PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14050, 21 July 1916, Page 1

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

FREEZING CO^lPA^ ik'S AND WAR PROFITS. (From "Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. . In reply to Air. Hunter), who asked if the Finance Minister. would favourably consider the question of .making a concession m the amount of excess profits payable by Freezing Companies which recently, started operations, Sir Joseph Ward stated that Freezing Companies will be accbr ded the -same, treatment^ as other taxpayers who haye recently commenced operations. . No separate special concession can be granted to them. x SOLDIERS' CHILDREN. A request v that l the pons and daughters of soldiers he given preference m .civil service) was answered by the Minister of Internal Affairs.- The. Public Service Commissioner advises that consideration is given to all applications received from dependants of New Zealand soldiers who are serving with the expeditionary forces. Many such are now employed m the public service. ' ' HELPLNG UNEXPERIENCED " ' TEACHERS. Dealing with the suggestion of Mr. Thomson, that 'inspectors be advised to , devote a portion -of their time to the work of giving, practical demonstrations I m teaching m the smaller schools, 1 which are m gjany cases m charge of inexperijehced' teachers, the Minister of Education replied: "This is the usual policy, while m two districts a special or&anizihlj inspector was, some years ago appointed' to give close personal attention to fs&all schodls bhly, and iii the third, whepj, /an additional inspector whs appointed/ he wis specially deputed to attend to this work. I have to' regret that the policy of amalgamating small schools /has not been applied by the Education Board;" added Mr. Hanan. If 'this were done there would V>e fewer inefficient j schools, and uncertificated teachers," and. a better stall and equipment, v while Inspectors could devote more time to each of the smaller number of schools. Such a system would result m a much higher standard of education being provided for children scattered districts.* MORE PAY FOR HELLO GIRLS. In answer to an inquiry from Mr. Payne last week, the Postmaster-General announced that a recommendation has been made m the direction of increasing the pay of telephone exchange' operators. . x -''.-.. ..:,,- DISCHARGED SOLDIERS' KITSth answer to a question. ' from Mr. Payne,, the Defence Minister stated that returned soldiers are allowed to retain their uniforms on discharge. Soldiers discharged from camp are not kept oil full pay till such/ times as they have enough soldier's pay^ foi- missing articles m their, kits ; but their discharge eei- tificates . aro not given' to them till their kits are completely returned or paid for. NO TICKETS FOR WIVES'. ' Mr..'' Alien '.informed'- Mr. V.eitcli . that the privilege of a three weeks' railway pass cannot be extended to' wives of convalescent .returned sold.iers. „ / SOCIAL SCOURGE. "The Hon. Mr. Russell ihoved that a . copy of, the speech delivered by him qir tlie subject of 'venerea! diseases m the House'ldst night be ; laid' oil the table and printed. r |, '/' : ' j' ' A g6hfei!sl . discussion' followed, m wliich freely.', endorsed tlib printing and .oirculdtiqp r'of' the speech; as s calculated tp : d,o- cpnsid'eraDlb goßd/ The Minister/ m re^ly, said his speech did ' not pill port to be a scien-. , tific: disfeertatioh tin/ these' diseases,' but a. political jJrdnbuncemfeht of tlie " intfeiv-. tions "of the Government oh' the subject. , : LEGISLATIVE CQIiNCJL. In the Council Sir F. Bell moved the second, reading yof/the Legi_lhlive Couiv, cii Amendment Bill. He ' ti-aced tHe history of the Act^ ah'd skid Mr: Massey ■ and the Refprm Party were df the firni. 'opinion that it should be' passed into law. They -tfere as determined m 1916 as they wfcre. m... 1910. He was| disappointed tßat/ the experiment would not be made next yearybut, as?*a matter of fair- play to both sides; it coiild not be made until sifter 'a general election. That was why -it was proposed to amend the Act by ; substituting -the i -Ist -day pf Jan-, 'u'ary 1920, ,- for thb.lst day of January, 1916. ; Every member who assented .; to the formation, of the National Government was bound, to support the 'ar'aiige,-ment.—-Mr.' Barry moved an amendment to the effect that the Act.df.i9l4- be repealed. •He ,'argued against tin Second Chamber,, and contended thai 'it wouid- be preferable to repeal the Act.— Mr.. 'Paul . expressed- himself .m favour of an- elective • Upper-House.—-Mr.-;Wig-ram, said '<- he-: should oppose;the.amendment.'—Mr. Maginnity supported,' the second' reading of the .BilL'-> He said pursuing v of"- the measure would "keep faitlv JtVith the /other.''- political ; party.— : Mr;. Mbore looked upon the': Bill aa a natural sequence of previous., legislation on- the subject. — Mr Carson defended the. formation of the i/National '?. Government. He had supported the principle .of election of the Council for many years. He hoped ! to -see it law of the counti-y.— Sii- W. Hall-Jones candidly confessed that he did not like the Bill, and asked why the postponement Until 1920? He would vote for the maintenance of tlie present position. — Mr. Beehan said he i wbiil'd vote foi- the amendment. Hel favoured the nominative 1 ; system.— Mr. J G. Jones moved the adjournment of the debate, and' the CottndV hose at 4.55 p.m: '