POLITICAL NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9173, 13 October 1915, Page 9

POLITICAL NOTES

THE APPROPRIATION HILL

The Appropriation Bill passed in the House of Representatives yesterday provides a sum of £8,100,1126 from the Consolidated Fund (including appropriations made earlier by means ot imprest Supply Bills) for the various State services. The bill, which deals also with the Public Works Fund and the separate accounts covers the usual period ending March 31st next. Among its special <4&<uses is one. providing that notwithstanding anything in the Public Service Act, 1912, payments mar be made to any officers .of the Government Life Insurance Department. the State Fire Insurance office or the National Provident Fund otnee of any sums by way of. commission oi bonus which have been provided by the House of Representatives. . . A' BAD DEBT. Among the items on the Supplementary Estimates was a vote of £14,031 to cover the writing off of an old Public Works Department loan to the Wai£ara Harbour Board. Replying do, a question on the subject in the Mouse of Representatives yesterday, the Prime Minister said that the debt was a very old one. The boarjl was unable to pay interest, or sinking fund or principal, and he understood the late Mr Seddon had promised l to wipe ott the debt. Mr Okey (Taranaki) :/ He said thev wonld not be troubled with it”' Mr Massey added that the Government realised the matter should be fixed *ili> order that the Harbour Board might be able to borrow money for improvement works. It would no better to let "Waitara start level again. ABOUT ‘‘SHOUTING.’’

Another appeal to the Government to place restrictions on the dnnk traffic during the period of the war vras made in the House of Representatives, yesterday by Mr L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North). The member said that i he pleaded in the interests of the soldiers and in the interests of national efficiency for an effort to limit the sale of alcohol at the present juncture. ‘We want the national bow to be strung tight just now,” added Mr Isitt. ‘ This is oUr hour of national crisis. An enormous improvement would be effects ed, he believed, it New Zealand followed the'example of other parts of Empire and prohibited “shouting. It was the custom of ‘‘shouting that produced a very large proportion of the trouble. ■ '' ■