POLITICAL NOTES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16186, 24 July 1923, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

LICENSING INQUIRY. (Parliamentary Reporter.) - WELLINGTON, this day. The Premier gave irdtiee last night of liis intention to set tip a, committee to consider any questions in regard to amendments of the licensing law which may be submitted to it, with power to call for persons and papers. No doubt the recent petition favoring co-operative control of the licensing industry will bo referred to this committee, which comprises the Premier, Messrs Bitehener, Glenn, Harris, Iloekly, Horn, Isitt, Lysnar, Savage, Witty, Wright, and Sir .John Luke. A CLOSED DEPARTMENT. The medical stores branch of the Defence Department has been closed down, and Mr. Wilford asked the reason why, remarking that it bad successfully bought medical supplies for defence hospitals and other public institutions, at an; average saving of 25 per cent, on current prices. Its slock was valued at ±140,000 a few days before orders came to close down, thus throwing out of employment 17 married men-who were in the Expeditionary Force. The Mental Hospitals Department, lie added, made a raid on the stores, and got. one year’s supplies. East year’s profit. • lie department were £2OOO. The Minister of Defence replied that had the member been courteous enough to give notice of the question ho could have provided a good deal of information. Cabinet, after consideration, had decided to close this store, as* the Defence Department had no hospitals under its control. INFLUENZA VICTIMS. The Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education, who has been laid upi for two days with influenza, was able to resume duty at his office yesterday. Two other Ministers absent from the House' last night were stated to be suffering from the prevailing complaint. NEW BILLS. (per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The Hon. R.. F. Bollard gave notice of his intention to introduce: the Registration of Aliens the Rangitikei Land Drainage Amendment, a’nd the Fisheries Amendment Bill. INSURANCE COMPANIES. The Hon. I). Stewart moved the second reading of the Insurance. Companies Deposits Amendment Bill, which, lie explained, was intended to separate income derived from moneys deposited with the Government as trading security,- from their ordinary trading profits, it being generally conceded unfair to collect income tax on any other basis. _ The second reading was agreed to without discussion.