POLITICAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17936, 1 November 1918, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Ocr Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, October 31. BUSINESS BEHINDHAND. On Wednesday night there was a momentary prospect that the Address-in-Reply debate would collapse, but Mr Wilkinson moved the adjournment. Very early to-day, at Mr Massey’s rc;:v, quest, tho House. adjourned from 3 J ; r p,m. to ,7.30 to permit of Cabinet meet* vf ing. Evidently public business is a bit behindhand, and tho session is not being pushed. There are several other (• v members to speak on the Address-in-7, Iteply. and the debate will be protracted, although there will bo a migration southward on Friday for Carnival ryWeek. . Ojynion is growing into a. conthat the session will extend into " the new year. . THE CHATHAMS. [ >&&Mr Witty lias received a letter from tyhe Hon T. M. Wilford, in reply to representations by Mr A. E. G. Rhode,! 7 .laid others, that tho Hinemoa will ‘shortly leave Lyttelton for the OhatA hams to bring back Maori prisoners and witnesses, and it will bo -possible for the steamer to tako stores to tho "islands and bring tack cargo. He sug- • gests that Mr Rhodes should communii cate with tho Secretary of Marine. ' CONCESSION TO SOLDIERS. v ; ; Mr Isitt has given notice of a question whether, in view of the possibility . /* of an early peace, arrangements are \ being made by tho Defenoo authorities V -L tQiSecnro for any New Zealand soldiers wiio wish to remain in Britain for a given period for business or pleasure, 4, the right so. Mr Isitt points out. ' that many soldiers will want an .oppor- : ' ■ tunify to see the country and visit their birthplaces, and tho conces- ■ ■ ;sion would be a small return for their services. . h te oranga. Jtr Wilford, replying to a question . f/by Mr Witty as to tho truth of a re-- ' v port' that To Oranga is to bo handed over for a women’s gaol, said that the v V Hon J. A. Hanan had offered it to tho 1 ■ . Prisons Department, as tho Prisons Department had just handed over a prison site in Wellington for technical education. Both Departments were workmg. in' perfect harmony. Other Min-

. .asters were entirely in accord with the suggestion, ..' During the session Mr ' Hanan would bring down a clause proV riding for transfer.: The object of the ; ,;?exchahge was to find some place for young girls; who came before the Court . y for the first time,' to get a chance to ...straighten up,; but the same time being ;'.!*•".. aeparated from the criminal, class or >romen. "*"■ 7

■The Hon ; ; G. W. Russell was not, in ' his, place in the House when the question whs answered, but is determined to. contest the transfer. A MAIDEN SPEECH.

The "Hon W. H. Triggs, the new Chrjatohurch member of tiis Legislative . •. /Council, made his maiden, speech to•':'dfiy; It was a quiet and evidently • - carefully prepared speech, dealing , largely with Imperial Mr Triggs said it was due to the Government that the Dominion had fulfilled ,>,;itft obligations in.the war. Notwith- ' ■ '(■ standing any League of Nations r it . .would be necessary for Britain to main- ■'<:. tain her supremacy at sea, although it fei- <was doubtful if other nations would .;. -accept the position. New Zealand ; ...\vpuld'also have to defend herself, in ' '.viewy of .the new, menace of the aeroplane and the submarine. Germany " : •;,; .-\_must bo,kept out of the Pacific. Thq - 'settlement of soldiers should be part of v ; ./'a- comprehensive scheme of bringing into production. The mere ." ;; of productive land for distribution, among - soldiers would not in- \ production, and soldiers' settie- ,, '■■• irrtepts .shoujd not he kept apart, for it ; tvipiild lead "to the encouragement •of ■-.'., grievances, and make the men think of themselves as apart from the general :>. • cpnimupHy, instead of realising that >£;■ their interests were 1 general with those of .the community. ■ .: ... .QUESTIONS. -. -Mr Isitt . asks whether legitimate ':»: cargo, waiting in docks in. England for j' a. mohtK was passed over for whisky, "' which was shipped to New Zealand im'.l mediately on its arrival. , '" ■ / -Mr Witty is urging the extension of the - school ago and compulsory. atteud-g-v/ihee' at technical classes for certain '''■"■■; glasses of youths.