POLITICAL NOTES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 3 September 1919, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES

NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE OF THE WAR INDEMNITY. ■

(ByTelegraph—Special to Star.) ;: 'WELLINGTON, Sep. 2. Speaking in the House, Mr Massey said New. Zealand's share of the reparation would probably be based on the pensions paid.to soldiers and dependents owing- to tike war. He added;"l would make' a guess and say our payment -will not be less than £10,000,000.'' This mil under* peace terms, b<» spread: over a, period of thirty years at 5 per cent. Our. liabilities for pensions is about £2.(HX>,000: per annum, which capitalised, would amount, to something like £25,000,000, so that by getting £10,----000,000. we get something less than half of the pension liability, extending, of course, over a longtime. V ; TEIIEITORIAL TRAINING. V

Opportunity was given when the Defence report was .tabled, to question Sir j,. Allen on several matter, including future Territorial training, and the empioynient of officers. Vacancies in the permanent > force would be filled from the Expeditionary Force, and the re-, mainder of the officers would go into reserve. Candidates, for permanent positions would be. required to enter camp for a course of training to ascertain who was most suitable for the work in view. As for the "future..of Territorial training, it was inopportune to deal with this until the proposals were brought forward, but there,is no Intention to make any change in; Territorial training until July, 19'J0. THE COALITION AGAIN. IDoubtless, in a whimsical: vein, Mr Fraser has tabled a question to the Premier suggesting that as Sir J. Ward had annoimced his ■ ability- to provide workers with dwellings at a cost to the i tenants of 10s 6d weekly, and to spend £4,000,000 on the scheme, would the Government, this session, embody such a. scheme in legislation and addedj will he be prepared, to seek Sir J. Ward's advice and assistance in ' dealing with such an urgently needed and long overdue measure?

SIDELIGHTS

I' While Mr Massey was explaining" "th© j terms of the Nauru Island mandate to day, Mr Wilford interjected: Was Sir Joseph Ward consulted? •Sir Joseph Ward: I want to say that I know nothing of this matter. I was not consulted. Mr Massey: I take all responsibility. Sir J. Ward: But I have responsibility, too. . •; Mr Massey: Yes; the honorable gentleman wants me to say what took place at the first meeting it was discussed. Sir J. Ward: Yes, I should like it to. be fully published. ,

Mr Massey: Well, I am not going to take part in any schoolboy quarrel. Sir J. Ward: I think any reference to myself should ibe fully stated. Mr Massey: Wellj the honorable gentleman was present when the matter was discussed, and Mr Lloyd George refused to take the responsibility, and handed the matter over to Lord Milner. Sir J. Ward: I was present at the meeting. It was an informal meeting. I am not disputing that Mr Massey wa s doing his best for New Zealand, but I was not at the meeting when the Nauru agreement was reached. T don't know the conditions of the Naiiru agreement now. Diveetly or indirectly I was not consulted. Until I know whatit is, • naturally I cannot take any responsibility. . T Mr Massey: The honorable gentleman was not in Paris at the time. , Sir J. Ward: It was long before I

went away from Paris, a nd the honoraole gentleman knows it.

; BUTTER EQUALISATION FUND. It looks certain that the butter producers will succeed in getting from Parliament substantial ?elief f£T the T^ii^^l Pr<*Ws alone I™™ f^. *<> bear the burden of the tiee on board. The Premier is arranging <>, conference with representatives %£ lvfa?ol ea?if r f + ? c OPP^tion evidenirelie/ ?J ? P^^oers obtaining ZfL wV- a3° course of liis speech mg with the cost of living he said means must bo secured to ensure S cnarge would be impossible. "While we «^nted our producers, to get thfli^n iiSitiS! we should' pay >£IOG,OOO; o r l^ooSl and ci\4