ABOUT PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11510, 5 October 1915, Page 5

ABOUT PARLIAMENT.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY. (By Telegraph—Special to the " Star.") WELLINGTON, last night. COST OF LIVING. The amendment to the Commercial Trusts Act, which Sir Joseph Ward *s about to introduce, provides for setting l up a board with wide powers for deai- ! ing with excess'vo prices for foodstuffs, j It is hoped tKat the measure will bo : much more effective than the Act or last session has been, and that it will [ really keep prices for tho necessaries i of life within a reasonable, limit. ! STIMULATING RECRUITING. Mr James Oraigio suggested to thb ! Prime Minister this afternoon that in order to stimulate local recruiting representatives of some of the famous; British regiments who had been at the front and wore now recovering from wounds should bo brought to New Zeabml. Mr Massey thought tho idea a good one, and promised to submit it t-> tho Cabinet. ALIEN TEACHERS. Tli resignation of Professor von Zedlit:!;, which appears to havo been withheld at the instigation of the Board of Victoria College, probably will not stay tho progress of tho Alien Enemy Teachers Bill, but it will s'lcnoo tho popular demand for the passage of tho measure. A groat deal of unpleasant controversy would have been .saved if tho professor's resignation had been accepted when 'it was first offered. CLOSE OF SESSION. Mr Massey still hopes to .close the session before the end of tho present week, and when tho leader of the Fousg sets bis mind to the annual slaughter of the innocents l;e usually accomplishes his purpose. But many members are insisting upon this, that, and tho other thing being done before they go home, and it is possible tho last, scenes willr not be enacted till next week. MAORIS AND ALCOHOL. In tho annual report of the Public Health. Department, the District Health Officer at Auckland, reporting on the health of tho Maoris, epeaka very strongly about .tho ravages caused by drink. "This is a prohibited district for tho Natives, but the amount of sly grog-selling is simply appalling. Useless pakoha men make quite a big living in this way, d"rink at twice it« value. The Natives take it to their homes, and men, women and children partake of it freely, and become intoxicated. At all Maori settlements they have sheds in which to store it. At every funeral, tangi. or entertainment of any Jkind. the majority are drunk. Throe different school teachers have told me of their pupils being drunk after attending a tangiOne small child' of about five was seen by a teacher to bo drunk, and carrying a bottle of liquor. This sort of indulgence must surely be injuring their health. The Natives, while in this state, become very savage, aud it is not the nicest thing for me to be going among them while they are in this state. '