POLITICAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume LIX, Issue 6785, 16 October 1920, Page 3

POLITICAL.

I'KX.SIONR <i A weak point in the pensions law whs mentioned by Mr 0. E. Statham (Dunedin Central) in the House of Representatives. The Government pays pensions in respect of the children of si widow, but it pays no'pension to the children if the mother has been divorced befor?. the death of the father. Mr Statham said that he had been brought into touch with a ease where children were suffering hardship from this clause. Sir 'William Herries replied that he would look into the matter. Ho had heard of no- other case of the kind, and it was an axiom among lawyers that hard cases made bad laws.

THE LONDON OFFICE. "What is boinjr done to strengthen the High Commissioner's office in England, particularly on the commercial side," asked Mr 0. J. Hawken (Egmont) in the House. The member added that when the Government wanted information about important commercial matters it had to cable for it. That ought not to be necessary. The dominion ought to have men in London capable of sending important information along without being asked for it. The Prime Minister replied that Cabinet was .waiting for an expression of opinion from the High Commissioner (Sir .Tames Allen) before doing anything in the direction suggested. lie could state that, an officer had already been selected to go to London to assist" in connection with emigration to New Zealand. There had been difficulties in the election of immigrants for New Zealiind, and it was considered that the officers of the High G'immissioncrs' office were not sufficiently in touch with the dominion. CONTINUATION CLASSES Further provision for continuation classes for girls up to the age of 18 years was suggested to the Minister of Education in a question Dr A. K. Newman (Wellington East) asked in the' House of Eopresntatives this afternoon. Ho had been asked by a number of

ladies to bring the matter up. said Dr Newman. The age mentioned was an I important one in the life of the girl, and it would be a very great advantage if there could be continuation schools, Mr Parr said that at the present time if the School Committees wished to have continuation classes they could do so. The Hon. J. A. Hanaii (Invercargill): That has been altered. It is a matter for the Government, and not for the committees. Mr Parr. I think that is u reference to the larger question, whether there should be compulsory continuation classes. There was no question, he proceeded,- that the Department and the Government would have to face as soon as possible the .question of extending the school ago, and adopting a system of compulsory continuation in (his country. There was one consideration, howfiver, affecting the extension of the age. There must be the buildings and the teachers. The problem, it appeared to him, was not so difficult as some people thought. It w«s engaging the attention of the department at the present time, and he hoped to be able to make a statement on it, seting forth the policy of the Government.