POLITICAL NOTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1920, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES

MOTOR TRAFFIC

Two questions affecting- motor traffic were asked in the House of Representatives on Friday. Mr A tin ore (Nelson) drew attention to a complaint made by a hospital doctor in Christchurch that many accidents were caused by reckless motorists, who sometimes did not pause to attend to their victims. Mr Massey said the doctor was quite right. lf l am strongly of opinion," said the Prime Ministor, "that some drastic action will have to be taken by the Government to check the unscrupulous behaviour of many of the motorcar drivers." (Hear, hear).

Mr G. Forbes (Hunmui) asked what the Government proposed to do about the tyre tax. Would people who were interested have a a opportunity to give evidence in connection with the Bill promised bv the Government ?

Mr Massey replied that Cabinet had decided that legislation should be introduced during the present session. He would be g'lad to have opinions from all quarters on the subject.

RAILWAYMEN'S WATCHES. T r p to a short time ago N°w Zealnnd railway-men were nblo, throno-]i fj le intervention of the A.S.R.S., to obtain Omega watches at a price very much lower than they could have done h' 7 dealing* in the ordinary wav. The society, bv ordering' n lar<re number of watches at once, was able to deal on advantageous terms and retail the timepieces vt oxiite a moderate rate. Now. i + appears, the company has advi«ed the society that it has appointed an exclusive New Zealand agent, and that such agent may not deal with any but established watchmakers and iewellers. These matters are set forth in a Parliamentary petition in which the Society complains that the company is "an organisation in restraint of tmde." and xiyges that steps be +"ke'i to exclude its watches from the Dominion. The petition was presented to the House. RAILWAY RATES.

The increases in railway fares and freights are now so near that members of the House are beginiug to show interest in them. Two questions were addressed to Mr Massey about the new schedule. Mr Atmore asked when the new scale would come into operation, and by what percentage the present rates would be increased. Mr Massey said that the scale of new charges was at present under the consideration of the Department. He had been given to understand that probably the increased rates would be brought, into operation at the beginning of next week, but he did not now think that this could be done. He was not able to tell the honourable member by what percentage the present rates would be increased, because the officers of the Department were not making their increases by a uniform advance on all rates. There were some commodities which had for a long time been carried on the railways at a low rate, and these might have to b; considerably increased, but in the case of other commodities on which the rates had been payable the increases would not ,be so heavy. Mr It. A. Wright, asked the Minister whether, in readjusting the railway fares, he would favorably consider the position of the suburban travellers who were re-gulars-customers of the railways. Mr Massey: All that I can do is to promise the honourable gentleman that the class of passengers in whom he is interested will not be called upon for any larger increase than any other class.

INSURANCE INQUIRY. Mr T- M. Wilford (Hutt) asked a question in the House of RepresontativeSj. if, in the event of the appointment of a stipendiary magistrate to inquire into the industrial insurance business of the Dominion, the Government would include in the order of reference an instruction for special inquiry into the methods of those industrial associations or companies which, (a) divide their profits among their policyholders, and (b) divide their profits among their shareholders. "I have to state that the Government is awaiting full information regarling the whole matter, including the question of whether the Life Insurance Act, 1908, so far as the Act relates to insurances by parents on the lives of children, should be amended," replied the Hon. J. G. Coates. "The. Government will, at the time it considers the question of amendment of the Act referred to, also consider the question of whether a stipendiary magistrate should b-i appointed to inquire into the various questions raised by the honourable member. I hope to give the honourable member definite answers at an early date, and in the meantime I can assure bun that the necessary "information is being srot together as rapidly as possible in order to enable the Government to arrive at a decision." !