POLITICAL NEWS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3125, 2 July 1917, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS

ABOUT WAR PENSIONS THE ENGLISH SCHEME (m^L° rder P^er ■ sh °'"« i already-that SM» a J* g ° In » to I»»t~Mted this Bfosion in the question of improving the o Pe <? S V M ? T scbemD - Suggestions are ft *}*{ New Zealand should adopt ™„ Br . l twk Plan- Undw the British warrant there are alternative bases for uie assessment of the amount of pension aue. One is tho simple fixing of a minimum pension, arid in every case the • minimum is very much lower than ours in New Zealand. Tho alternative method provides for tie payment of a pension based on tho (soldier's pre-war earnings as a civilian. The basis of calculation is briefly this :-A totally disabled man is entitled to receive, a pension equal to his pre-war earnings up to £2 10s. per week, and half of his pre-war earnings above £2 10s. per week,"-with, a 'relatively high maximum. This gives the man. who.has oarned- a good salary before !t)no war a good pension, placing him in rather a better position than a salaried man in. Army. This scheme is especially good for the unmarried soldier in England, for it should be understood that there 'is no additional pension allowed there for the wife of the disabled soldier. Here tho wife of a disabled man receives 12s. 6d. per week, bringing the combined pension up to .£2 7s. Gd. a week., If there are children tho amount it further increased at the rato of 7s. lid. for each child. None of these increases are allowed in England under the alternative system, so that for (hose who most need liberal treatment the New Zealand scale is tho more generous. For the widow tho sanio plan is adopted in .England; but in every caso the widow is entitled only to,half the pension, that could havo been drawn by the soldier had ho lived, totally disabled. Sir James Allen has for some time been examining the British scheme, taking out comparisons betweeri the New Zealand system and the "English, and it is possible that ho will refer to tho matter when next he speaks of pensions in 'tho. House. It is very doubtful whether any scheme of differentiation among soldiers : according to pre-war earnings would be acceptable to New Zealand, or the New Zealand Parliament. ,

. THE BUTTER-FAT LEVY. '.The_■ members, .from the dairying' districts aro said to bo organising to insist upon relief of their constituents fromthe butter-fat levy. On. the other hand, there,are town members who are indignant against the farmers for the protests they have made about this levy. Tho situation has in it the elements of a good town; versus country wrangle. It Bceme likely, however, that the levy will bo taken off, for the very good reason that it is no '• longer/necessary. The oxport value of butter is scarcely ascertainable now, so that it is no longer possible to impose a levy,based on the difference between export value and local value. Tho export value is ah elusive amount because little or no butter is exported. Probably the export value is not higher than the local value, in which case there conld be no excuse for the imposition of the levy.

; THE UPPER HOUSE. The Legislative Council is a rather tmpty Chamber this session. It is known ihatthe Government is going to appoint View members this session,,but the Cabinet has hardly 'had. an opportunity of tlealing with the matter 6ince the return of the leaders from England. There is ho. immediate hurry to make the' appointments, because there will bo fewBills for some time yet to go to the Upper House, and it is probable that the first legislation to go through will consist of Bills containing appropriation or money clauses. .

SUBURBAN TRAINS. A' conference of city and suburban members of the House has .been called to meet on Wednesday to consider plans for joint action in connection with suburban trains. The object.of the meeting is to formulate uniform demands. It is expected that "the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward and Mr.' Herries will be asked, to Teceive a deputation on Friday. The conference has been convened by Mr. ,T. K. Sidey. • ,

■■"■'■.; EARLY CLOSING. .., Points winch will shortly interest members exceedingly were raised by Mr. J". !T. M. Hornsby in tbo following question, of which he gave notice on Friday:—"Whether, when such licensing measures as the Cabinet may decide-to bring down this session are being considered, the minister 'will give consideration 1 to the following suggestions: That- if the hours of trade.or business are curtailed, the Government will provide the just and logical corollaries :'(1) that due provision be made for reviewing all leases of Ik censed premises and the varying of all covenants of such leases, so that the monetary Ipsses in connection with the carrying-on of the licensed victuallers' trade shall fall in just measure on all lessees, landlords, brewers, and wine and spirit merchants; (2) that,'provision be made'that on the coming into force of .'such legislation as is here Teferred to it shall contain t,he. proviso that all liquor, whether in bottle or bulk, sold for' consumption outside licensed houses shall bo so sold only on production of a police order? ■ ", \ ',

SUPREME COURT BENCH. Sir .Tolin Pindlay, on Friday, gave notice of the following motion:—"That,. as vacancies are likely to arise Ehortly in the Supreme Court Bench, and as it is in the best interests of this country that the high standard of legal -attainment and judicial judgment' hitherto so uniformly displayed by that Bench should be maintained, this hon.' House is of opinion that no barrister should be appointed to the office of a Supreme Court tfudgo merely or mainly because lie has in the,past Occupied, or, does at the .time of the proposed appointment occupy, the position of a Minister of tho Crown. And this lion. House is further and consequently of opinion that the paramount test of fitness prescribed by the Public Service Act should be applied in connection with any,such proposed appointment, so that no past or present member of any Cabinet should be appointed to the high office of a. Supreme Court Judge Whose qualifications (were he a private barrister) would not have entitled him to Euch appointment."

ABOUT THE WARj BONUS. "Has tho way! bonus to Civil Servants ?r' er Jfe R ' appropriated?" asked Mr. T. JI. Wilford (Hutt) when the Imprest aupply Bill was before the House of Representatives on. Friday. "It-has been paid, replied tho Minister of Finance ,(hir Joseph '.Ward). ."But has the money ™f len1 en a PP r «Priated?" retorted Mr. .Wilford "It lias been appropriated bv those who received it!", said.the Minister. .(Laughter.) Sir Joseph Ward added that .ho did not understand tho meaning pf tho question. Wns a, legal point Jraisod?- He was willing to make inquiries. Mr. Wilford. "I will not mention tho matter again."