POLITICAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17523, 5 July 1917, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

CFsok Qvn CouRESTOWDKirrs.] WELLINGTON, July 4. EXPORT BUTTER DUTY.

The Prime Minister stated that tho ouantity of butter exported from New Zealand to. Australia in April, May and June last year was 22,491 boxes, where. as for the corresponding months this year only 2154 boxes, had been sent. Shipping space ".as .rot available for. any considerable increase in tho near future.' Careful inquiries had failed to reveal any foundation for the statement that New Zealand butter had been sold at Is per pound for export to Australia. As a matter of- fact sales at that price would mean a heavy loss to the owners of butter now in store, tho quantity of which was about 230.000 boxes. The Government did not at present see any need to propose the imposition of an export duty on butter to Australia. WAR PRISONER WORK.

The Minister of Defence informed Mr Witty that the Government had decided that prisoners of war who intimated that they de&ired employment would be utilised on roadwork in Waimarino. Tho proposal had not been put into force yet owing to the period of the year, but steps would be taken to arrange for employment in the early spring. The Government could not compel interned civilians to work; Prisoners of war in internment camps were required to do so much manual labour as would keep them in good mental and bodily health.

OUT AFTER GERMANS. , Members are keenly hunting the enemy within our gates. Mr Vigor Brown has asked the Minister of De- y fence to universally apply the war regulation that naturalised ~ Germans should be treated as alien enemies and all their names published in the V Gazette." Mr Pearce suggested that all interned Germans should be sent to the Fatherland after the war. ; ; Mr Payne wanted to know bow long the Government will permit a Germaa church and school to be conducted in New Zealand. Mr Massey: Where is itP .- Mr Payne: In I can show a picture of it. BUSINESS NAMES. With the object of making sure that enemy subjects are not able to trade in New Zealand under innicent sounding titles the Hon A. L. Herdman has introduced , a Government Bill, the Registration, of Business Names Bill, providing that every firm trading under a title not consisting of the true surnames of all the partners and every trader who has changed his name must register witji the' registrar of companies, giving full details of the nation- . ality of those interested in the firm. The registrar may refuse to registei business titles which misleadingly con-

tain the word " British." - NO SPECIAL TRAIN. Mr Massey took the opportunity this afternoon of exploding a rumour that he and Sir Joseph Ward were given a special train from Auckland at their own request. "As the story on the subject has been growing," said the Prime Minister, "I asked, the Railway Department for a statement. This statement points out that the Main Trunk service between Auckland and ;• ' Wellington involves a. maximum of twelve cars for on« engine and one car ; over twelve involves an additional en- -\ gine. On June 20, owing to mail and overseas passengers, nineteen vehicles were required, so, the Department decided, as on occasion has been done before, to divide the train into t\u parts. As a matter of fact," add- ,| ed Mr Massey, "we asked for no spe- | cial train, intending to come down *by . y the ordinary express. The Railway Department informed us, however, that it would be much more convenient tc nui two trains than place two engine? . on one. and it would cost no more." '

In reply to a member, the Prime Minister said that ordinary passengers could have travelled by the second train had they so desired. - ;> , Answering an allegation by a_ member of some southern town council that he had drawn house allowance during his absence, the Prime Minister pro--hired a Treasury memorandum showing .that as he still nominally remained in occupation of his residence the usual deduction of £2OO per annum was made from his salary. COLD STORAGE.

The Government is considering tho question of erecting cold storage at the four main centres for the storage |of meat and iairy produce in the event of a shortage of shipping. THE SHIPPING MERGER.

In reply to a question by Mr Poole / respecting: the Government's attitude | towards the commercial agreement | tween the P. and O- and Union Companies, Mr Massey stated to-day that the Government's intentions in this important matter will be made known as early as practicable. WIDOWED MOTHER'S ALLOWANCE. .

Sir James Allen, in answer to Mi Brown to-day, declared that it was not proposed to extend the provisions of the regulation giving seven shillings separation allowance to widowed mothers irrespective of what their income < might be. CRIPPLED SOLDIERS' .HOMES. Sir James Allen informed Mr Wilford to-day that the Government is considering the question of appropriating a sum for the erection and. equipment ot homes for crippled soldiers and for instruction to enable them to supplement their pensions.

