POLITICAL NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 296, 10 September 1919, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES

, WIDOWS' AND CHILDREN'S PENj} SIONS. ''. ,; '"^h 6 w hole question of -widows' and ' children's pensions is now receiving tho \ attention or the Government," stated the ■'b Prime Minister in-answer tea question, f put by Mr. H. Poland (Ohinemuri). The niombor suggested that the ordinary pension scale should be raised to the level °l ~ ?2 ldem i° scale, and that pensions should bo paid to wives a,nd children in the cases of tho permanent incapacity of tho bread-winners. The Prime Minister promised to oonsider these points. TO CHECK PROFITEERING'. "Legislation has ■ already been pre.pared and will- be placed before the V;--;. Houso shortly," 6aid the Primo Minis■T ter, in answer to Dr. A. K. Newman ; ' (Wellington East), who asked if the Government would pass . legislation during the, present session to check profiteering and so reduce the cost of living. ELECTORAL LAW. , , The member for Napier (Mr. J. V. i Brown) asked the Prime Minister.if the 3 Government intended during the present i session to introduce "proportional representation or any other kind of voting." Massey replied that it would ' not bo possiblo for Parliament to deal ■' with the subject of proportional representation this session. He added 'in answer to Mr. C.-E. Statham (Dunedin Central) that Parliament might be asked to deal with some amendments of the electoral law this session. .-...-. THE HOUSING PROBLEM, ■ A suggestion that in view of the great scarcity of houses in Wellington tho Government' should assist' the City

Council's scheme by providing funds at ft low rate of interest was made by Mr. ' & A:"Wright (Wellington Suburbs), who pointed "out", that ■ unless cheap money were : forthcoming it would be impossible for the council to let houses at reasonable rentals.' Tho Prime Minister replied that the matter -would.be dealt with in a Bill relating- to housing, which would shortly be brought before Parlia-; ment. •■■•■-.• ■-■ Mr. J. P. Luke (Wellington North) •urged the' Government to avoid delays in regard to. housing. The local bodies could mako plans, but they could not build. many nouses unless .the Govern-. • mont assisted them- in the: matter .of finance. He hoped that the country would be told very soon that'the,money for the ereotion of houses was available. ADMINISTRATION OF.WAR FUNDS! Mr.'W, D. Stewart (Dunedin ..West) . asked if the Government intended to set up.a commission to inquire into the'administration of war funds and their final destination, and'-also if the Government would make public any reports received from the Auditor-General and ment .auditors /on the Y.M.C.A. war funds. "Both matters are now under consideration of. Cabinet," replied Mr. . Masaey, ''and an answer will be given ■ later in the session."- ' ' THE HIGH PRICE OF LAND.

There is-fairly general concern as to the rising, prices of land, and especially as to the high prices being paid tor land settled by.returned soldiers. The Minister of lands, replying to a question yesterday, said that the Government was not paying extortionate prices. "In all its negotiations for the purchase of private Land," • said Mr. : Guthrie, "the Government exercises the greatest care to ensure that it is purchased at.a figure well within-ruling market >values.. This. 4s borne out by the fact that in some oases where properties have been declined by the Board of Land Purchase ■ Commissioners on the ground that the-price has been excessive they have been disposed of privately immediately afterwards at. «v still higher figure.. .- Compared.. with ruling values the board has in no case recommended an exorbitant price for a property; but, on the other hand, has succeeded in many instances in having the vendor's original Ipriee reduced by as much as <£I 0 per acre."-;. -•.•-. '■?-' " A ROAD PROBLEM;. ' ; -:'-. The restriction of railway 'services has had the effect of increasing the^a'mount. 1 .of heavy motor traffic on roads, damaging the roads considerably. Mr. W. H. Field suggested to the Minister of Public Works that the Govenimentonght to bear the cost of repairing roads go damaged. Many of tho roads had been damaged to a deplorable extent, and the cost of repairs could, not.be met by the local bodies in they district, i. Sir William Eraser, replied chat the Department would be prepared to consider on its merits every application 'for,, assistance. - SOLDIER CROWN TENANTS AND , , THE FREEHOLD. The Minister of Lands (the Hon. D. H. Guthrie) informed , Mr. G. Hunter (Waipawa) in the House..of Bepresenta- ■ tives yesterday that the Government was considering the introduction of-legisla-tion for the relief-of Crown tenants who had lost their opportunity of'acquiring •the freehold of their sections because' of absence on active service. The rule under the present law is that a tenant.must ac>quire the freehold in-five years, other- •' wise his right of purchase lapses. In the case of several tenonts, 60 it is re-, ported, the period of ..five years expired • •while they were away with the forces.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONERS. The appointment of the Public Service Comtnissionera was never' approved, by Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P. In the: House yesterday he asked the Prime Minister whether there was' any hope' of these gentlemen being allowed to rotire on superannuation. ■ Mr. Massey said that the question was a very important one, and he did not think he would be justified in answering it without consulting hiß' colleagues. ■■.'■".

