POLITICAL NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 71, 21 September 1905, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

« NATIVE LANDS. The Native Minister informed the House yesterday afternoon that a Bill embodying the Government's proposals on the native land question would be submitted to the House this week. Its production, he added, had been delayed by the fact that Maori delegates from various parts o.f the colony had besn in Wellington for some days past placing their views before tho Government. JOINING THE FORCE. An amusing experience was related to tha House by Mr. Rhodes yesterday. He wa6 complaining fhat there are not a sufficient number of farms available for applicants foT admission to the Polico Force, and he went on to say that on one occasion he made enquiries at the Christchurch police-station in the interests of a young man who desired to join the FoTce. The Inspector, he said, asked him a number oi somewhat searching questions, and then (Mr. Rhodes cnuckled as he recalled the incident) asked him if ho was the applicant. Membera laughed heartily at the idea of Mr. Rhodes in Dc-liceman's garb, and Mr. Rhodes laughed with them. AUSTRIANS IN NEW ZEALAND. The Premier was asked yesterday by Mr. Lewis: " Whether his attention had been directed to the fj-llowing telegram in the London Standard of the 17th December, 1904: — 'Austrian Subjects in New Zealand. — (From our CoTrcspondent.)—Vienn., 16th DecembeT.~-The Austro-Hungarian cruia&r Panther will leave Pola next month for New Zealand, in oider to enquire into the condition of the Dalmatian labourera there, from whom so many complaints of alleged grievances have been received here. These grievances .have already "been made the subject of discussion between the British and Austrian Governments ' ; and, if so, whether he proposed to take steps .to ensure that the colony shall be represented a>i interviews between the parties interested?" The Premier's reply was as follows:— It is very pleasing to have a visit pa-id to tho colony by the Austro-Hungarian cruiser Panther. Ewry kindness and hospitality will be shwn to the officers and men, and every facility extended to them to visit their countrymen resident in New Zealand. Like many other alleged grievances, if any have been alleged to exist they -will be found to be on paper, and will vanish into ashes when the fire of impartial enquiry is applied. CONSUMPTION. In .view of the establishment of hospital annexes, says the Minister for Public Health, it is not <ihe intention of it he Government to establish another sanatorium on the lines of the institution at Cambridge, as such obviously is not xequired. WELLINGTON ASYLUM. The Premier was" recently asked by Mr. Dufchio whether, in view of the congested state of Wellington in respect to land for building/ he will betimes remove ihe patients from the Mount View Asylum to accommodation in the country, and also similarly alter the present purpose of the Mount Cook Reserve, 60 freeing approximately seventyeight acres of land which are central and most suitable foT residential purposes? The Premier's jeply was brief and to the point. It cs not proposed at present, he said, to make any change in the use of the land referred to. MAORI MORTALITY. The Minkter for Public Health, Teplying to a question oy Mr. Field, states that tfae infantile mortality among ihe natives may be more apparent than real; but to -get at the true state of affairs the Government is considering the question of introducing a system of registration of births and deaths among the Maoris, and also the appointment of nuree3 to visit the p-as and give perGonal advice on -the elements oi sanitation, nursing, clothing, feeding of the sick and healthy, etc. JOTTINGS. On the motion of Mr. M'Lachlan, the House yesterday ordered a return " giving the names of membera of Parliament who have endeavoured to bring pressure rto Dear on Commissioner Dinnie to make appointments to the Police Force, and the number of candidates so appointed."