POLITICAL NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 November 1918, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

TELEGRAMS

INQUIRIES’ AND ANSWERS. IBy Electric XeiegrapH—byeolaa to "Btar. 'J WELLINGTON, October 31. Sir James Allen made a brief statement in the House respecting regulations concerning the payment of railway fees for soldiers on weekend leave from military camps. The position was that thp men had received a concession ticket for which they paid respectively 1/- from Trontham and 1/6 from Featheiston, the Defence Department paying the balance. .

A somewhat unusual petition was presented to the House yesterday Uy Mr. Lee on behalf of the widow and other ■■. relatives of Mr. Burk who was murdered by Mayhew, a returned soldier, near Oamaru early this year. The petitioners seek compensation from the Defence Department on account of supplying Mayhew,. who after the tragedy was found-dead, with a rifle. In view of the Government’s decision I to grant £589,000 for increases in salaries of civil servants, point is given to a question without previous notice by Mr. Yeitch, who asked the Defence Minister if it was intended this year to increase allowances to soldiers and dependants.

In the midst of the formal business of the House yesterday afternoon, Mr. Massey expressed the desire of the Government to adjourn till 7.30 in order to enable the Cabinet to overtake arrears in important work which had been delayed owing to numerous deputations to Ministers. The House prompt! v a arced and there was an adjournment from 3 o’clock.

Some critical interest was shown hv members in the House about the exchange of land between the Education and the Prisons Departments, the exchange affecting Te Oronga Home at Christchurch, and a technical school site in Wellington. After hearing the Ministerial statement, members voiced general disapproval Avhen Mr. Wilford explained that the Prisons Department had given- the site with the object of turning it into a place of detention for young girls v-ho came before the Court for the first time, in order to save them from the contaminating influence of older and hardened offenders. Legislation would be necessary this session to enable the exchange which was regardedl by all members in the Cabinet as an excellent suggestion.