POLITICAL JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1925, Page 4

POLITICAL JOTTINGS

old age pensions. The legislation of last year provided tlijtl i lie.* —Gil wt'ok :ul«lit!«uial to old age pensions would lie payable only where the pensioner had no income or proper!v. It was Mib-e.pu-ntly approved Dial the grant where the income did not exeoeil 2s (id i\ weok. and wlkmv property nwneii did not exceed ClkV The (pieMi'm of an itureare in the-e lnnits is undet ronsidorat ion. POTATOES FROM A l'ST|{ A 1.1 A Replying to Mr E. .!. Rollestmi. cm .Minister of Agriculture, said; 'He..Uoverinni nt regulations require inspection on arrival of any potatoes u'liiili may be imported from Australia, and also require that, they be accompanied by official eerlilientcs ~l freedom from spei died diseases. The I arms ami entidi! ions governing the import.-! tin: of New Zealand, potatoes into Australia are in must essentials practirallv identical with those goveiiiioe. the movement of potatoes between tlm various States of Die CommonweiilDi, hud ii is highly improhalile that any nealilieatinn in New Zealand s lavom could be secured by further representations.

fire MR BLADE'S C< >M PETITIONS. Recently M>'T. AY. Rhodes (Thames) asked Do- Minister of Railways whether free railway passes could not be given to lireineu taking part in competitions ill Die I)lined iii Exhibit ion. Mr Rhodes bus now been informed by ihe .Minister. Dial arrangements have been mad" for tbe Department of lniernal Alfa it's In be debited with tbe cost of tbe lares of such liremeti, and a free ticket will be issued to each man cm present at ion ol a ceil ite-ate signed by the secretary of tile United Fire Brigades’ Association. rabbit-proof netting.

In reply to the member for lib-car-ton. the Minister of Agrieulhire made the follow ing statement: -2 ho value of the Use of rabbit-proof netting h'neos as an aid to tbe eonlrol and cta(lieaiinn of rabbits is fully re.- igiused. but whet her the (on ernmelil iisoll should undertake the responsibility of purchasing it and selling it to settlers on terms requires a great, deal ol consideration. having regard to existing trade conditions, and Die cost ol the trading organisation whic h would have to be set up for the purpose ol handling the business on behall ol the (lovernmenl. the expenses of winch would have to he a charge upon the business. Enquiries will be made into the whole question, including the present purchasing price ol rabbit-iirocit netting am! Die probable trend of prices in the near future, also Die facilities at present existing for settlers obtaining supplies at reasonable cost under present trading conditions.