POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12777, 22 October 1919, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

GALLERY GOSSIP. I [Faoii Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, October 21. WAR MEMORIALS. j The Minister of Internal Affairs was receutlv asked by Mr Witty, on behalf of the West Melton War Memorial Committee, for a subsidy towards the erection of a war memorial hall, but the Minister intimated that the Government would not subsidise local memorials. It considered that these j should be provided out of locally-raised funds. MAILS BY MOTOR. The Postmaster-General, replying to a_ suggestion that the motor mail services provided during the railway cut by tee Canterbury Progress League shorn ! be continued, has informed Mr Wittv* that it was not the policy of the Post Office to subsidise the conveyance, of in oils by road to places served by rail, and _ suitable train services now were available. “I take this opportunity,” added the Minister, ‘‘of expressing my appreciation of the valuable assistance rendered to the Department by the league. In consideration of this assistance I have had pleasure in authorising payment to the league of the whole of its expenditure on ao- , count of the services.” ♦ INADEQUATE SENTENCES. A sailor _ who was held back from a risky attempt to board a departing steamer in "Wellington assaulted the constable who performed this service. The Magis*- j fcrate fined him £5, which Mr Isitt I stated in the House was quite inade- i quate punishment. He asked the Prime Minister if he could do anything in the matter. Mr Massey expressed doubts whether anything could b© done. Ho could not critie.se the Magistrate, nor revise the sentence. | RETIREMENTS AND PROMOTIONS. The New Zealand Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association petitioned the House praying that, in order to give better and more reasonable' opportunities for promotion in the service, all officers with forty years’ service or more, and who are entitled to a pension of not less than £250 per annum, should be compulsorily retired. The Public Petitions Committee reports that as the matter is one of policy it has no recommendation to make. COMMONWEALTH SOLDIERS’ GRATUITY. A suggestion was made by Mr M’ Combs in the House that the New Zealand Government should follow " the example of the Australian authorities in paying th© gratuity from the date of enlistment instead of embarkation. > i The Minister of Defence said he had no official information on the subject, but he considered that New Zealand's scheme waj more generous, if various allowances were taken into consideration. WIDOWS’ AND MINERS’ PENSIONS. In reply to a question .by Mr Hornsby to-day, the Prime Minister informed the Lhuse that Cabinet had considered the question of improving the Widows’ Pensions Act. An amending Bill was befoiA Cabinet at the present time, ! and would be introduced 1 before the session ended. The Prime Minister added that the proposal would not go as far as some members had asked, but the Government had gone as far as was considered possible at present. Mr Masw further stated that there would also be an amendment of the Miners' Phthisis Act.SOLDIERS’ GRAVES. The Prime Minister was asked by Mr Jennirgs to-day if there was any chance to have the remains of soldiers burio l in France and Gallipoli removed to-G;oat Britain or brought to Neijr Zealand. Mr Massey explained that a nun her of inquiries of this nature had reached him while ho was in France early this year, and -in every case the' request had been refused by the Imperial authorities on the grounds that to attempt anything of the sort would result simply in chaos.. The t rime Minister added that he could assure parents and relatives that the graves in France were receiving everv care, while an attempt was being math to identify and care for graves in Gallipoli. | OIL FUEL SUPPLIES. . j A suggestion was made to the Prime " Mint, ter by Mr Luke to-day that Jnquin >s should he made with a view - "to securing a. supply of oil fuel so that r steam standby plants for hydro-electric services ©001(1 be provided with this fuel Mr Luke also wished inquiries to be made about supplies and storage resen oirs. t Mr Massey undertook to make inquiries It was, he said, no secret that New Zealand expected to have an oilburning in its waters.® There would he no difficulty about supplies, , but reservoirs would have to be pro- . vided. He understood that the Auck- ’ land Harbour Board was prepared to erect an oil reservoir on the waterfront and the Union Steam Ship Company contemplated doing the same. COUNTY SUBSIDY. The Heathcote County Council and several , other local bodies petitioned Parliament praying for the repeal of a clause© of the Selwyn County Subdivision A.ct, 1902, owing to the manner in which it prejudiced their finances. The Public Pensions Committee reported to-day that in its opinion an amendment of the Act was necessary, in order that each county should. re-

ceivo its full subsidy. This was supported in the House by a number of members, indicating that the grievance was throughout New Zealand where counties have been subdivided. SOLDIERS’ WIDOWS. The Public Petitions Committee has recommended to the Government for consideration the petition of Elizabeth A. Coleman, Christchurch, for a compassionate allowance on account of services rendered by her late husband while he was a member of the New Zealand Defence Force. A similar petition from Henrietta M. Docherty, Christchurch, has resulted in a recommendation that the peti- , tioner should apply for a Avar pension. MR HANAN’fi WORK. More than half-a-dozen members said appreciative things during the Education Bill debate regarding the administration of the Hon J. A. Hanan, exMinister of Education, These tributes were probably all the more acceptable as some came from the ex-Minister’s political opponents. Mr Isitt led the Avay Avith very hearty testimony to Mr Hanan’s capacity. < Mr Sykes referred to tho ex-Minister’s enthusiasm, tact and courtesy. Mr Talbot’s view avus that he could only hope for the sake of the education of the future that Mr Hanan Avould be Minister of Education in the next Parliament, while Mr W. H. Field, from the Government benches, untroubled by this political prayer, said he entirely agreed with all that had been said about Mr Hanan’s good work for education. He felt that - if the late Minister had had money at his disposal _he would have broiighr about many improvements in the education system. j HEAVY DEATH DUTIES. ! An interesting petition, illustrative of how heavy death duties may be imposed on an estate through unfortunate circumstances, lias been considered by the Public Petitions Committee of the House. Mary A. Harding, Palmerston North, petitioned praying for j a reduction in the death duties on a I deceased relatiA r e’s estate. Tho committee at first reported that it had no recommendation _to make, but the matter Avas ventilated in the House, it being shoAvn that through three deaths of legatees within two years an estate originally Avorth £30,000 had paid £SOOO death duty. The recommendation was referred back in the hope that the committee could find some method of relief. It has now reported recommending that legislation should be introduced making a reduction in death duties where the successors dio within a year of each other, thus following the lines of Imperial legislation. RELIEF FOR OVERWORKED MOTHERS. Nearly a thousand AVomen of tho loverty Bay district have petitioned Parliament, through the Hon W. D. S. Mac Donald, earnestly begging for im- ' mediate restoration of the pre-war reduced passages for domestic help. They point out that many Avomen are breaking down in health from ovenvork and strain, while the low birth rate is not likely to improve unless some relief is afforded overworked mothers.