COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18457, 21 July 1923, Page 10

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN.

GOVERNMENT'S, NOMINEE.

SELECTION OF MR. YOUNG.

APPOINTMENT OF WHIP.

[BY XELEQEAI"H.~SPEaAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday. The nomination of Mr. J. A. Young (Hamilton) for the position of Chairman of Committees was unanimously decided upon by the Government party at its caucus this morning, and his appointment will be proposed in the House of Representatives on Monday evening by Sir George Hunter.

Mr. Young's selection has been very well received, and it is understood there will be no active opposition from the other parties, although it is their intention -to vote against him, simply because he is the Government's nominee. The position has not been filled since tho defeat of Mr. A. S. Malcolm (Clutha) at the last general election,, acd Sir George Hunter has been temporary chairman under & day to day a ; r£vim.«iant. Tho position of senior Coviumnent Whip rendered vacant by the appointment of Mr. R. F. Hollaed* to the' Ministry, has been filled by the appointment of Mr. J. S. Dickson" (Pa-moll) who for some years was Whip in association with Mr. Bollard. Mr. W. S. Glen (Rangitikei) will be the junior Government Whip.

AGE j¥ FOODSTUFFS.

MARKING ON PACKAGES.

PROVISION TO BE MADE".

[by TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday.

A question was addressed to the Prime Minister by Mr. T. W. Rhode? (Thames}, asking whether legislation will be introduced this session "to compel packers and manufacturers of foodstuffs to print the date on which the goods are placed in the containers upon the labels. " There is already power to do as suggested under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, and in the re-drafting of the regulations now in, hand it is intended to make this provision with regard to specified foodstuffs in which any deterioration would be harmful," replied Mr. Massey in the House of Representatives. " The Health Department from time to time has found that manufacturers, guided by their own private marks on tins and packages take steps to replace old silockl 'by new."

NAVAL BASE IN NOBTI.

CLAIMS OF WHANB.AHEI.'

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER/ WELLINGTON, Friday.

Notice of the following question to the Minister for Defence was given in the 'House of Representatives to-day by Mr. S. G. Smith ;Taranaki) on behalf of Mr. A. J. Murdoch (Marsden): —" Whether in view of the geographical position of Whangarei Harbour, with its natural advantages in 'depth of water, safe anchorage, and general excellence, he will favourably consider establishing a naval base on that harbour."

MOUNT EDEN DESTRUCTOR.

UNSUCCESSFUL PETITION.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday.

The Petition Committee reported to the House of Representatives to-day that it had no recommendation to make upon the petition of Horace John Preston and 74? others, praying that no legislation be enacted authorising the establishment of a rubbish destructor in the Mount Eden Borough, to meet its own requirements and those of other local bodies.

EXTENSION OF HOUKS. GIRLS IN RESTAURANTS. [BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday. Petitions praying that the law be altered to allow female assistants to be employed after 9.30 p.m. in confectionery shops, or in such shops combined with restaurants or soda fountains, have been presented to Parliament by 96 business people in Auckland, 18 in Wellington, and 17 in Dunedin. The petitioners say that a large and important part of their business is done after 9.30 p.m., when picture theatres and other places of entertainment have closed. The present law, which requires separate entrances to be provided when confectionery shops are combined with restaurants, etc., is harsh and practically impossible to observe. The large number of customers who patronise their establishments', the petitioners say, shows that they are filling a public requirement. They do not ask that the weakly number of hours of employment be increased.

SOLDIERS' PENSIONS.

APPEAL BOARD QUESTION.

(BY TELEGRAPH.— REPORTER. WELLINGTON, Friday. Answers to two questions relating to soldiers' pensions were given in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Hon. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) asked whether the Minister for Defenco would have an inquiry made into cases of nervous breakdown of returned soldiers whoso pensions had been stopped when . they were unable to work. Sir Heaton Rhodes replied that the question of dealing with such cases was receiving the attention of the Government. Mr. J. O'Brien (Westland) asked the Minister whether he would give invalid soldiers who had lost their pensions through the Medical Board stating that their illness was "not the result of war service " the right of appeal. Sir Beaton Rhodes replied that the question of making provision for appeal against the decision of th? Pensions Board was receiving the consideration of the Government.

WOMEN AS JURORS. NO BILL THIS SESSION. [BY TKLEQTIAPH. — SPECIAL BEEORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday. " It is not proposed to introduce legislation this session providing for the inclusion of women on juries." This statement was made by the Minister for Justice, the Hon. C. J. Parr, in replying to a question in the House of Representatives.

COUNTRY LIBRARIES.

NO GRANT THIS ?EAR.

[BY TELEOnAPH.-SPEctAL RKfOKTEII ] ' WELLINGTON. p ridtly . i The reinstatement of the subsidy for merly granted to libraries in country dis tricts was. advocated by Mri'F. Murdoch (Marsden) in the House of Representatives. In reply, the Hon. 0. J. Parr said that in view oif the ■ necessity of confining expenditure at the present time to essential services, the Government regretted that it could not -see its way to provide for subsidies to libraries* during tho current financial year.