POLITICAL PARS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9589, 5 September 1913, Page 7

POLITICAL PARS.

COMMITTEE OF DEFENCE. (Bl TAIOBAPB.) (Fbok Oub Pahlumkntary Repoktsb.) WELLINGTON. Sept. 3. Replying to a question from Mr Myers as to whellier the New Zealand Government would appoint a permanent representative on the Imperial Committee of Defence, Hon. J. Allen (Minister of Defence) to-day stated that tho only |>efmancnt member of tho committee of Imperial Defence was tho British Prime Minster, who invited others to attend the committee as he thought fit. Thu New Zealand Government has, therefore, no power to appoint a permanent representative on the committee of Imperial Defeat*.

MACQUARIE ISLANDS. In answer to a question from Mr Clark (Chalmers) about Macquarie Islands, the Prmo Minister to-day said that, complaints had often been mado about the manner in which Mr Hatch treated the men employed on Macquaric Island, in that ho kept them on the island longer than he should and without proper supplies for tho time they were left there. The .Marine Department had on several occasions to send down a steamer to relieve them. Some years ago negotiations were carried on between tho New Zealand and Tasmanian Governments on the subject of the island heir* transferrtd to New Zealand. The Government of Tasmania was willing that the transfer should be made, but tho Parliament of that colony did not agree.

THE COOLIE PERIL.

PROSPECTIVE PROHIBITION

Mr J. A. Young (Waikato) asked the Prime Minister whether tho Government would enter into immediate negotiations through tho Imperial authorities with the Government of the Crown Colony of Fiji, with a view to seeing if it would not be possible to compel those persons and cor porations who had been responsible for the importation of tho Hindoo coolies into tho islands under the authority of th«* tijiau Government to return * them to India et the completion of their labour contract*, so as to check in some ineasuro if not altogether abolish tho migration of coolie* from Fiji to New Zealand. In reply Mr Massey said that a Bill to amend the immigration restriction hm at present in preparation, and by its provisions it was intended to restrict ,-..s far as possible tho immigration of Hindoo coolies to this country. Tho matter was brought under the notice of the Under-Secretary of State for tho Colonies during his recent visit to New Zealand.

NO ROOM. Replying to A question as to why this, year girls were not to lx> allowed to compete for places in the Civil Service, tho Prime Minister said to-day that in recent rears very few vacancies in the clerical division of the public service had occurred to which torls could be appointed as cadets, though a very large number of girls were available, who had qualified in the Civil Sen-ice examination. There were no fewer than 710 girls competing, whereas only two vacancies had occurred for them up to date. The expenditure of an ed for the purpose of determining some two or three appointments, hence the decision to exclude girls from the next examination. Any girls that were specially anxious to attempt to secure one of lh;> few v:''-:ir.-cies in the Public Service open to ibcm might sit for the Public Service senior examination of January next, the passing of which gave them priority of claim for appointment in the event of there being a vacancy.

JOTTINGS. The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand h-ss petitioned Parliament for an amendment of tho Licensing law so ae to provide (1) Thnt the majority necessary to earn* no-license and national prohibition bo reduced from 60 i>er cent to 55 per cent of tho valid votes recorded; (2) That in the ever:* of national prohibition being parried it should com*- into operation not more than ♦wo years after the poll is taken, at which 'ho necessary majority is obtained; (3) that private bain be abolished and the principle do established of one license one bar, each such !«:r to bo placed in « room opening liroctly on to the street. The Minister of Railways to-day said hat tho railway employees could exjiect D—3 at an eariy date. The question of in eluding dining-car attendants of three wars' service in it would receive consideration.

The Public Petitions Committee states that it ha* no recommendations to make on the petition of Francis Edward Carson, of Palmorston North, for compensation for tho loss of his son's arm, sustained through alleged wrongful evidence of the Inspector of Machinery.