SESSION NOTES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1497, 29 November 1918, Page 6

SESSION NOTES.

JOTTINGS FROM THE GALLERY. STATE FORESTRY REPORT. [From Our Own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, November 28. The report of the State Forestry Department for the year ended March, 1918, which has been tabled in the J louse of Representatives, states that a total new area of 2053 acres was afforested. The total area planted to date since operations started in 1896 is. now :>2,645 acres—2l,792 in the North Island, and lO.Soli in the South Island. Prisoners are not employed on the South Island plantations, but since 1900 they have done £47,008 worth of forestry work in the North Island. Last year 487,560 trees, valued at £950, were sold to farmers, an increase of 176,593 over the previous year. Wire for Farmers. Mr Massey states that inquiries are now being made with a view to the Government's purchasing surplus wire (barbed and plain) from the Imperial authorities for delivery in the Dominion after the war, so that fanners may be enabled to obtain fencing wire at a reasonable price. Educational Reform. According to the Hon. J. Hanan (Minister of Education) proposals regarding the extension of compulsory education, together with, other progressive steps in educational reform, are at present under consideration of the Government. Salaries of "Dug-Outs." During the debate on the third reading of the War Legislation Bill tonight, Mr Massey announced that Cabinet had decided that a new clause should be inserted in the Upper House repealing that part of the 1917 Act which limited the salaries of retired Civil Servants who had been reengaged to the difference of the amount of their superannuation, and the salary when the officer retired. Jurors' Pay Inadequate. The pay of jurors is undoubtedly inadequate and unjust, confessed the Hon. T. M. Wilford (Minister of Justice) to-night. It is a state of things that requires righting, and the Minister hopes to be able to do something. Defence Commission's Report. A' question recently asked by Mr G. Witty (Riecarton) was whether the Defence Commission's reports, contained a clause or clauses adversely criticising the services of the Chief of the General Staff (Colonel C. M. Gibbon), and if so by whom or on whose authority was the excision made. Sir James Allen has now replied that two portions of the original report were excised by the commfssioners on the advice of the Solicitor-General, as being beyond the order of reference. The report as submitted to Parliament is the final report of the commission. Submarine Bases. Remarking on the fine work done during the war by those men who had gone Home to join the Motor Patrol service, Mr H. G. Ell (Christchurch South) asked the Minister of Marine (Hon. T. M. Wilford) in the House on Wednesday if it were not high time that the Government, which was assisting other sports, lent some encouragement to yachting and boating in New Zealand waters by the establishment of boat harbours at suitable points round the coast. The Minister replied that the suggestion had his approval, but the matter was one rather for comprehensive dealing in the future. They did not, for example, wish to make grants for two boat harbours in close juxtaposition. The future defence of the Dominion might call for submarine bases, perhaps one at the Sounds, and that question would be closely allied with the matter raised by Mr Ell.