POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1798, 10 July 1913, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

• TEACHERS' SALARIES. NO LEGISLATION THIS SESSION. In the House of Representatives .yesterday Mr. J. Hanan, M.P., asked whether the Government intended to introduce legislation, this session to increase teachers' salaries. Tho Hon. Jas. Allen said that tho matter was under consideration but that it was doubtful whether any legislation could bo introduced during the present session. DEFENCE PROSECUTIONS. ALLEGED DISCRIMINATION. An allegation that the military Authorities in Christchurch make a practice of prosecuting certain lads for offences under the Act again and again, while, it was said, numberless other lads who refused training went scathless, was mentioned to the Minister for Defence yesterday by Mr, Isitt, M.P., who asked whether the Minister approved the practice. The Eon. Jas. Allen replied: "Prosecutions have been instituted a second time in Christchurch in tho case of refusal to register on tho part of a few when every opportunity had been given of allowing them to comply with tho Act, and after reasonable lapse of time. It is not the intention of the Department that any person should be allowed to evade his responsibilities under tho Act. Dcspito every effort, a few may succeed in evading detection, but as soon as they can bo traced they will bo dealt with."

WORKERS' HOMES. QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS. Several questions on tho subject of workers' homes figured on the order paper of the House yesterday. Mr. A. E. Glover, M.P., asked whether the Government would grant facilities whereby a worker could acquire a. home for himself in any locality, instead of having to combine with five others.

The Prime Minister replied that tho Government could not comply with the request, as it would involve too irreat an expense. Any worker not prepared to accept the conditions under which dwellings were erected in convenient groups should endeavour to avail himself of the provisions relating to advances to workers under tho State Advances Act.

To another question the Prime Minister replied that two. blocks of Crown land, comprising 24 acres, had been set apart for workers' dwellings in the Blenheim district. Mcst of the land had been leased for grazing purposes, pending the erection of dwellings thereon. It was not usual to' advertise for applications from workers, as so far the Department had already received more applications than it had been able to cope with.

HIS SWAN SONG? HON. J. E. JENKINSON, M.L.C. The Hon. J. E. Jonkinson was speaking in the Legislative Council yesterday on the Address-in-Reply. "I have been prompted to speak," ho said, "partly for the reason that it is probably the last time that "wo shall have a chanco of speaking on the Address-in-Reply." This session,' he added, would tell whether that was or was not to bo tho case. _ Even if it was tho last session in whicih they were to sit in the Council, ho was sure that he, and those associated with him, would carry out their duties properly regardless of whether tho Legislative Council Bill was passed or defeated. Before concluding, he characterised the Bill as "a danger," and said that an elective Council would not bo worth anything to the country. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. In reply to a question by tho Hon. W. Beehan, tho Leader of the Legislative Council (tho Hon. H. D. Bell) said yesterday that tho Government proposed to ask that a special committee be set up to inquire into and report on tlio subject of the subvention of friendly societies in the Dominion. LOCAL ELECTIONS. In reply to a question by Mr. Sidey as (bo whetWer tho Government, would amend tho Local Elections and Polls Act so as to mako the law relating to Parliamentary elections applicablo to municipal and other local elections, tho Prime Minister said that an amendment of tho Local Elections and Polls Act dealing, among other things, with the conduct of elections would bo introduced this session.

LICENSING LEGISLATION. "The intentions of tho Government with regar<l to licensing legislation will be disclosed in duo course."—Such was tho Teply made by the Prime Minister to a question by Mr. Hanan as to whether tho Government was in favour of .or against legislation to reduco the threefifths majority required for tho carrying of No-License. Tho Hon. F. M. B. Fisher stated yesterday in reply to a question by Mr. W. D. S. Macdonald that the report of Mr. L. F. Ayson (Chief Inspector ot Fisheries), upon the trout fisheries at Lake Taupo and Rotorua, would bo laid upon tho table of the House as Boon as it was ready for circulation. ."The powers and scope of thoi Public Accounts Committee were largely extended last session. Tho Government will, however, be glad to receive any suggestions from the honourable gentleman for further extension."—Reply by the Minister for Finance to a question by Mr. J. Hanan, M.P. Tho Prime Minister yesterday informed Mr. Myers that ho would take an early opportunity of stating to tho Houso the view which the Government took of the proposals contained in the report on tlio Taupo Totara Company's petition of last session. The matter of repealing the mortgage tax and placing tho nmount of that tax 011 incomcs, tho Hon. Jas. Allen informed Mr. Okey, M.P., in the House of Representatives yesterday is under consideration. Tho Prime Minister informed Mr. Myers yesterday that tho production of a Town Planning Bill this session would. depend 011 the progress mado with more urgent questions.