PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1922, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

WELLINGTON, Juno 29. ] SAFEGUARDING SHIPPING. Tht need for more adequate lighting of Ilaurnki Gulf was suggested in a question put on the order paper by Mr Savage. Ho asked whether in view ol the recent shipwreck on Great Barrier Island, and many previous wrecks, would the Minister of Marine consider the advisability of placing an additional light at the entrance of Hauraki Gulf '< .Mr Atomic (Nelson) also asked the Minister to take steps to improve the lighting at French Pass,. Cook Strait. , soldier Settlement. With the object of securing complete details of soldier settlement finance, Mr Sidey has given notice to move for a return showing details ol all , land purchased for this purpose, the | amount of accumulated surpluses uti- j Used in payment,, the amount of Guv-j eminent bonds taken by landowners j in payment, and other particulars designed to show the present financial position of various soldier settlements. | Mr M’. H. Field, in the course of a question to the Minister of Lands on the same subject, asked if it would not be better in cases where soldiers took up land at excessive jirieos, to revalue -so as to relieve them of an extremely heavy burden which they are unable to meet under the present conditions of the market for New Zealand pioducts. CHILDREN OK THE STATE. A return has keen asked tor by Air E. .J. Howard (Christchurch South) showing the number of children undei* the State(s guardianship, over fourteen years, who are working for private employers, but who have not passed the fourth standard. IIOOK.MAK.ERS’ El eld da V. The first of the anticipated petitions relating to the restoration of the bookmaker were tabled 10-day, when six members discharged their obligations. Labour members were quickly to the fore, Mr Rhodes (Thames) being tjo only other to dislay ally expedition in tahiiug a petition, copies ol which arc ! foilin' entrusted to practically every member. There was some amusement, when Mr M’Combs, who is an ardent aidi-raccitc, tabled his heavily-signed petition, while some of the members who subsequently caught the Speaker s me evinced some desire to conceal the nature of the document by simply declaring that it related to gaming. Singularly enough, these were the only petitions tabled ,to-day.