•ASSISTED IMMIGRATION. -"Mr. Pearce asked the Prime Minister fn the.House yesterday whether the Government intended to assist immigration. Ho had sat'as a member of the Immigration Committee, and that committee had .found that practically every industry was suffering from lack of labour. The Prime Minister said that he did not' 'think there was need for any fresh legislation, but'at present immigration was impossible because all the shipping space was required for returning soldiers.

JAPAN AS AN ALLY. In tho Legislative Council, tho Hoh. G. M.'Thomson reforrea yestordny to our relations with Japan. 'He said that ho remembered feeling, as he watched the first troops sail from Now Zealand, that they did 60 in comparative safety, bo cause they were under the convoy of Japanese warships. "I would like to see tho people of New Zealand, and the Govern- 1 inent of New/Zealand,' as representing them'/' lie continued, "taking a more sympathetic attitude than has hitherto been dono towards tho Empire of Japan. I recognise as well as anyone the tro. mendous commercial warfare that is certain to exist, and is in fact going on at the present time between Japan and parts of our Empire; font I think that throughout the war Japan showed a marvellously correct attitude' towards tho Allies. <tf am not aware of any time at which she departed from that correctness of attitude. I think we ought to recognise in all our .future dealings with tho nation that we are indeed under a great debt of . gratitude to it." Praise of Japan, as uttered by the \Hon. G. M. Thomson, found no echo in the oxDressions of a succeeding speaker the Hon. W. Earnshaw. Mr. Earnshaw I deplored tho "exploitation of China by Jaoan." and with regard to Japan's motives for assisting the.Allies he said: "Ever and always it has not been for high humane principles, but it has been ' for the immediate aggrandisement of tho far-seeing and far-reaching determination of JaDan. to be a first power among tho nations of tho earth. . . ," Sir Francis Bell: Please remember that Jauan is (out ally. i Mr. Earnshaw: She is our ally. I , claim. Sir. that I am within my rights not onlv in denouncing Japan, but in de- / nouncimr anv general or admiral of our Vr own forces. It is my duty here as a member of this Council to say what I think is the true position of affairs, and T consider I am not overstepping the bounds in saying that if we are to take uo the attitudo that because America is nn allv we aro to say nothing with recard to what President Wilson may. eay, with hw Fourteen Points, or any one of the European points, wo.may as well . not difloußs tho matter.

Sir Francis Bell: You were, denouncing Japan. ■ Mr. ' Earnshaw: I am denouncing Janan-— Sir Franois Bell: And in terms thai: were unfit to apply to an ally. Mr. Earnshaw: I think I am justified in saving''that'no act of Japan has been done from the high humane motive, but for her immediate aggrandisement upon tho continent of Asia. ' That is a fnntter of-opinion, but it is my opinion, and I consider I am within my rights in givinc expression to that.

The discussion was not pursued further.

PAYMENT OF JURORS. Replying to a question'in the House of 'Representatives yesterday, the Prime Minister said that a Bill dealing with tiie subject of the - payment of jurors was at present under consideration of Cabinet. GERMAN GOODS. Mr. Wriirht (Wellington Suburbs and Country District) has given notico to ask the Prima Minister—(l) Whether he is aware that German goods are being sold in Great Britain? (2) Is this in harmony with tlio Peace Treaty? (3; If so. will it bo possible for German eoods to flood the New Zealand markets '< (i) Is. it the intention of tho Government to increase the tariff on all articles made in Germany?" Mr. Wright mentions that thero aro some traders in New Zealand who aro opposed to any tradirur with Germany, whilst others aro wiiline to trade. 'In order that all merchants and traders may be placed upon an eaual business footing ' a definite statement by the Government will bo welcomed.