POLITICAL POINTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1917, Page 7

POLITICAL POINTS.

MfiißßS' DISEASE. (From Our Pariiamentry Reporter). Wellington, July 25. A new turn 111 given to a familiar Mat* in the Home of Representatives to-day. The report of the Mines' DeMltntßt 4tm presented, and the membar for OUuemuri took the opportunity, •a ha bat done each season for many put, to urge upon the Government the ftVi"" of miners who have contractad the dread miners' disease, pneumoconiosis: This disease is caused by dust to the Bunas, ft is painful, Unstring •ad incurable, lite victim, who are Wsmlry men in the prim* of life, become fcstapahii of work, and the Government thtß allows them, from the gold revenue, Sto a voak in the ease of a married man •ad las • week in the case of a single jaam. Ha Government also pays funeral expanses up to £lO and allows the widow Its M lor a maximum period of two yaars. The obrkx* inadequacy •f these payments to people whose suffariags are doe directly to the conditions af thair industry has teen the theme of '•MOthas tamaeraUe from the members yepieatnting mining districts.

A PLEA FOR THE MINERS. The lew feature of to-dav's debate ww provided fcy Mr. I. M. I*itt (Christdrank Horth). Mr. laitt eaid tiist 1m had Mt to the Doom for seven years, Mi eeren Uiw lie had beard tie minis? Atabtn appeal tor justice on behalf #4 dying miner* tad bereaved families. Art tiki Howe and the Government had and* bo reaponee. "If you want to find «he root of Bad Fedism," laid Mr. Isitt YUSdr, "tack it to the ftolid fadiffer•Bee of Parliament and of tbe GorernBeat to the face of the coffering*, the merited anffermgi, of a aeetion of the Wantrial population of this country. It bu never keen denied that miners' ultra n it produced by the conditions valor which the mfaer» are required to work. We all know that the disease prodoree complete incapacity and 'Hat the wtf* t»a ehidren of a disabled miner tsnot Hw on £1 a <week. But year after year thia appeal panes unheard." ' A doeen members came to the rapport of Mr. leitt, and the debate that followft arotaMy mad* eat imprewkm on the fill) mi though the dinner adjournSlWtßted the MtoUter for Mines •arerteg the potet to hie reply. In•UtnteSr the debate gate the members frma the dhrtrlete an opportunity to urge again that the Government should encourage the development of Sew Ztaland'e mineral resources by the aßMßdUiure of pubttc money.

OrHCERBW OUR ATtMY. It wm elated in the House the otter day that the staff officers of the New Zaaknd Force were ell Englishmen, wkereae thel correepondmff positions in ST?-**" %f it,oM & ££ van ««*•« W Anatralians. Sir James jSL «uted fa the House, in reference tTthie point, that aecordine to the faJrartlonpoteeesed by Def«*e HeadGodky ueed only one SSTSeer fa connection with the New DMiton, which formed a part ot ♦jJTAmy Ooroe commanded by the Gen--Tl That ttefl officer w»i a New ZeaSL The Minieter added *»t QenerJukdlev'. UUTJ was not pud by New totowL

MtIDTTANCES FOR SOLDIERS. lie Poetmaater-General menticned in •newer to a question regarding remit££T £ Jdk-» that arrangement. wnVbeinjf made for the sale at Post Meee ofthe canteen coupons issued by STy.M.O.I. Tbeee coupons ™Mbe foe use at the TJ.C.A. can- ££«* the front and in England.