POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11504, 28 September 1915, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

(ifnou Our Oorkespoxdents.) WELLINGTON, September 27. PRISON REFORM. Power to classify prisoners into two grades is contained' in the amendment of the Prisons Act introduced to-night. Persons sentenced to less than seven days' imprisonment may be detained in a police station. The functions of the Prisons Board are to be enlarged so as to make inquiry at the Minister's request as to whether there are sufficient grounds for granting the release on probation of any person (not an habitual criminal) undergoing sentence of more than twelve months. In recommending the Governor to release any prisoner the boa I'd' must, says the Bill, have regard to the safety of the public or of any class of persons, and to the person whom it is proposed to release on probation. PENSIONS FOR MINER'S PHTHISIS! The Miners' Phthisis Bill provides for a pension of £1 per week to a married man or widower with children, and los weekly in the case of an unmarried man who has been totally incapacitated by miner's phthisis contracted in New Zealand. To secure the pension an applicant must be of British nationality, have resided' live years in Now Zealand, and worked as a miner -for two and a half years. If any miner dies from the disease his widow shall bo on titled for two years to a pension of 12s 6d weekly. A funeral payment not exceeding £2O is also authorised under the measure. Tlio pension scheme ia to be controlled by the Commissioner of Pensions, and" those who draw allowances will not be entitled to take advantage of th© ordinary pensions. The scheme is to be financed from the portion of the gold duty paid to the Public Trustee, and from appropriations made out of th© Consolidated Fund. TAXATION BILLS. Taxing Bills will be brought down to-morrow. The Government hopes to put through the principal measure at one sitting. Regarding the important sources of revenue from land aud income taxes, which were outlined by the I Minister in the Budget, it is unlikely 1 that there will be any alteration, but there is a probability of a .slight modi- | ftcation of the present mortgage taxa- j tion, which has been the source of much discussion and of keen criticism in the House. Ah a result of discussion when the proposals were originally placed before Parliament, there nil! probably be alterations in the proposed increases and 1 readjustments in Customs taxation. It ; appears certain that the beer duty will j be further increased by about one-third of the original increase of £55,000, j while there will be a proportionate decrease of the previously proposed impost on mineral oils. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. The Public Works Statement is now ready for presentation, but it is doubtful whether it will lie introduced this J week. It will probably }>o held back till ne>:r. Tuesday. Prudeixv will be exer j eised. but. there is to be no disturbing I cmrtailir.enb of expenditure on public ' works*