POLITICAL JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1926, Page 4

POLITICAL JOTTINGS

THE CHILD’S RIGHT

The right ,of tno child is the first consideration of ,the Guardianship of Infants Bill, ns explained to the House by the Hon. F. J. Rolleston, Minister for Justice. The Minister said that in previous legislation on the subject the father’s rights had alwpys been given first consideration. It was recognised now, however, that marriage was an equal contract and therefore both mother and father were entitled to the same consideration. Hie important provision made by the Act was that in all questions of guardianship the welfare of the child was to to tho deciding factor. Tt gave power to waive either paternal or maternal rights, or even both. The Bill was read a second time. MATTER. OF POLICY. In reporting upon the statement of the difference! of opinion between the Controller and Auditor-General and the Public Trustee, together decision of the lion, the AttorneyGeneral as to tho interpretation of the Statute, the. Public Accounts Committee stated that, it had no comment to make. In the opinion of the committee the question of tho alteration of the law whereby the discretionary powers of the Public Trustee would be extended-was a matter of policy and should be referred to the Government for consideration.

RAILWAY LOSSES. The matter of licw railway lines is Lo be thoroughly investigated by the Railway Department. The Prime Minister, in mentioning this before a deputation. said tho department would have, to live within its estimates. ,ln

conic cases it wrs a question of road or vail, or if they should dovetail the two. They could not ignore possible losses and the responsibilities niust be carefully considered for one failure would increase the cost of transport to the whole country. Either that or the i State would have to make contributions to tho losses and that must come to an end sooner or later. So far .ns the Government was concerned it would welcome criticism. HIGH AND DHY. "We arc all anglers,” said the Hon. W. Nosworthy to Mr G. f W. Forbes in the House, when the question of fishing licenses were being considered. Mr Forbes: Well, if the hen. gentleman is an ifnglcr, I bow to his superior knowledge. Mr Nosworthy: I* did not sav what kind of anglers. Mr F. Waite (OluUiu) : You use the wrong bait. A little f.iior Mr H. K. Holland referred to this, and said Mr Nosworthy had been misunderstood. “He was speaking fur his own side of the House,” he said, " and meant that

they were all anglers for votes.” Mr W. S. Glenn (Rangitikci) : You did not get many votes, anyhow. Mr Holland: As you know some anglers use an 'artificial fly. The Reform Party caught their fish with artificial flies at the general elections now the fish are being left on the hank. (Laughter). LIFE ANH DEATH. “Tt is strange that I, who was here at the birth of our system of education, should also ho here at its funeral,” said Sir Robert Stout in the Legislative Council, when predicting the destruction of our educational system by the introduction of religions exorcises into the primary schools. ”1 warn you, however,” he went on, ‘‘that if you now have this funeral, do not think the matter will he settled by merely having one hill. There will still he fights and fights till the tile State recognises that its function is not to teach religion.”

FISH AXD SWINE. “The best fish are being taken out of our lakes land used to feed pigs.’ - Mr A. M. Samuel (Ohinemuri) when protesting against the methods adopted by some overseas fishing tourists.