PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1920, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

PROSPECTING SUBSIDY. WELLINGTON, Aug 11

Mr Atmore (Nelson) asked the Minister of Mines whether lie will this session consider the urgent heed for increasing tho subsidy given to mining prospectors. The present subsidy is quite inadequate in view of the greatly increased cost of provisions and mining equipment. Mr Massey replied the Government has already recognised that the subsidy payable to prospectors is inadequate and, as already announced in the financial budget, steps have been taken with a view to increasing such subsidy. It is expected that amending regulations increasing the subsidy by 30 per cent will appear in next week’s Gavotte. THE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council, which lias had nearly, a fortnight’s holiday, met to-day and made some amendments in the Anns Bill, the chief being the postponement of its operation until January Ist next. N.Z. MEAT. Hon W. F. Massey stated in the House that he did not think there was any cause for alarm regarding the deteriotation of New Zealand meat in stores in Britain. The meat was not so good after two years in store as when first frozen, and he thought somo trouble had arisen after the meat left the Dominion, hut British wholesale buyers were good judges, and would buy meat on its actual merits. A DENIAL. The Minister of External Affairs denied the report circulated by Labour members, that Government had asqnired a controlling interest in the Samoan “Times” published at Apia. Government had no interest in the newspaper, direct or indirect. THE HOTOP AFFAIR. The House spent most of the afternoon discussing the recommendation of the Committee that compensation should be paid to H. H.~ Thompson, who was tried by court martial in 1017 and imprisoned for stating that Capt. Hotop had been drunk on duty in Featherston Camp. This case attracted much attention in 1918 owing to the fact that Hotop was proved to have been an habitual drunkard. Thompson was a home service man in camp, and it is alleged that he did not receive a failtrial and was sacrificed to protect the officer’s name. Many members urged to-day that Government should not merely compensate Thompson, but should investigate the whole affair with a view to punishment of those responsible for the trial and conviction. The case is lent additional interest by the fact that the president of the court martial is since dead and that both were officers whose nationality was questioned in Parliament during the war. Hotop was stated at the time to he of : Swiss extraction.

Sir Heaton Rhodes, Minister for Defence, promised to look into the case thoroughly. POWER. TO BORROW. Sir W. Herries stated that new legislation will give local bodies power to borrow money for the purchase of land on which houses are to be erected. By attempting a comprehensive building programme at the present, this would make worse the present state of the building market. Already there is more work offering than could he done. He said to-day that it would lie necessary for him to work to some plan or scheme which would have to build houses. TO REPATRIATE. Mr Holland asked for the repatriation of Russians who wished to return to their own country. Hon Lee replied that the only Russians whom New Zealand desired to repatriate had been refused permission to return to Russia by the Soviet Government. SCHOOL BUILDINGS. The Minister of Education lias decided that no good purpose can be served by attempting a comprehensive building programme at present. This would make worse t tie present state of the building market. Already there is more work offering than could he done. He said to-day that it would be necessary for him to work to some plan or scheme which would have to extend over four years at least. New schools would be built and old schools remodelled in their order Of necessity and urgency. He had asked the Education Boards to furnish the Department with a list of their building requirements for the next three years.