POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17269, 19 September 1919, Page 9

POLITICAL NOTES.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

PRODUCTION ON TUESDAY. DOCUMENT NOW COMPLETED. [IST TELEGRAPH.— REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. The Financial Statement will be brought <Wn on Tuesday. This was definitely stated in the House of Representatives this afternoon by the Prime Minister. He said that the statement was now completed and was in the hands of the printer. STEAM. SHOVELS. The Minister for Public Works (Sir Wm. Fraser) states that of the four steam shovels, or navvies,'' ordered in June, two were then about to be shipped at New I ork. and these, therefore, should arrive within the next month. Of the remainder there is no definite advice, but early shipment is expected. PRIVATE MEMBERS' DAY. When the Prime Minister moved, this afternoon, that henceforth Government business should be given precedence .m j Wednesdays and Thursdays, several voices i were raised in protest against depriving j private members of the opportunity ot j pressing the claims of the Bills in "their names. Mr. Massey, replying to protests, said he I did not wish to be unfair to private members. When Monday sittings commenced he hoped to give the first Monday over to private members' Bills,. _ ! THE RETORT COURTEOUS. j I A neat score at the expense of Sir i Joseph Ward was made this afternoon by I the Hon. J. B. Hine. A question regarding the publication of Hansard had been j asked, and Mr. Hine, as the Minister re- j sponsible, was explaining that the Govern- I ment printing office was kept very busy j with the printing of reports and other j papers. : "The old story," said the Leader of i the Opposition. j "Yes," said Mr. Hine. "1 seem to re- ! member hearing it when the hon. member j was in power.'' i PRINTING THE PEACE TREATY. Information touching the printing of the Peace Treaty was sought to-day by Mr. H. (1. Ell (Christchurcn). who suggested that the terms should bs printed in a suitable manner. Not a copy was available, he declared, whereas every public library and every school should hare a copy printed in a manner befitting so important a document. The Prime Minister replied that he had received a cablegram only this morning saying that a special copy was being preparea showing the signatures. He had no further details about it, but it would be available in London this month. -A NEW HEAVEN." Reference to the Hon. G. W. Russell in his capacity as the author of "A New Heaven" was heard in the House to-night. Mr. Russell was speaking of taxation in its bearing on reconstruction, and said of a certain project that it was designed to produce a new world. "A new heaven," came a suggestion from the other side of the House. "-thank you,'' said Mr. Russell, and | went on his way unruffled. TUBERCULAR SOLDIERS. The necessity for supplying suitable occupation for soldier patients discharged after receiving treatment for tubercular complaint* was emphasised this afternoon by Dr. H. T. J. Thacker (Christchurch East), in a question addressed to the Minister for Defence. Dr. Thacker said it was important that these men should have suitable outdoor occupations of a light character, and he asked if anvthing was being done to provide them with it. Sir James Allen asked that the question should be placed upon the Order Paper, staling that it concerned the Repatriation Board rather than himself. j COST OF LOAN MONEYS. A return of loans from the Imperial I Government, for which a. charge of over | £jOO,OOO had been incurred by way of discount, was laid before the House of Representatives to-day. I Opportunity wag taken by the Minister j for Finance to explain why that sum was i required to be paid. Sir James Allen stated that the British Government borrowed a certain amount of money by means of exchequer bonds. Ixians out of money were advanced to the Dominions, including New Zealand, The interest payable on the bonds was only 5$ per cent, and the money was passed on to the Dominions at the 6ame I rate. When Britain had to rai.**e larger loans I later it was necessary to consolidate the previous loans. This was done rrith the ' result that the rate of interest was risen to 5 per cent. New Zealand had to fall into line in respect to the money she had obtained, and this was the cause of the charges in respect to the loans detailed.

NEWMARKET TRAIN STOP.

The petition of H. E. Butler and 6944 others, asking that the incoming Main Trunk train should stop at Newmarket, has been referred to the Government for favourable consideration by the Railways Committee.