POLITICAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1919, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS.

SCHGOL COMMITTEE GKAXTS. MEDICAL INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS. By Wire. —Own Correspondent. Wellington, East Night. Mr. S. G. Smitli (Taranaki) asked tho Prime Minister if, when the educational estimates are being prepared, lie would see that an increased sum would bo provided to assist the finances of school committees. Mr. Massey replied that the Government recognised that tho coat of the incidental expenses of school committees had increased, and accordingly a larger vote for the purpose would be provided this year. t .Replying to 'Mr. S. (J. Smith, Mr. Massey said the Public Service Commissioner reports that he has filled all the vacancies for medical inspectors of schools for which Parliament ha 3 voted the necessary funds, and has no doubt that if it is decided to increase the number school inspectors he will be able to find suitable applicants. He is unable to admit that the salaries paid are inadequate, but it will necessarily follow that if a large number of new appointments are to be made he may have to offer special inducements, owing to the present disorganisation of medical supply as the result of the war. Any offer of special inducements wi!.'. probably he a means of depriving hackblock settlers, who are in urgent need of medical help, of their local practitioners. THE HIDES COMMANDEER. Mr. Pearce is asking the Prime Min. ister whether he will at once cease the present most unfair and unsatisfactory commandeer of hides, which penalises a small portion of the community with the idea ot reducing the price and producing standardised boots, while no such boot is being produced, and whether he is aware that on Lambton Quay, Wellington, there are ordinary men's boots priced at £3 15s per pair, showing that tho commandeer lias not had the effect on the prices that was suggested. THE BUTTER FUND. The butter fund was referred to in the House again to-day. Mr. Young (Waikato) argued that as the Government had admitted tho principle it should also make it retrospective. Mr. Wilkinson (Egmont) said the principle had been admitted in paying the subsidy on flour. Incidentally, Mr. Wilkinson drew attention to the fact that some millers were selling flour at 10s less than the price they said was the lowest at which it could be profitably produced. The Prime Minister said the butter producers would get the export value for this season. Petitions relating to last season had been referred to Parliamentary committees, and the recommendations of those committees would be considered by Cabinet in due course, and probably the whole matter could be discussed 'by the 'House.