POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1924, Page 3

POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

“READING OK HANSARD!” 'The Minister for Education, said Mr H. E. Holland (I/eader of the I.a hour Party), in tlie course of the second reading debate on the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, had stated that he would deplore it if his children could not have the opportunity of hearing the Lord’s Prayer and reading the Bible.

The lion C. J. Parr; In the school, in the school.

“But,” added Mr Holland, “what is the Minister doing in his own home?” A Labour member: Reading Hansard! (Loud laughter). Mr Holland remarked that if tlie professing Christian would live Christianity’ill his own home, ho would not. have to ask the State to undertake this work. (Hear, hear). The whole Bill was a confession of failure on the piart of the individual. There was no getting away from that. (Hear, hear).

PUBLIC LIBRARIES SUBSIDY. Answering a question in the House of Representatives the Hon C. J. Parr. Minister for Education, said: “I am pleased to announce that provision is being made on this year’s estimates to reinstate the C3OOO subsidy 1 to public libraries in country districts, which was withdrawn as one of the economies during the war.” ABSENT-MINDED MINISTERS. The Hon J. G. Coates, as Minister for Native Affairs, moved that certain native reports lie had presented to Parliament should he referred to the Native Affairs Committee. The Speaker kindly pointed out to him that the Native Affairs Committee had not. been set lip, as he, Mr Coates has to set up that committee. A smile went round the House. Soon afterwards the Minister for Mines (the Hon (!. .1. Anderson) made the same mistake, moving for leave to refer certain papers to the Mines Committee, which again the Speaker gently pointed out had not been set up. It is the duty of the Minister for .Mines, of course, to set up this committee.

RACING TAXATION. “’The matter is having the serious consideration of the Government,” was the reply given by the Prime Minister to a question hy Sir C. Hunter (Waipawa) as to whether the Government will this session deal with the question of relieving racing clubs from their present excessive taxation.

STOCK DESTROYED. A return submitted to the House of Representatives hy the Hon IV. Nosworthy (Minister for Agriculture) showed that the total nunilier of cattle condemned and slaughtered throughout tin- Dominion in the year dining March 31st, 1924, under the Stock Act, 1908, was 5358, and the number of swine destroyed, .). Ihe total amount paid in respect, ol compensation was 612.909, based for the most part, on half Hie market value slaughtered : while the total amount received from the disposal of the earcases and paid into the Public Account was £1250.