POLITICAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 145, 11 August 1911, Page 5

POLITICAL.

NOTES BY THE WAY

In reply to Mr. Luke, the Minister for internal Affairs staled that the Classification Uoaid is now sitting and will deal with the salaries of officers in the Inspection ot Machinery Department along with others Replying to Mr. Dive, the -Minister for I'uulic Works stated that the Government will consider the introduction ol a Railways Authorisation i>ill at a later period of the session. The construction of the railway to Opunake and other branch lines will tiion be dealt with.

In icply to Mr. Luke, tho ActingMinister for Customs stated that, as soon as the report of -Mr. Cameron, Trade Export, upon the state ol tho iron and steel industry in the Dominion, is available, the Government will deal with the whole question us a matter of policy. The Minister lor Railways has declined to adopt a. suggestion in Parliament that children under the age ot fifteen years should be allowed to travel at naif rates.

The Minister for Labour agrees with Mr. McLaren that wages should iie a first'claim upon n bankrupt’s estate, and if time will permit the question ol introducing legislation in this direction this session will be considered.

Harbour Boards have been asked to lot tho Marine Department have any amendments they think arc required in the Harbours Act, and as soon as replies are received from them the question of introducing an amending Bill will be considered.

The Civil Service classification list has not been completed, but the Government states mat an announcement will be made on the subject to tho House during the session. Mr. Okey, in a question to tho Native Minister, suggested legislation giving tenants of lands held under mo Best Coast Settlements Reserves Act tho right to grant options for boring for oil over the land leased by them, subject to tho consent of the Public Trustee. The Minister, in reply, says that if any legislation is orougiit down the position will be considered, but it must bo noted that oil, minerals, etc., are excepted from the lessee’s interest in the West Coast settlement reserves leases. Tho Minister for Railways stated in a printed reply to a question by Mr. Italian: “I am firmly convinced that in the Interests of the members, not only of the railway service, blit of ail Departments of State in this Dominion, tho existing regulations, which permit of their recording their votes, but which at the same time debar them from taking a prominent part in politics, should ne adhered to. The regulations wore adopted tor tlie, purpose of preventing members of State Departments, unconsciously or unintentionally, putting themselves in' a false position. They do not interfere with members exercising reasonable political freedom, but, for obvious reasons,, it is undesirable that members of State Departments

should, by taking a prominent part in either general or local politics, place themselves in a position \Vhich might bring them into conflict with members of the general public when in the discharge of tho public duties connected with their usual avocations.” Mr. J. 15. Hino gave notice to ask the Minister of Education whether his attention had been called to the very unsatisfactory position the schoolmaster at Whangamomona is placed in, as, owing to lack of residence he is compelled to live in a tent, and will he take the necessary stops to provide for a teacher’s residence in this growing township ? RAILWAY MEN’S WAG ES. \ Tho wages paid to certain sections of tho Railway Department’s employees wore commented upon by a number of speakers in the House of Representatives on Wednesday night, says tho “N.Z. Times.” In replying to' demands for increases, tho Hon. J. A. Millar said that he was ready to give better wages where they were deserved, but he was not going to try and buy votes by the expenditure of public money, which was practically what some Opposition members advised. He was not going to be drawn until bis proposed Rill was laid before the House, but increases would bo provided lor. It would, however, lie a matter to he carefully considered, for to give tho men in only one department an of sixpence per day would mean raising the expenditure by £20,000 a year. Those members of the House who had been urging him to increase the wages would have to take the responsibility for what was done and lot the people know that it would mean an increased charges and fares. Tho department could not afford to give any “fancy wages.

POLICE WAGES, AND WORK. Tho Commissioner of Police rcrers, in his annual report, to recommendations made l*y tho Police Commission regarding increases of pay in the force. He has deferred making recommendations, ho states, because tho police vote was already increased considerably by the larger house and travelling allowances granted. “My own opinion,” adds tho Commissioner, ‘‘is that the present rate of pay is not inadequate, but that in some of tho ranks the intervals between the regulation increments are far too long. It takes a constable 16 years to rise from the minimum 7s (id a day to the maxnnvum, 9s Gd a day. I think that if this period were shortened, and a small * allowance made for long service and good conduct, good results would ensue. An alternative would he to fix a higher minimum and maximum rate, hut the whole question is one of money, and later on it will receive careful consideration.” As for the new regulations, a conference of police inspectors will he held shortly to discuss the draft, and they will afterwards he adopted. A vote has been taken for tho enlargement of the Wellington training depot, including provision for a gymnasium. r \ ho defence authorities will detach a drill instructor to give recruits “settingup” drill and physical training, and if this arrangement does nob work satisfactorily tho Commissioner proposes to recommend that a competent drill instructor ho permanently attached to the depot, hie attaches much importance to the physical training of the force, hut time has not permitted him to formulate a scheme of training as yet.