POLITICAL JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1922, Page 4

POLITICAL JOTTINGS

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN.

AVELLINGTPN, Jan. 20

A large number, of petitions have | been received by Parliament advocating an amendment of the. Crimes Act, so as to give greater protection to young girls. . .Air Sullivan inquired of the Minister of Justice if the Government, , toi. legislate 011, these pifes, aigl ( in,,a c_ cordance with a select committee s recommendations.

The Hon E. P. Lee replied that the Legislative Council had passed an amendment of the Crimes Act relating to evidence. It had not come before the,Lower,llqiise, and he would s .bring the matter .before Cabinet.

•INFLUENZA IN ENGLAND. i The .Minister of Health assured the House in response,to ,Mr Parry’s question, that the , Department is taking precautions against the possible introduction of influenza of the type which is reported,tp.be epidemic,j,n .a severe form in parts of -England- . GURARANTEfED .The M.i.nist° r .,9f 111)migration submits to daily questions about.jionjinatctl,immigration. . One query came from .Mr M’Combs, who stated that he .was.informed by Mr R. D. Martin that in Christchurch a specific case existed where an overseas settlement immigrant arrived .with a written guarantee of work by,his nominator. The latter, however, had .refused to .provide the immigrant with .wopc. How jnany such cases were .to be found i askyd Mr M’Combs.

ThojJlon W. ■Nid’wnr.lh.vdhpljVf l there were not juanv cases ,if .nominators failing Vo fulfil their obligations. His Department looked info these cases, and would inquire into this infa nee. : It was posable, despite all precautions, that a person nominating an. immigrant might find himself in the position of being financially unable to • rive him employment. A CAPTAIN’S WIPU.W.

A sequel to the . loss of the .Huddai t -Parker steamer .Wjmjpera, off the North Aiickl.apfl during the war, was mentioned .by Mr -Massey in the House today. The .captain’s boat and twcnty-fjix persons disappeared. He found'that the captain’s widow and family were left in poor circumstances, and when he was in London he represented this matter to the Board of Trade, which did one of the promptest pieces of business lie had experienced. Within a fortnight it had passed a substantial grant to the widow and an annual pension until her children are able to provide for themselves. He appreciated this promptitude, and wished to give the authorities credit lor it.