POLITICAL NOTES

Timaru Herald, Issue 170307, 1 September 1920, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES

ACCOUNTS FOR TRANSPORT 01? TROOPS. From our Parliamentary Correspondent WELLINGTON August 30. Vn I-riday, while the defence estimates were being considered, Mr Wiiiord asked some questions about the visit of Captain Kirk wood .to Britain to settle disputed claims between the iNev Zealand Government and the Admiralty, amounting to half a million sterling or more The amount in dispute as in reference to the transport or troops, winch was taken over at a ceit-am stago of the war by the I £ on ; H .Government. I t , was stated that Captain Kirkwood is a qualified accountant, with a lengthy- experience of shipping accounts and shinping law, and that he had been connected with transport working right, through the •ttar. lie was declared unfit I'or active service. He will have associated with Jura, in London, Captain Noseda, who was transport officer at the \ T Z E F administrative headquarters. „ n d will have the advice and assistance of the J-tigli Commissioner, Kir James Allen Hie matter to be dealt with i s an adjustment of accounts. ■INQUIRY FOR NEWCASTLE COAL. WELLINGTON, August 31. ■ i r Vr K ° askc< * tie Prime Minister m the House to-day whether the Commonwealth Government had removed -lie embargo on the exnort of Newcastle coal to New Zealand/and whether he would ascertain the accuracv or otherwiso_ of t-no? published statement that i-Tl'nan i' ad to purchase JpP,OOO tons or Newcastle coal. Would • lie I rime Minister ascertain also the price at wiucli this coal was being sold to^Swedcn:' Mr Massey replied that the'statement ! that Sweden had purchased a large ! qu-.intity of Australian coal was correct He was not sure at the moment of the exact quantity or of the price. With regard to the other part of the question, the- embargo on the export of Australian coal had not been lilted. He had to.d the House a. few ria.vs ago that in response to inquiries he had received a reply from Mr Hughes which was ; "satisfactory so far as it went " Tt i was satisfactory so far as the immediate needs of the country were concerned. J.here were four steamers at Newcastle now i'or cargoes of coal for New Zealand H- had telegraphed to Mr Hughes asking that these ship? should be given their cargoes. He had arranged that a- representative of the I. ail way Department should go to Newcastle to look to the position and to eua»-avour t 0 secure coal for New Zealand. ELECTRIFYING OTIRA TUNNEL. The net tenders received for the electrification of the Otira tunnel were as follows—National Electrical a-nd Engineering Company, £284,012; English Electric Company. £264.973. The actual figures submitted bv the English Hectnc Company were. £313,4<07, "but included in this sum there was a- considerable amount of apparatus not tendered for by the National Electrical Company. When reduced to the same basis the English Company's price was move* favourable to the extent of £19,938. The National Electrical Company submitted seven alternative tenders ranging in price up t 0 £337,385, this being for the supply of major machinery of British manufacture. THE COAL MINERS' DISPUTE. Per Press Association. In the House this evening Mr Massey stated that considerable progress had been, made by Mr Hallv towards a settlement of the coal miners' dispute. Sir Hally would make his award in a few days. The matters in dispute were not in themselves important, "nut were likely to develop into serious difficulties: COUNCIL'S AMENDMENTS. The_ House evening agreed to amendments made by the Council in the Masseurs, Crimes Act Amendment, and Arms Bills, except in one ease in the Masseurs Bill, and managers were appointed to confer with the Council on this question. WAR. REGULATIONS BILL. Mr Massey moved the third reading of the War Regulations Continuance Bill. Mr Eraser reiterated Labour's objections to the measure. Mr Sidey urged that a clause should be added in the Council to revoke the regulations at the end of two years. He also thought that a limit should bo placed on the period in which trading with the enemy was being prohibited. Replying, Mr Massey s aid he hoped it would not be necessary to keep the regulations in force very long. People who respected law and order had nothing to fear from them. As to trade with Germany, he- did not believe any quantity of German goods was coming to this country,, and as far as he was concerned he was not anxious to tirade with Germany. Tho Bill was read a third time by 38 to 7, a division being called for by the Labour Partv.