POLITICAL NOTES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14340, 9 July 1914, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

DANGEROUS CROSSINGS. AUTOMATIC SIGNALLING DEVICE. (By Telegraph.—Special to Herald.) WELLINGTON, July 8. An automatic signalling device for use at level crossings has hoen designed, states the Minister of Railways, and has been undergoing a practical test at Levin during the past three months, satisfactory results having boon achieved. Arrangements have been made to instal the appliances at various busy crossings at. opportunity offers. In view, however, of the heavy cost involved, and the fact that the machines have to bo manufactiu ed, it will only be possible to equip a hxca number of crossings each year, but the work will be carried on until all the busier crossings are provided for. A STRIKE ECHO. CLAIM FOR REVOLVER INJURY. An echo of the lively times of last November was provided in the petition presented to Parliament this afternoon by one Arthur J. Dockery, living at Island Bay, Wellington, claiming compensation for injury and loss of work due, petition alleges, to having been shot by a mounted special constable during some disturbance.-! in Webb Street, Wellington. A bullet entered the right shoulder, close to the neck, and passed out at the back, Dockery states that he was not taking part in any disorder at the time. OPPOSITION UNITED—"REFORM" DISAPPOINTMENT. The hopes of the Ministerial party that the division would disclose cleavages in the Opposition ranks wore levelled by some remarks let fall by the first "Reform” speaker. upon the resumption of the Address-in-Reply debate. Mr Wilkinson, the member for Egmont, addressing himself to the Liberal benches, chided members whom he termed Independents upon what he declared ■was a desertion of their proposed political attitude. Amid some merriment from the Liberal -side, he raid, "They can be called Independents no longer. I believe their independence has gone at last, and that they are now well-known supporters of the Liberal party.” The same sense of disappointment was particularly indicated by Mr Wilkinson in regard to Mu Arthur Myers, the member for Egmont stating that Mr ' Myers en dorsed the "Reform” navy policy, but voted on the other side. The Liberals Were welcome to him. (Opposition laughter.) MAORI WAR VETERANS. WELLINGTON, July 8. It is not proposed to provide military pensions for veterans of the Maori War who were not "under fire,” states the Hon. F. M. 15. Fisher, in reply to a suggestion by Mr Vcitch that, he should consider the claims of those veterans who, having served in the Maori War, are nevcitheless debarred from having a pension on the grounds that they have i.ot been "under fire.” NOTHING DONE. Mr Buxton’s inquiry as to the still-born reciprocal treaty between file Commonwealth and New Zealand has elicited from the Hon. Mr Fisher the statement tha. tne -New Zealand Government cannot .ake action in relation to the treaty, except wLh the consent and co-operation oi tne Commonwealth Government, and this, su tar, has not been torilicoming.

INSURANCE PRACTICE. DEDUCTIONS FROM POLICIES. According to the member for Temuka, it is well Known tuat some companies doing fire insurance business in New Zealand compete unfairly uy accepting risks in excess of actual insurable values, relying on disputing claims, and getting a sco lemenc on a reduction of the claim, under the policy for which full premiums may have been paid for ten or twenty years; and, turtiier, wliere a reduction of the claim has been agreed upon, no return of premium is mptie. His suggestion rhat this practice be met by a statutory provision entitling an assured person to tue lull amount of the policy in ca.-.e of total loss does not appeal to tho Hon. Mr Fisher (Minister in charge of the Siata Fire insurance Office),. who sui.es that legislation in the direction suggested would ha in direct antagonism to dll universally recognised and xundamental principles of fare insurance. H •sacii insurance company wore to he called upon to make' frequent inspections aud va.nations of individual risks it' could only be done by -materially increasing die ram of premiums charged, on account oi tho very large expense involved, and even then it would be quite xmpossiule to Keep control of values, the consequence ' of which would he that in many cams a direct incentive to incendiarism would be offered. '

NO SPECIAL DEFENCE TAX. It is not intended, states the Minister of Defence, in answer to a question by Mr Atmore, to make provision for a special Defence tax. Taxation in this country is already pretty well distributed according to the wealtli of the individual. The land tax and income tax are both graduated, the owner of land paying according to tho unimproved vaiue of his land, and the receiver of an income paying graduated tax on his income, declares Mr Allen. MAINTENANCE OF MAIN ROADS. In reply to a question by Mr Myers, the Prime Minister states that a Bill will be submited to Parliament- this session dealing with the whole question of roads aud bridges aud the maintenance A' mam roads. ' BIBLE IN SCHOOLS'.' There are 1313 names attached to a petition presented by Mr W. A. Yeitch (Wanganhi) from the Roman Catholics of lhat district protesting against a referendum on the question of Biblc-toaching in schools.