Parliamentary News

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 July 1916, Page 3

Parliamentary News

-VLlNiS'iii/Ris' A-NtiU Ji,Kis TO MEMBERS.

i'REEZLNG COMPANIES. Mr Hunter, to ask the of f inanc«, whether he will favourably eonsicier the question of mailing some concession in the amount of esceee profits ta be payable under the Finance Bill by freezing companies which have recently started operations? The Right Hon. Siir J. G. Ward replied*: freezing companies will be acoorded the same treatment a« other fcaspayers who have recently commenced operations. No separate special concession can be granted to them.

"FULL-BLOODED GERMANS." Mr Payne, to ask the Minister; of Defence, whether lie will enquire into the case of Lieutenant Just, alleged to be a full-blooded German, and who is a lieutenant in the Cadet Corp at Palmerston .North; and whether he will, at the earliest moment, see that ffiis man, if a German, is no longer allowed to cast ignominy upon our King's uniforto? (Note. — It is stated that sons of Britishers have refused to drill under this man on account of his nationality). The Hon. Mr Allen replied: Lieutenant Just is the son of German parents forty yeans resident in New Zealand; the father is naturalized, the mother died recently. He was born in 'New Zealand thirty-four years ago, has served in the New Zealand foroes for eighteen years, and) is now commanding a senior cadet company with tact and ability. He has volunteered, in order to save embarrassment to the military authorities, to go on the reserve or on leave during the war. The loss of his services will be severely felt in his locality. The allegation thatBritish boys have refused to drill under him is only applicable to one boy who was transferred from another company to Lieutenant Just's oompanv for the express purpose of being disciplined.

MAORI WAB VETERANS. Mr Mander, to asK t-Jtie Government, whether they, will take into consideration the advisability of taking a census of all Maori War veterans, old-age pensioners, and military pensioners over sixity-iive years of age while the general census returns are being taken. bo that the public may be able to got information as to the duration of life of each pensioner and the number of years each pensioner has drawn the pension P The Hon. Mr Russell replied: The forms for the next census have been already approved, and are now being printed; hence it is regretted that it is now impossible to give effect to the honourable gentleman's proposal.

OPOSSUM®. M. W. H. Field, to ask the Minister of Internal Affairs, Whether he wiLl lose no time in coming to a decision as to what are the best steps to protect and regulate the slaughter of opossums in New Zealand, with the object of establishing what will undoubtedly

become a magniaceiit industry in this country, Out which is now being threatened with destruction':'. (Note. —The opossum we haw in the Wellington I district is chiefly the bkek Tasmaniau ! variety—the killing of which is jealously safeguarded n its native country— which is 'not found on the Australian mainland and which flourishes in the Dominion, and would be ia splendid asset if allowed to breed laind multiply in our State forests andi other bush areas. Unhappily, however, these beautiful and valuable animals are being ruthlessly trapped and poisoned in thousands at all seasons of the year not only by residents of this country, but by Australian trappers who are being encouraged to come here by the lack of protection of the opossum and the value of its skin. These people are at present making a good thing by trapping and poisoning opossums, which will presently be either exterminated or so diminished as to take many (years to increase again to their present numbers. The opossum can be trapped or poisoned with the greatest ease and increases very slowly). The Hon. Mr Russell replied: The desirability of introducing legislation dealing with opossums , is under consideration.