POLITICAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17230, 26 July 1916, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

[Fkom Our Correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, July 25

HEATING IN FACTORIES. In reply to a question from Mr Walker to-day, the Prime Minister said that he had received soveral communications, especially from Dunediu, on the subject of inserting similar provision in the Factories Act regarding heating appliances in the winter months as existed in the Shops and Offices Act. He bad instructed the head of the Labour Department to prepare a report on the subject, and in the course of a few days he would be able to say what the Government intended to do in the matter. MORE BILLS. Notice of intention to introduce two Government Bilk was.given to-day, the Hon G. W. Russell giving notice of a Bill providing for the censorship of kinematograph films and the Hon W.V. S. MacDonald of the Orchard lax Bill. LOWEST SALARY PROPOSITION. \ strong protest was made by Mr Witty in the House to-day against the Public Service Commissioners advertisement for a shorthand writer and typist, inviting applicants to state the salary required. Mr'Witty declared'that this bidding for the lowest salary was the worst form of sweating. , The Prime Minister declared that he could not understand the object in asking for the salary required. It was not the Government's policy. Mr Witty: I'm sure of that. _ The Prime Minister undertook to inquire of the Commissioner the' reason for the advertisement. STEAMER AND MOTOR-CARS. The presence in Wellington of the steamer Florence Luckenbach, discharging a number of American motor-cap, prompted a question to the Prime Minister from Mr Pearce, who asked if he knew that this vessel was discharging, evidently, he added, a steamer of a German line. She had' 350 motor-cars aboard from America. The Government ought to impose 100 per cent Customs duty on these cars, some of which were German. He said this advisedly, as German factories were established in America. ' . . . Mr Massey replied that the matter was being very closely looked into by the Government, which intended to see that our own people were not prejudiced in the way that the questioner suggested. He hoped to make a further statement in a few days. HOSPITAL COMFORTS. Answering a question by Mr Webb

whether there was any difference between Egypt and New Zealand hospital treatment for soldiers, the Minister of Defence mentioned that the New Zealand authorities in Egypt had established wliat is known as the Clntty system under which patients obtained luxuries, which were charged against their pay. A largo number of these debit dockets were coming to hand. Soldiers were able to ourchase comforts while in New Zealand hospitals, in addition to those brought by friends, but the system varied according to locality. CHANCES FOR THE BOYS. One clause in the War Legislation Bill enables the 'age limit of twenty-one to be overlooked in cases where applicants for Crown lands have served in the Expeditionary Force. In heartily commending the clause the Hon D. Bndd'o said that ho knew of boys of nineteen who had been wounded, and in defiauce of the regulations they were still in the trenches. People ought to get away from the silly idea that boys were not able'to do their duty satisfactorily. The fact that they were still at the front was the strongest argument that could be advanced. The young fellows had done yeoman service. All honour to them., and' good luck to them when they took up land.