POLITICAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 November 1917, Page 5

POLITICAL.

TWO MORE PAID MINISTERS. QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. WELLINGTON, October 31. In the ( Appropriation Bill, introduced to-night, provision, is made for an increase of two in the number of ! paid Ministers involving an addition- j al exepnditure of £2OOO. Cabinet thus comprises the Prime Minister, salary 31600; Minister of Railways .£1300; ten Ministers at £IOOO each, and also a representative of the native race on the Executive, £4OO. The changes are made retrospective as from April 1, 1916. When the bill was in committee Mr Payne asked if it were absolutely necessary for the appointment of another Minister, seeing that the business of the country had been carried on during the absence of the Premier and Finance Minister in England, and also since the death of Dr. McNab. Sir Joseph Ward: Yes it is . necessary, that is why provision is being made for it. Mr. Veitch asked if one of these Ministerial appointments was for the Food Controller. Sir Joseph Ward: No, it means the full number of Cabinet Ministers authorised by law will be paid when they are there. Dr. Newman: Does that not mean twelve Ministers? Sir Joseph Ward: Yes. NEW LIBERAL MINISTER. DUNEDIN, October 31. Tt is stated, seemingly on good authority that a new Liberal Minister to be appointed early in the recess, ■will be either Dr. Find'lay or Mr. Wilford, probably the former.

END OF SESSION. LONGEST DURING THE WAR. WELLINGTON, Nov 1. The third session of New Zealand's nineteenth Parliament ended to-day, having been the longest since the war started j The session "has extended over. 128 days and:Bl sitting! days < the total hours of sitting being daily, average ; of 6.24.- "Of 81 pubjjc bills introduced 45 received Royal l as-sent-and 36 were dropped or otherwise disposed of. The bills parsed included 29 Government and 16 logai bills, while one private measii|e Before the House finally adjourned the usual valedictory speeches were made. The Premier said it had probably been the most strenuous session in the history of the New Zealand Parliament, and very important legislation had been passed—some of jtvpf a very contentious character. • :Mr Massey expressed the hope that-tjjie war cloud .would have rolled, by. wlijen n«xt>they met, but he admitted that the present .indications gave no hftpe for the belief in an.early peace.; Whatever.,: happened, the only thing tbvdo was to set our teeth and carry on till the end. Sir Joseph Ward added his congratulations to the Speaker and the House on the harmony and work of the session and his hope of a speedy and victorious peace^ Mr. F. W. Lang, reciprocated the compliments of the Premier and Finance Minister, and expressed the hope that- next year the House would meet in the new Chamber. The House adjourned at 12.30 p.m. after singing the National Anthem. IN THE OCTOBER BATTLE. TOTAL OVER FIVE THOUSAND WELLINGTON, Nov 1. In the House to-day, Sir James Allen announced that the casualties between October 4 and 30 to New Zealand forces were: Killed.—Officers, 89; other ranks j 871. Wounded. —Officers, 159; other ranks, 2892. Total killed and wounded, 3764. "Since I rose " added Sir James Allen, "I regret to say it has \ been reported that there are another 1700 casualties, including 400 hospital cases making 1,300 new casualties to be added to the total. Probably all reports have now come to hand."