EARLY CLOSING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3141, 20 July 1917, Page 4

EARLY CLOSING

POSSIBILITY OF COMPROMISE.

T(; is rumoured that the Government proposes to put in the Bill for the regulation of the sale of liquor the. hours flam to 8 p.m. Hiis rumour cannot be 'confirmed, 'but: it bears the impress or probability. When the Bill comes down the six octock pfirty tvi« certainly force a division on a six o'clock closing proposal. Tt is generally considered Inat the House will not accent eight o'clock closing, and that any compromise will be peven o'clock. No member whose opinion is valuable lias any idea that the present houts will 1)9 retained.

SOLDIERS' DEPENDANTS SECOND DIVISION DEMAND. Representatives of tho British Mediwil Association and a committee of tne Second Division Conference met yesterday, and discussed the question of Jreo treatment of soldiers' dependants. The committee reported to the league last night that it considered tho fellow-' ing should bo resolved oil: "That the State should pay for medical and dental sernces for dependants of soldiers whils 011 active service, and urge the C'evernment that arrangements should be made immediately with tho British Medical Association, tho Dental Association, amlthe New Zealand Trained Nursing Association to give effect to this remit." Tho conference -ccomwendation. "HIGI-I SALARIED OFFICIALS" « — A PROTEST IN PARLIAMENT. "There has been a feeling in this country that the Governor-General has had' too much authority in connection with tho equipping and dispatch of hospital ships," said Mi'- R ; . M'Callum (Wai» rau) in tho House of Representatives yesterday. Ml-. M'Gallum proceeded to rea<l -a newspaper article suggesting that tho Governor-General had undertaken duties outside his proper functions in conncc-i tion with the hospital ships, and urging the Government to reassert its full control over Defence administration. The Defence Minister (Sir .Tames Allen) raissd a point of order. "Is it a proper thing for a member to discuss the action of the Governor-General 1 in this HoViso, cppecially when tjie Ministry is entirely responsible for tho hospital ships and everything else?" said the Minister. The Speaker: It is wrong to discuea the action of the Governor-General. Tho honourable member must not read art extract from a newspaper commenting on members or the action of Parliament. Mr. M'Callum: This charges tho Governor with interfering with the work of the Minister. If the Minister will tako tho wholo responsibility for what lias ; been done in connection with hospital ships I shall be satisfied. It is said that there has been waste. I am' not at all upset by being stopped. I wish to refer also to the increase in high salaries. Wo are told that after we voted a largo sum of money last year in order to provide a war 'bonus" for public servants receiving up to .£3OO a' year the Ministers belied the confidence placed im them by giving a portion of the money to officials. If is said that: tliev intend now, because of a new titlo lately given to this Dominion, to increase a higher salary. I want to make my' emphatic protest against anything of the kind. The Government has not treated this House fairly in giving increases to high-salaried officials or in proposing an. increase in the highest salary iwid in this Dominion. Mr. Noswoi'thy '(A'shburton): Who are you alluding to? Mr. M'Callum: I am referring to luensalaried officials, and I don't care who they are. The Ministers havo treated the" House unfairly.