OLD SORES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14700, 3 September 1915, Page 8

OLD SORES.

SETTLERS AND SPECIAL CONSTABLES, CLAIMS FOR LOST PROPERTY. (By Telegraph.—Special 'to, “Herald.”) WELLINGTON, September 1. - A waterside strike echo reverberated through the legislative halls this aftornooi), when the Public Petitions Committee reported on half a dozen petitions from settlers in tire Auckland Province, who loaned horses and other equipment to the; special constables, but failed to get their- : property back when the strike was over. In the majority of the cases, the Committee recommended the Government to favourably consider the claims for compensation. • --, .A ~strong protest against paying anything to the petitioners was made by Mr. Webb, who said he understood the petition's arose out of the strike. He objected to the Committee’s recommendations. Two years ago there was a strike. . -v member—.“ Lot the dead . past burv itself.” _ Mr. Webb—That’s all right for the guilty conscience, but I will he glad to forget the strike when victimisation is done away with.” He suggested settingup a , committee to go into the whole question, of the spending of money on ..special constables, because he believed taere was a lot of political corruption between the Farm.ers’ Union and the Government. . This is opening up an old sore, at a tune when we are supposed to he co-op-erating tor the • safety of the Empire,” said Mr, Poole. He continued that he was a member of the Petitions Committee and after seeing how the first petition ot this sort—a Hamilton settler’s claim tor. Jic value of a. lost bridle and saddle -was followed by others, which were rushed through the Committee, he believed it would he wise to refer them back again. ■. • ■p ll , 1 ’ expressed - surprise' at Mr, I oole failing to enter his protest at thmeeting. The Commissioner ot Police , had reported that the saddle an-i Iw.-dle bad been loaned, and was mmsed. It could not he traced, and had the petitioner put in a claim at the tune the Goienimerit could’-have’-dealt with it. ■ . ' , Mr Coates remarked that possiblv the Committee did not at first realise that a number of these petitions were to com-' forward. The mini could ill afford bis loss, ’ and he ■ would have obtained the money from the Farmers’ Union had -his claim been sent in earlier. Mr Young mentioned that a deputation of persons who lost horses and otli-v property during the strike waited on the Prime Minister fo secure compensation, hut as all accounts had been closed, he could do nothing. The Farmers’ Union strike committee' l had been disbanded, and the "Farmers’ Union at Hamilton decline-! to. recognise the account. “This,” said Mr Young, “shows the fallacy of the State handing over its "authority to ivespo'nsible committees- of ‘control. The State s’-onlcl have controlled this’ from start to finish. Then people who lost, property could have claimed it from the State.” “It is a remarkable state of things, that the House should tote nn Ume deciding whether a man ought to-be paid, for .an old saddle,” commented Mf Forbes, who f-veuced letting the Committee deal with the matter. Mr Leith suggested that this and simi-lar-petitions wore-, rushed through the Committee at a pace, which dazzled him. The Reform members wanted to make ..time fT s Reform caucus. • > . • .. ' Me Veitch .claimed to-have .discovered -akwsw aspect of the Question.’' He Understoodl’that there, was still a consider-able-amount of money owing for expenses incurved in organising the special constables. To pirns tiiiff claim would result in cornicing a, bad precedent. After several other-members - had discussed other aspects, Mr Hornsby- declared that he and a few friends, to.save the time cf the House, were willing to '■pay for the old paddle if the Petitions Committee would accept- it. .Mr Okcy: “Cash down?’-’ The- reports were 'referred back without division. . ■