to the interests concerned, especially in view of the apparent unsettled conditions of tho talkie industry, in which developments are expected in tho near future. For this reason, it is considered that no expenditure in providing special premises and equipment for the censoring of talkies would be warranted. The Minister 1 of Internal Affairs (Mr de la Perrelle) stated that the question of making provision for the installation of equipment for the censorship of talkie films had not yet been dealt with by Cabinet, to ■which the matter had been referred.