ASSISTANCE TO SOLDIERS. Sir James Alien stated to-day that the regulations providing for financial , assistance to soldiera of the Expeditionary Force moke no provision tor the continuance of this assistance after ; discharge of the soldier. The position , of a soldier discharged because of disablement or ill-health' will be met by the War Pensions Act. The regulations do however, provide that on the death of'any soldier for whom financial assistance has been granted, the Minister of Defence may continue that assistance either in whole or part in favour of the wife, children or any do-' : pendent of the deceased for any period not exceeding twenty-sis weeks after his death. A"ny further assistance required would then be granted under tho War Pensions Act. SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS. . In. answer to a suggestion from Mr Jennings, that owing to .the serious position of many outlying districts an , invitation should be extended to medical men in America to come and practise in the Dominion, the Hon G. W. Russell stated to-day that a proposal hr«d been made to the British Medical Association bv the Public Health and Defence Departments for the more equable distribution of medical men in the Do-' minion, and an endeavour was bemg made'to secure the return in. rotation to the Dominion of medical men away for some time on active service. Mr, Russell added that the action proposed in the question would be more unfaftr ; to medical men who had given thein services to the Empire, and it was not considered necessary at present to do as suggested.

PRICE FINING. Mr Witty, who asked the Government whether they will give the Board of Trade legal power to fix prices, making it mandatory on tho part of purveyors of commodities to secure permission from the board before raising prices, was informed by the Prime Min- i ister that it is not intended to trans- i fer the responsibility in this important 1

matter from tho Government to the Board of Trade. KINDERGARTEN CLASSES..

In response to Dr Thacker's plea for greater recognition by the State of tho good work of kindergarten classes, tho Minister of Education replied: "That my Department recognises tho good work done by the Fro 0 Kind'ei-ga-rton Association is evidenced by tho fact that the capitation allowance for freo kindergarten schools has been increased during the present year. The question of placing an increased vote on the curvent year's estimates towards tho establishment of these schools will have careful consideration." NO SECRET SESSION. The Government does not consider t> secret session of Parliament necessary, as suggested by Dr Newman. RETURNED SOLDIERS' FUNERALS. Mr Poole called attention to several cases of returned soldiers who had died not being accorded a suitable funeral by their country. The Minister of Defence replied that tho matter was under consideration. Individual cases had been provided for. STORED CHEESE. All cheese manufactured in New Zealand for export up to the end of duuo has; boon taken over by tJio Imperial Government. This includes almost the whole of the cheese an store at tho various grading ports. As the iheeso belongs to tho Imperial. Government none can bo withdrawn from ttoro for sale for local consumption excepting at the request of tho Homo authorities. To sell it at a price substantially below what it has cost would involve the Imperial Government in heavy loss. . SHIRKERS. Further powers to deal with shirkers aro', says the Minister of Defence, under the Government's consideration. OLD AGE PENSIONS. The question of amending the Pensions Act, 1913, is receiving the Government's attention, said the Hon A. M. Myers to-day, in reply to a request that the Act should bo so amended as to allow old age pensioners to earn more than £34 a yeai. EQUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS. Answering a suggestion that any loss duo to tho curtailment of licensing hours should fall equitably upon licensees, landlords, brewers and merchants, Mr Massey replied that the Gorcrnment trill endeavour to make equitible arrangements in accordance with .iny alteration'of the present law on the subject referred to. ENEMY OPERATIONS.

Replying to a suggestion that enemy subjects are buying up tho property it enlisted New Zealanders Mr Massey states that the land boards have refused transfers where Crown lands are concerned. To prohibit all such dealings with freehold land would, however, require special legislation. The matter now was under consideration. VERDICT OF TRAITOR. -

A question by Mr Broivn to the Primo Minister regarding Private Minott, of the Wellington Infantry, eucited a reply from Mr Massey that he was officially reported by tho American Embassy at Berlin' to be a prisonof of war. Latest advices woto that ho is still so held. A Court of Inquiry held in Franco in December last year found that in spito of the fact that he was a prisoner of war in Germany it was considered that Minott had deserted to the enemy. Minott will bo duly tried by court martial under the Army Act when recovered lit the end of tho war.