POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1918, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

LOCALITY OF MINEFIELD

WAR LEGISLATION: BILL.

By Telegraph.'—Special (Oorrespondeiitj Wellington, Last Night. In. the House this afternoon, 21! Young (VVaikato) suggested that th» Government should take immediate gtspi to secure from Germany information. &£ to the number and locality of mi&& fields laid off the coast of New Zealand The Minister of Defence replied tha| the Government had already done thia He added tliat it was believed mines 3mc been laid only in two localities, but eomt liad broken away and drifted. The Prime Minister has introduced some imported amendments to the Wa) Legislation Bill. In the definition of' 1 ® person of enemy origin ihe omits th< words "or whose father is or wafl a 1 any time the subject of an enemj State." He adds a new clause that if the son of an enemy alien refused military service, or has IbWri convicted of an offence against any war regulation, he shall be deemed to !be. &' person of enemy origin. Authority is given for Dhe cancellation of warrants for the arrest of any persons who, Bia» their offences,; have served in the forties overseas, provided that the .AttorneyGeneral and Minister for Justice. • f * ra of opinion that a prosecution is not nect&i sary in the public interest. An additional provision is made for the protection of soldiers and discfimignd! soldiers from judicial process, and for; relief from burdensome con tracts. Wb-i charged soldiers must bare Barred' «tbh seas.

Sir Joseph Ward read his Budget iai an attentive, though ratheif House. " -

ME. MASSKY'S ULTIMATUMj

Before the House lose, Mr. Masses stated that in moving the adjournment until the following morning lie had t(j •intention of foxing business. Th" Hn( ance Bill, Licpor Bill, Hydro-eleetrii Power, Repatriation Scheme, and IfigisJ lntion on the cost of living had to W dealt with. If members could get through in time for the leaders of tlte Hons] to proceed to the Peaca-Conferencs, TOI and good; if not, they would New Zealand. • "