POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20000, 16 July 1920, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

Otm C’OFE ESr6>T)EIfT. 1 WELLINGTON, July 10. TOWN BOARDS AND HOUSING. In consolidating the Municipal Corporations Act, an important change in the lan' is contemplated affecting the powers of town districts in earning out housing schemes. Town Boards, although able to build workers’ dwellings to let, are unable to sell them lo tenants on easy terms, as can be done by boroughs. This is an important matter, as there are many town boards wishing to undertake housing. However, the Minister has provided in the consolidating measure that town districts shall hare the full powers regarding housing possessed by boroughs. LYTTELtON HARBOUR LOAN. Mr M’Combs gave notice to introduce the Lyttelton Harbour LoanJQill. NEW SOUTH WALES TRADE PROSPECTS. The Hon W r . F. Dunn, Minister of Agriculture in the New South Males Cabinet, has written to the member fob Kaiapoi, stating“ I have made urgent representations to the Federal people to remove the embargo on New’ Zealand,potatoes, and am hopeful that something can be done. W’c are also inquiring as to the possibility of getting frozen mutton in your country at a reasonable price, if the Government will remove the import duty on that also.” ' AMUR! DOCTOR’S CLAIM. Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Jennings, of Rotherham, has petitioned the House, through Mr Forbes, requesting payment of £l6B. being the same rale payable to civilian doctors who worked the block system during the epidemic. Though petitioner was an officer of ‘the Medical Corps, he was under : orders of the Health Department, and hi?, duties in AmuTi Countv wore entirely civilian. Ho does nOt consider. that the Defence Department had a right to farm out its officers tor such work at a. iate lower than that paid to civilians. CLARENCE VALLEY SETTLEMENT. The Minister of Lands was approached by Mr Forbes and Mr M'CaUum today with the object of calling attention to the good possibilities of opening a large area of the Uarente Valley for soloier settlement, iho band is almost wholly held under Crown and pastoral leases, most, of which are about to fall m. They stated that it is a portion of Marlborough, which has been overlooked. As it is well back from the coast the land is well sheltered, and it made accessible by a forty-mile road would, instead of being held by one or two men, provide holdings where thirty or forty soldiers could run up to 800 sheep each. The estimated cost of the, road is £30,000, the outlet to the district being the Kekerangu Liver, fifty miles south of Blenheim. The Minister promised to secure a report from the Crown land officers and consider the possibilities of utilising the country for soldier settlers. .PLEDGE FOR IMMIGRANTS. ' “.What steps are being takefi,” asked Mr Jsitt, “ to secure a pledge of loyalty and promise to assist in the defence of the country from intending immigrants?”' | Mr Massey stated that this had been overlooked during the war, when there Tvas hardly any immigration, hut statutory provision hud existed for thirty years to secure this pledge, and it would be brought into operation, A CURIOUS OVERSIGHT. ' For eight years Mr Young, member for Waikato, has been chairman of the Native Affairs Committee, therefore it seemed strange that the Government's notice of motion setting up that committee should, not contain'his name. Ihe motion came up for consideration to-day, and .was being put by the Speaker when a Reform member called attention to the • Omission of Mr Young’s name. Then the Native Mitiister asked leave to include the member for Waikato, who had-been excluded, ■ho said,’ through inadvertence. Rut there had been a good deal of private discussion.on this matter beforehand, when it was suggested that as Air Toung voted = against the Government on Mr Statham’s no-confidence motion toheef 5 011 ° met^oc * °I bringing rebels