POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17275, 26 September 1919, Page 9

POLITICAL NOTES.

RECRUITS FOR POUCE FORCE. TEMPORARY CONSTABLES. [»T TELEGRAPH. SPECIAL reporter.] WEIiLINOTON, Thursday. The Police Fore* Amendment Bill makes provision for the appointment of temporary officers of the force as sergeants or constables to "assist in the preservation of peace and order, the prevention of crime, and the apprehension of offenders." Persons so appointed shall hold office at the will of the commissioner, and are at liberty to resign on one month's notice in writing. These temporary appointee* are not to be entitled to superannuation benefits. Persons at present in the force a* temporary members of it are to be deemed to be legally appointed permanent officers of the force. All members of the force may be removed from office on three months - notice, but power is still retailed to dismiss any officer for misconduct, as the law at present allows.

SMALL AMENDING BILLS. The Justice of the Peace Amendment Bill contains only one provision of importance. It extends the time in which complaints may be made in respect- of offences punishable on summary convi tion from six months to two years. The Prisons' Amendment Bill is a purely administrative Bill. It permits* the appointment of a Controller-General of Prisons, and of inspectors of prisons jnder his direction and command. AIRMEN AND GRATUITIES. 1 The position of the flying cadet under the gratuities scheme was the subject of a question put to the Minister for Defence this evening by Mr. G. Witty (Riecarton). Sir James Allen replied" that they would be covered by the clause in the scheme providing that in the ca<se of all i persons domiciled in New Zealand who had served in the Imperial Forces, the difference between the Imperial ' and the New Zealand rate of pay, allowances and gratuities would be made up. TAURANGA ELECTRIC LOANS. The Tauranga Borough Council Electric Loans Empowering Bill has been reported from the Local Bills Committee practically without amendment. The clauses proposing to empower the Government auditor to determine what are the purpose* for which the money may legally be spent have been amended by the substitution of the Controller and AuditorGeneral. The committee has also substituted 54 per cent, for 6 per cent, as the maximum interest payable. BRIDGE AT NGARUAWAHIA. The delay in the construction of a new bridge over the Waipa River, at Ngaruawahia, has been explained by the Minister for Public Works, who has informed Mr. J. A. Young (Waikato) that while the contract for hardwood timber has betn let the disorganisation of shipping in Australia, owing to the strike, renders it improbable that it will be. delivered in time to have the work completed when the contract expires on March 27 next. The steel for the tension rods and other iron and steel needed are being manufactured in the Departmental works at Tauranga. NEW EDUCATION BILL. A request 'hat the Education Bill brought down yesterday might be referred to the Education Committee or to the Statute- Revision Committee was made, in the House of Representatives tonight bv Mr. R. McCalhim (Wairau), who said that many of the educational authorities were anxious about the effect of some of the clauses.

Sir James Allen, who is in charge of the Bill, said he proposed to refer it to the Education Committee. MONDAY SITTINGS TO BEGIN. In moving to-day that on and after Monday next the House nhculd sit on Monday evenings, the Prime Minister said he did not think he need say much in support of the matter. There was a great deal of work to be done during the session. The first Monday would he given over to private members. The motion was pawed without dissent. LAW ON PROFITEERING. The Board of Trade Bill, now before Parliament, embodies a substantial amendment of the law designed to prevent profiteering. It provides : — " r.very person commits an offence who, either as principal or agent, sells or supplies, or offers for *ale or supply, any goods at a price which is unreasonably high." The clause in the legislation of last year contained th'? following qualification : J ~" If the opportunity of obtaining such price in New Zealand arises by reason of the existence, present or past, of a\war in which His Majesty is engaged or by reason of a scarcity of such goods in New Zealand, caused by war condition.", present or past." Both the existing law and the new Bill provide that th? price shall be deemed to be unreasonably high, "if it produces, or is calculated to produce, more than a fair and reasonable rate of commercial profit" to the vendor.