POLITICAL NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11296, 23 August 1922, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES

PRESS GALLERY NEWS THE LADIES’ CAR. ON LONG DISTANCE TRAINS. Mr F. M. Bartram (Grey Lynn) informed the Minister for Railways in t-he House yesterday that it was rumoured in Auckland that the ladies’ ear was to be taken off the Main Trunk train. He wanted to know if the rumour was correct. “This is the first I have heard of it. and I may say that at present there is no intention of interfering with the arrangement in question.” replied Mr Guthrie. In fact, he added, the department was considering the question of putting ladies’ cars on the New Plymouth and Napier lines. SCHOOL SITES. AND THE EDUCATION GRANT. Replying to a question by Mr S. O. Smith (Taranaki) the Minister for Education stated in the House yesterday that it was not correct to say there was no money available for th« purchase of new school sites. There was money available, subject to the limitation that he was unable to buy sites out of his grant unless they were required immediately. The main purpose of the grant was to increase accommodation where there was overcrowding or provide accommodation where there was no school. He believed that in some respects it was good business to purchase sites ahead of the immediate need for them, buj| at present that could not be done. THE OVER-RUN. ARE DAIRY FARMERS “TAKEN DOWN?” In- the course of the discussion ot the annual report of the Agricultural Department, Messrs F. F. Hockly (Rotorua) and W. H. Field (Otaki) urged the need for legislation requiring proprietary dairy companies to p olish the percentage of their overrun. At the present time, said Air Field, there seemed to be too good reason to believe that the farmer was being robbed through being taken down to some extent over the overrun. The figures os to the over-run should he published in every case, ro that the farmers would know just where they were on the matter. (Hear, hear.) GIFT AEROPLANES. LOANED TO THREE COMPANIES Could the Minister for Defence state to the House the position in regard to the aeroplanes given to this country by the Home Government? asked the Leader of the Opposition (Mr T. M. Wilford) in the of Representatives yesterday. Did the Fairleigh private company at Timaru stm hold them? and, if so, on what terms? Did the company hold them during the pleasure of the Government? or had they been sold or leased to the company? or how did the. matter stand? The Hon. Sir R. H. Rhodes stated in reply that the gift 'aeroplanes had been loaned to three companies, and were still on loan to them. Mr Wilford: Has not the Fairleigli Company got them all? Sir Heaton Rhodes: No, certainly not; they have been loaned to three companies. The first two companies have the majority of the aeroplanes. Then the other company came in, and one or two were loaned to it. PAINTERS' HEALTH. A PROTECTION BILL. In the Houbb of Representatives ye* terday, leave was given Mr W. A. Veitch to introduce the Painter*’ Health Protection BilL