POLITICAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17595, 27 September 1917, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Orn Con?.EsroxoEXT,] ■ WELLINGTON, September 26. MAORI CONTINGENTER'S PETITION. The Public Petitions Committee, reporting on tho petition of Captain \\. T. Pitt, of the Native Contingent, who asked for a commission of inquiry to report on tho termination of his_ appointment to the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, refers the petition to the Government for favourable consideration, with a view to setting up a commission of inquiry upon the procedure adopted in connection with the return of petitioner to New Zealand. TIMBER CUTTING RIGHTS. Tho Levland O'Brien Timber Companv, Auckland, petitioned' Parliament for a further extension of their timberoutting rights on blocks in the lairyta district, owing to adverse circumstances in getting timber to the mills and restricted operations since the declaration of tho war. Tho Lands Committee recommends the Government to favourably consider the request, but recommends that the system of sn e by tho Crown of timber far beyond the capacitv of tho buyer to work within a reasonable period should be discontinued. NEW ZEALAND WOMEN'S WAR DUTIES. ' Commenting on a letter by Miss E. Rout, suggesting that, there are many openings for New Zealand women in war work, the Minister of Defence states that a ercat. many New Zealand women are employed 1 m New, Zealand military hospitals in England for other than nursing duties, but the number is not actually known. It is believed that there are other women employed. It is not ■considered desirable to send any other women than Army nurses abroad. GERMAN PRISONERS' RATIONS.

In answer to Mr Brown's suggestion that tho Government should make some attempt to reduce the cost of rations for German prisoners, Sir James Allen replied that first-class prisoners of war are now issued the same scale of rations as reinforcements in camp, whilst ■second-class prisoners of war are issued a special Ecalo of rations very much less than the scale for reinforcements.

CADETS' MEDICAL EXAMINATION. Answering Dr Thackor, the Minister of Defence states that before being posted to the Territorial Force, all Cadets and others liable for training in the Territorial Forces arc examined by military doctors at tho expense of tho Department before being required to undergo their Territorial training. No cases are known where claims for exemption on the ground of medical unfitness, accompanied by a doctor's certificate, have been ignored by the military authorities. If the member for Christchurch East would bring to notice any sDCciiic case where such claims, accompanied by'certificates, are alleged to have been ignored, most searching inquiries will be made.,

ADULTERATED FOOD

The attention of the Minister of Justice was cailed by Mr Thomson to a recent case in Christchurch in which the Magistrate imposed a fine of what the member terms "a paltry os" in the prosecution of a well-known firrn of manufacturers for evasion of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act. " Before I could express a definite opinion as to the adequacy or otherwise of tho punishment inflicted," replied the Hon J. A. Hanan, ''l require to have a full report of tho evidence. Generally speaking, I view offences under tlie Food and Drugs Act as of a serious nature, and consider that substantial penalties should be imposed to prevent the person convicted from repeating the offence and to act as a deterrent." WATER POWER DEVELOPMENT. Tho Minister of Public Works assured tho member for Wallace that it is the firm intention of tho Government as soon as conditions become normal to utilise to tho fullest limit the water power of this Dominion for the purposes of generating electric energv. Claims for consideration from Southland and Western Otago would not bo overlooked. The Minister of Education, asked by Mr Thomson whether it is intended to give effect to the recommendation' of the Council of Education to establish a course for training hydro-electrical engineers replied that tho recommendation was intended merely to emphasise, with a view to industrial efficiency, the necessity of maintaining courses sufficient to meet the requirements of training for hydro-electric engineers. At the time of the Council's

meeting substantial progress' had already been made on by the Canterbury College of Engineering, in which complete laboratories for hydraulics, also for electrical work, have been installed at heavy cost, in order that tho. fullest facilities may he given to students on.both the practical and the theoretical siue. PLANTATION FIRES. The Railways Committee has-" referred to the Government for consideration tho petition of the Selwyn Plantation Board for compensation on account of timber destroyed through a fire originating on the railway. - Mr Dickie stated that two fires had nefiirrod in plantations, tho damage being duo to a passing engine throwing out sparks-. Naturally the Railway Department would take up the position that it was not responsible for fires, as it liad effective spark catchers. However, he hoped the Minister of Railways would do the right thing. Tho report was adopted.