POLITICAL NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 June 1924, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE PARTY POSITION. UNEVENTFUL CAUCUS MEETINGS. (By Telegraph.—-Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, June 27. The three parties have had their private meetings which, according to reports, have not reflected some of the highly interesting developments in the country prior to the session. For instance, Mr. Dickson, member for Parnell, who iso plainly stated in press interviews the Government’s inability to survive the session, continues to act as senior Government Whip, doing his best to maintain the majority of three, and it is the general impression that if the Premier sustains his full supply of tact there will be no worse hazard's for the Ministerialists during the session. The absence of Mr. Rolleston memebr for Timaru, from the Government caucus is- the most talked of event to-day. Members are allowed to draw their own conclusions, for Mr Rolleston, though a political tyro, can keep his own counsel, and nobody has heen able definitely to ascertain whether his action was significant It may be another instance of the recent remarkable developments which prompts certain members whose party allegiance is not questioned to decline attendance at a caucus. Mr. Harris (M a item at a). Mr. Potter (Roskill) and Sir John Luke (Wellington North) are said to be among the number who do not attend the Government caucuses. Wit+v Independents. Messrs Witty, Bell and Poland, who have their own though no party organisaSJ Mr - I f tt , whose position a s a on SU f? rter °/ , the Government on a no-confidence, if the alternative to Reform means that Labour will be in a position to dictate, has resulted in hit decision not to attend the Liberal meet! mgs though he maintains sw Liberal principles.

PUBLIC SERVANTS. SALARIES AND HOURS. SPEECH BY MR. HAWKEN. (By Telegraph.— Special to Star.-* WELLINGTON, June 27. ine House of Representatives spent a considerable time in discussing public servants’ salaries and hours. Mr. ooliand moved a motion recommending the Government to reinstate the salaries under £SOO to the 1914 level measured in purchasing power, and the retention of the 44-hour~ week. When vr had rT bee , n discussed for several hours Mr Hawken (Egmont) made a brief contribution to the debate, to point out that nobody had so far said anything about the people who paid for all of it. Why, he asked, should a dairvman who worked 70 hours weekly he called on to pay higher wages to civil servants than he could earn himself. The dairy farmer s hours were longer and his'work harder, and every increase to the miblio servants came out of the pockets of this class. When income tax was dethem it was found that out of 80,000 farmers only 4000 could Day their income tiix. In most cases they were only earning from £350 to £SOO, and only one in twenty had a salary more than a public servant. It was like an auction with two vigorous bidders using other neople’s money WRARIRIKI ROAD. ' Forrigan asked the Minister for Works whether, in view of the present impassable state of Whnviriki Road Moeawatea Valley, he will issue instructions that ensure the immediate reopening of this road to enable settlers to get stock into and out of their holdings.