POLITICAL JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1926, Page 4

POLITICAL JOTTINGS

SELF-HELP SOCIETY. Tlie Leader of the Opposition, Air H. E. Holland, asked in tlie House if the Minister for Immigration had any knowledge of a body called the New Zealand Self-Help Society, the purpose of wlfieh appeared to be to keep new arrivals in the country instead of allowing them to drift back whence they came. He had received a request for a donation to the Society, and the mat. ter which accompanied the request pointed out the objects of the body, and stated that the subscription was IDs per year. The literature was signed by Ethel Stevens.

The Hon Air Nosworthv replied that lie had no knowledge of the Society, and was unable to express any opinion about it. He had instituted inquiries.

PRICE OF BREAD. Air 11. T. Armstrong asked the Prime Minister if it had been brought to his notice that the price of bread had been increased bv one penny per loaf, and "hat a further increase was contemplated. He wanted to know wh action the Government proposed to take to protect the pubb'e from the unjus* tillable; exploitation, and he said that the public were given to understand when the new arrangements were made regarding the price of wheat, that they would not affect the price of bread. The Prime Ministers said that the Government was not aware of any increase in tlie price of bread, other than that suggested in Canterbury and Otago, and ho understood that that had been brought about owing to the price of flour. The Government had instituted an investigation and was watching the position carefully. It would take appropriate action should occasion arise. FOR THE NEW SYLLABUS? The advisability of teaching school children how to cross streets without colliding with some poition of the vehicular traffic, was mentioned by Sir John Luke, who drew attention to the recent remarks of Air Page, S.AL. on the subject. The Hon Air Wright, Minister for Education, said he thought that every one would agree with the remarks of Air Page. Oddly euougli. children wove not as frequently injured as adults were in street accidents, but the necessity for instruction was obvious. While he was loath to impose further duties on teachers, ho proposed to bring this matter under the notice of the Headmasters’ Association, to ask if they could arrange for the teachers to give some instruction. He knew that for many of the accidents, the drivers of vehicles were to blame, but in some cases the fault lay with the pedestrians. He was sure that if the matter was put to them in a proper way the teachers would do what they could.

DISTRESSED SEAAIAN

Alentioning that there are 2(io distressed seamen in Wellington, and that while the Harbour Board is finding shelter for them, the Defence Department is lending them blankets, ADA!cKeen asked if the Government would see that the men were provided with three decent meals a day.

Afr Coates replied that lie -under stood that there were about lo seamen and firemen registered as unemployed on the books of the Labour Department in Wellington. These men were being supplied with two meals a dav.

Mr AfcKeen: They won’t register at the Labour Department. Alr.Coates: They have to. There has to he some centre, and there they have to go if they want attention. Af.r Coates added that married seamen would get preference over others when employment was being found. Mr AlcKecn repeated bis request for three meals a day for the seamen. . Mr Coates: The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board provides two meals. If there are special circumstances 1 will look into them.

VALUATIONS OF LAND. A Valuation of Land Amendment Rill was introduced to-day. jt is proposed to omit the word “ timber,” and substitute the word “ trees.” A new provision is to be inserted in place of the present one as follows; ‘‘Pro-, vided that the value of any trees that have been planted (other than fruit or live-hedges), and the value ol any trees that have been preserved for shelter or ornamental purposes, shall not he included in any valuation appearing in a valuation roll supplied by the Valuer-General to a local authority pursuant to Section 38.”