POLITICAL NOTES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16846, 23 September 1922, Page 18

POLITICAL NOTES

DEPLETED FLOCKS. (Special to the “ Star.’*) WELLINGTON, September 29* Having regard to heavy depletions in the sfieep flocks of the Dominion, amounting to over four millions in the last fon - years, Sir George Hunter suggested t -day that the Government should limit the export of new season iambs. As a further remedy he urged the Minister of Agriculture to provide cheap fa r tiliser to farmers Tho Hon W. Nosworthy replied that limitation of export would be a matter for the Government, but as the last w ! return was not as bad a..- its predecessors. there was reason to believe chat the tide bad turned The Government did not wish to interfere with export. It was keeping a watchful eye on the situation however. As for fertiliser the Government was doing everything possible to place it on the market at the cheapest- possible price- , EXAGGERATED. The Minister of Justice was recentlyasked by the member fo.* Buller to investigate complaints that the police in carrying out a magistrate’s sentence ha a so severely whipped a boy at Westport that his clothes were thick with congealed blood. Other details 3 were added to show the severity of this 5 punishment, whitsh Air Holland de? scribed as barbarous. » The ATinister of Justice to-day read a lengthv report by the police inspector 1 into the whole circumstances. The Par--3 ont of me lad had refused to produce the bier < stained clothing or indicate the names of the twenty-five persons 1 who were to hav. seen the results o~ tlie whipping. The boy had been taken to two doctors by the par--1 ent. One doctor, seen by the police inspect ’* said he was consulted regord- ' ing a cyst in the boy’s right eye. When this wis dealt with he was asked to } see the marks of punishment, and saw j. weals and a few abrasions, but they did not indicate exceedve severity .ind were not so bad as be bad seen as a i consequence of punishment of school children n tlie ordinary course by a 1 teacher. Another doctor gave similar testimony which, said the Alinistcr, justified him in saving that the published » mplaints were grossly exaggerated THE CUT AND SUPER ANNUA TIOX Railw»y servants have the option o ? contribm.ng to the superannuation fund either on a higher or a reduced scale, replied the Minister of Railways .when Air Field mentioned that though s men had had their wages reduced under s tlie PuTJ-.c Expenditure Adjustment Act they were.still contributing to the fund s on the i asis of their wage before the (ut. * DISABLED SOLDIERS’ HOSPITAL. * It was recently announced that porc manentiy disabled soldier patients at Trentha n Mere to be transferred to the 0 Red Cross Hospital at Lyall Bay. This, said Air Clutha Alnckenzie in bringing the matter under notice of £he Minister oi Defence to-day, was one of the most wind-swept localities in the whole of Wellington- He asked the Minister to consider other sites before deciding on Lyall Brv. c Sir Heaton Rhodes assured the iriojiiber that no decision had been come to. Tht ugh Lyall Bay had its draw--5 backs many medical men considered it f i very healthy spot. Some ’ five ites had bee. offered to the Red Cross Society. one being at Oriental Bay. When l the heads of the medical service and 3 Red Cress Society came to a decision i the matter would be referred to tho 3 Defence Department for approval. * NEW BRIGHTON DOMAIN. A reassuring answer was given by Sir Heaton Rhodes. Minister in charge of State Forests, in regard to a request 1 by Air Sullivan that he should not overlook the promise of a former ATinister t that the New Brighton Borough Coun--6 cil would receive a subsidy of £SOO for planting the Domain. Portion of this i sum had been spent, but it had disappeared from the Estimates, and he was a anxious about the balance. Sir Heaton Rhodes said lie had looked into the r matter and intended bringing a recommendation before Cabinet this week.