POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1919, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT. (By Wire. —Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. The Women's Parliamentary Rights Extension Bill, introduced by Mr. Massey, is circulated. The Bill has one operative clause, which is as follows: "A woman shall not be disqualified by sex or marriage from being appointed or elected as a member of the Legislative Council or of the House of Representatives, or from sitting or voting as a member of either House of Parliament, anything to the contrary in the Legislature Act, 1908, or in any other Act, notwithstanding." SURPLUS WOOL PROFITS. Replying to a question by Mr. E. Newman (Rangitikei) regarding the surplus profits on wool sold for other than military purposes, the Prime Minister said that the latest advices from the Imperial Government indicated the amount of New Zealand's share would not be ascertainable for some time yet. The enormous turnover and complexity of the accounts, including the operations of scouring, pop-making, and carbonising, would probably render an early settlement in the matter impossible. Wool of the 1910-17 clip was still in New Zealand in December, 1018, and a portion of that clip was only submitted to auction in the April sales of this year. Immediately definite information was received from the Imperial Government regarding the amount available for distribution, the wool growers would be advised. HOURS OF PICTURE SHOWS. The Prime Minister states that the removal of the restriction on the hours of picture theatres will be dealt with by an amendment of the Public Health Act during the present session. STATE MERCANTILE FLEET. The member for Buller suggested that the Government should acquire a fleet of mercantile steamers. The Prime Minister replied that the matter was under consideration, but, owing to the abnormal demand for shipping and consequent high prices, it was not likely that anything would be done for some time in the" direction suggested. IMMIGRATION OF IMPERIAL SOLDIERS. The Imperial Government, says Mr. Massey, is arranging to grant free passages to soldiers proceeding to assured employment in the Dominion, and also to their dependents, and proposes to receive applications after December 31 next. The New Zealand Government has indicated that, while anxious not to discourage the immigration to New Zealand of Imperial discharged soldiers, it cannot, invite employers to oiler assured employment to them until our own soldiers have been placed. When that has been accomplished, it is intended to advertise inviting applications from employers willing to offer assured employment to Imperial men on arrival. The Imperial Government's proposal applies also to women who have ser.ved in any recognised women's service corps, and with regard to these the New Zealand Government had replied that all women who were willing to undertake domestic service could find immediate employment in the Dominion. , NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND. The Hon. W. H. Herries states that the (uestion of raising the income limitation in respect of the National Provident Fund is now under consideration. The Government is also considering the question of pensions for orphan children, BOARD OF TRADE REPORT. The annual report of the Board of Trade was presented to the House. The Board deals at length with the broader aspects of price movements, including the scheme explained by Sir John Findlay in the House the other night for establishing price levels by allowing the amount of gold in the sovereign to vary.' Dealing with local prices the board insist that it has done all that could be done with the powers at. its disposal. During the year covered by the report it had investigated 2GO complaints regarding high prices of commodities, and made adjustments of prices wherever action was deemed desirable. A wide range of commodities has been under control, and no upward movement of prices has been sanctioned without full investigation. In addition to i) 7 main grocery items of household necessity, the board has controlled manufacturers' prices of such goods as soap, condensed milk, sugar, candles, jams, matches, baking powder, and canned meats. The prices of bacon, wheat, Hour, bread, bran, hides, skins, and petrol have been fixed by Order-in-Council. The price of timber, by arrangement with the Federated Sawmillers, ha 9 not increased since November, 1918 Generally speaking, says the board, the applications made by merchants and. tradespeople for increases in prices have been found to be well founded, but in a few instances the. board has refused to grant such applications where, after close investigation, the circumstances did not appear to warrant the granting of the increase. The consumers' interests have been closely watched by the board in dealing with prices.