POLITICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18219, 1 November 1924, Page 15

POLITICAL NOTES

(grBCIAL TO "TEX FUM.") WELLINGTON, October 31. (jjjristchurch Drainage Bill. The Christchureli District Drainage Bill has been reported from the Local Bills Committee without amendment. 'ffifmafcarlri Harbour Bill, The Waimakariri Hnrbour District Empowering Bill lias been amended by thfl Local Bills Committee to provide that the amount to be borrowed by Section 6 of the principal Act shall not < exceed £15,000. gjilway Construction Board. Replying to criticism by the Leader 0 f <;he Opposition to-night the Hon. J. G. Coates said it would be impossible to have a Railway Board in regard to the construction of railways. It would be following a bad example to se t up a Board. The individual Minilter must, form his own opinion, after getting nil the necessary information. He should then he able to satisfy the public whether expenditure was justifiable en a lino or otherwise. No Licensing Legislation. Replying to a question put in the House of Representatives this afternoon the Prime Minister said the Government had decided that it would be very unwise to bring on licensing legislation at this late stage of tlie session. He could not say whether a Bill would be brought down for circulation. That had not yet been decided. As .-i matter of fact the Bill had not yet been printed. He would make a statement about' jt within a day or two. j

A Singapore Question. In the House of Representatives today Mr J- A. Nash (Palmerstou) asked if, in view of the altered situation in the Old Country, the Government would be prepared to urge the new' British Government to proceed with the construction of the Singapore base. Mr Massey replied that it was almost too early to ask such a question. (Laughter.)

Mr Armstrong: It may be only a rumour.

Mr Massey added that he did not want to trench on party questions. Th;? honourable gentleman knew Hie opinion held by the Government. ;i year ago in reference to Singapore, and the Government was of the same opinion still. He could draw his own conclusions from that.

Juvenile Offenders. Mr H. T. Armstrong asked the Minister of Justice a question About, the differentiation made bv magistrates In the publication of juvenile offenders' names. Ho mentioned two Christchureh cases. In one case two boys of 46 were convicted of stealing a bicycle. They were first offenders, but the magistrate refused to suppross the publication of their names. In tho other case another magistrate ordered the suppression of the name of a first offender of 20 3*ears. ,\*Thv Hon. C. J. Parr replied that such i matte; s were entirely within the diseffttion of the magistrate. His own opinion was that in the case of a first offence the names of juvenile offenders «}i6uld be suppressed. He would internet the Under-Secretary to make enqnlries into the two cases.

, (Wages in Teaching Staffs. .'.When the Education Bill was before thk. Legislative Council this afternoon, the Hon. Mark Cohon said that in Committee he had had a clause inserted in the Bill, providing that except in any special case approved by the Director, on the recommendation of the j Board and the senior inspector, no per-j ion who had permanently been appointed as a teacher to any position, shall'before December 31st in the year immediately following the year in whielt he was appointed be eligible for appointment to another position. Mr Cohen claimed that this provision was in the interests of the children, upon whom frequent changes had a disturb-ing-effect. The interests of the children ooght to be considered before those of the teachers. Other speakers fjpreed with Mr Cohen, and the Hon. D. T. Fleming gave instances of frequent changes in teaching staffs, including one where the whole staff changed « the course of two years. The newprovision was agreed to. • .Bills In Legislative Council. ! In the "Legislative Council to-day The Mining Act Amendment Bill, fnd the Native Trustee Act Amendment Bill were reported from Commit- ' fate without amendment. I The Mining Act Amendment was referred back to the Goldfields and Mining Committee for further consideration. sbe Council disagreed with a certain jj&endment made by the House in the dnattels Transfer Bill. The Education Aet Amendment Bill fas put through its final Btages. Dairy Industry Act Amendment . BiiLand the British Nationality and Bt*tus of Aliens Act Amendment passjKl without amendment. A Charge and a Beply. j Liberal members are often very reck--1«S in the charges they make against tye Reform Government. During the det>ate on the Public Works Statement this afternoon, Mr Edie, ttie member for Gutha, found himself suddenly out of Sis depth. Sir George Hunter, the Beform member for Waipawa, had hjtfefly urged a more rapid progression - *jith tho Napier-Gisbotnc railway. Mr later quoted items from the Estimates which he said showed that Sir QeOige Hunter, as a Government supi porter, had been unduly favoured in rtgard to Government grants, which he proceeded to particularise. •'< Unfortunately for Mr Edie, he blun--4 dered in his quotations, for Sir George Banter was able to reply that several ■ . <if"the votes mentioned by the member ' for Clutha were in the electorate of • the Liberal member for Hawkc's Bay (Mr G. McKay). Mr Edie made no reply to this * revelation. THE TALK OF THE TOWN. V WATSONS' WONDEBFUL WATCH VALUES. Btrong, reliable,' Boys' Watches from ;7s 6d; Girls' Dainty Wrist Watches ;. from 12s 6d; Ladies' 10-Jewel Gold -"--'Bracelet Watches from 60s. All these ?>*'. Watches have been greatly reduced, v, *nd are unequalled value. We are exilpert watchmakers, and undertake all „ elasses of repairs. If your watch goes on strike, let us fix it. See also our Wonderful assortment of novelties, the very latest in smart ear-rings, bead '.necklets, etc. Watsons', Jewellers, Ltd., .two shops, 695 Colombo street and 247 -High street. ® ■■h: yty > ■. f PRICE'S THIRST QUENCHERS. Price's Raspberry, Busset Apple, fiOrange Kola and other delicious |;Bavottrs are real thirst quenchers. The bwjt summer drinkß. Is bottle Bakes 3 gallons of delightful beverage, are others, but none as good as m-/