NEW ZEALAND POLITICS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 261, 8 October 1912, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS.

j MAORI WAR VETERANS, j LIBERAL PENSIONS SCHEME. • [by telegraph —SPEClAL.] Wellington. (Jet. 8. j To-day the Hon. F. M. B. l isher ‘will introduce the Governments I Military Pensions Bill in the House. i In the new measure the Act of last rear which gave the holders of the New Zealand war medal the right to receive old age pensions under ! the title of military pensions, is repealed. It is now proposed to grant to all holders of the New Zealand war medal a liberal pension, much . larger than the old age pension, but ’ no man will be allowed to hold both a 1 military and an old age pension. The bill is a tardy recognition of the ser- ' vices of our old soldiers, and will do i away with a long-standing griev- ; ance.

ELECTIONEERING CHARGES. DOMINION’S” APOLOGY TO MR. T. E. Y. SEDDON. Wellington, Oct. 8. The following editorial appeared in this morning’s “Dominion” :—“W e regret to find that injustice was done to the member for YV estland (Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon) by the re-publication in cur issue of September 14th of an article from the “West Coast Times.” The article in question, which was headed "Electioneering at the State’s Expense” was accompanied by a block being a facsimile of a “received service telegram and purporting to bear the signatupre of Thomas Seddon.” This article imputed that Mr. Seddon had improperly sent a message as “service” or free telegram, but we have now learned this imputation had no foundation ; itr fact, the telegram actually dispatched by Air. Seddon was paid for by him. as an ordinary telegram to Messrs. Fergusons, and its repetition as a “service” or free telegram to stations beyond Fergusons,'was without Mr. Seddon’s authority 7 or knowledge. YVe candidly admit that injustice has been done to Mr. Seddon and we therefore record our regret that we gave publicity in our columns to an unjustifiable attack on him.

STAND OR FALL BY HIS POLICY. [BY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL.] Wellington, Oct. 8. Mr. Massey, interviewed, stated that the Government would stand or fall by their policy proposals, and reform of the Legislative Council was one. JOSHUA JONES’ PETITION. PETITIONER SETS OUT HIS CASE.

Wellington, Oct. 8. The Joint Committee, representing both Houses of Parliament, appointed to inquire into the petition of Mr. Joshua Jones, met to-day. The order of reference requires the Committee to enquire whether the petitioner lias suffered any loss of any right conferred upon him by the Statute Book, or under the provisions of any deeds of least- by reason of any amendment of the Statute law of New Zealand, or any' matter or thing done or committed by the Government of New Zealand. (This, of course, refers to the Mokau lands).

A letter was read from Mr. Jones i renewing his application to be represented by counsel at the State = expense. The Committee decided I that no further recommendation be I made to the House. Mr. Jones I said in that case he would have to Ido the best he could, but it would be a poor job. for the case was a complicated one. The petitioner, in a written statement set out his case, which included the request for a special Act of Parliament empowering a trial of action on the grounds that the English Court, with full knowledge of the law, had made an order fcr the trial to be heard on its merits, but doubted the jurisdiction being in New Zealand, and the English Court, on the same grounds, threw the case out on its merits. The petition also asks that Government arrange to take over the property, and then arrange to compensate petitioner, either in land or minerals, as had been agreed to in 1910. or in money due. Other circumstances were also set out.