POLITICAL NOTES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10412, 20 October 1927, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES

ANSWERS BY MINISTERS

P. AND T. OVERTIME

(Special to tho Times.) WELLINGTON, Get. 19. lu reply to a question to-day the Hon. Air Nosworthy, stated . that ail the- officers : of the .Rost . and Toler graph Department are now granted time off.in lieu:of a cash;payment for overtime worked. It has been the practicp in the past to pay overtime for duty performed on Sundays and on Departmental holidays - , and also for duty performed in excess, of forty-four hours a week. Owing to tho_ falling-off in the department’s business the present. staff was not fully occupied, and in order to obviate-- the ' necessity of retrenching any 'members of the staff, some profitable avenue of employment had to be found by granting time off to officers_ in lieu of a cash payment for Overtime, the surplus officers can be employed profitably. The question of reinstituting the cash payment for overtime will be reviewed when the position improves. POLICEMEN AND CHURCH. In answer to Air Howard’s question Whether, It. is.. a„.,faet . that-constables ■in' charge of sub-stations have been deprived of their one Sunday a month leave, and are not even allowed time off to attend church, the Hon. Air Rolleston replied that the officers and non-commissioned officers of the force are required to do all they can to facilitate the attendance of the men under their command at tiieir respective places of worship on fc unday, arid to grant Sunday leave to the day duty men whenever l.iey can be spared. No complaint of non-ob-servance of the iwulacioas in tils connection lias been, made jo the Department by any member of the force. “CHARRING” BY THE DAY. . • The Hon. Sir Maui, Romare (acting Minister of Internal Affairs) said-to-day that it is not the practice- to call for tenders from charwomen for the work of cleaning the Government buildings, the rule being to pay these women a reasonable Specified rate per diem, based on the value of the work performed. LIBERATION OF OPOSSUMS. The liberation of approved breeds off opossums in remote country districts vrill receive further consideration, sa^s-the' Commissioner of State Forests,«the Hon. Mi- Hawken.

•BURSARIES FOR BET. STUDENTS Replying to Mr Kyle’s question as to' the advisability of giving bursaries .tty suitable ( young nieh.to enable them to undertake training in veterinary science at one of the Australian -veterinary colleges, the Hon. Mr Hnwken stated to-day that the matter is under -consideration at present. NATIVE LAND COURT DECISIONS (Press Association.) • Further ■ answers, by Ministers to questions' by; members of the House were:— v F' . <■ q-h a t inquiries are being made as to whether the right of appeal agauiet .thc decisions of the Native Land Court should be reinstated. SHIPPING NEWS AT P.O.’S. ' That it is; correct that the, exhibition of/shipping'news'at of{ices has been discontinued. Tins service was costing the .Host and Telegraph. Department £SOOO per annum. The question of? reinstatement is, however, receiving consideration of the Government. That tbc question of . making...some provision tpr ’the families of persons totally and permanently incapacitated is J receiving consideration by the Government at the present time. ' v V• ■ / : M.V.A. REGULATIONS. That the regulations under .j. the, Vehicles/.-Act*.; are?: at present Uiider ,preparation, and ■it is anticipated /that.-they wilFlie issued -in /{jyiftdjbrm' for 7 public . consideration Jtieforo the end- of tlie( :bgulatioh s cover inspection, '- control and condition of ntqtor vehicles, 'and should result in the reduction iif the number of motor accidents.— KA;'V, ; / •;:'/ -o/o.