POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10450, 14 September 1899, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

[Bt Teleobaph.]

(FHOM OTTR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

WELLINGTON, September 13: GOVERNMENT LOANS TO LOCAi ~ BODIES.

The Premier has introduced the Govern* ment Loans to Local Bodies Act A*"fpdment Bill. It provides that a proposal to raise a loan shall be carried if the number of valid votes in favour exceeds the number of votes against, each ratepayer one vote and no more. Section 12 of the principal Act is modified by providing that in lieu of 5 per cent, per annum for a term of twenty-six years, the rate of interest shall, at the option of the local Nauthority, be 4£ per cent, for thirty years, or 4 per cent, for thirty-five years, or 3£ per cent, for fortyfour, years. With the approval of the ratepayers the local authority may readjust an existing loan- on the above terms, paying interest at the reduced rate for tfie-unex-pired residue of the extended, term. 1 The extended term shall be deemed to have commenced at the date of the commencement of the orgihal term. Instead of 1£ jper cent, as at present, for future loans . the anking funu is reduced to T'per cent, for thirty'yeare, and li per cent, for forty-four years. No loan is to be less than £50., The. Bill also contains provisions, as to -property, becoming rateable, after the'epecial r*te is struck. MINISTERIAL TRAVELLING EXPENSEB. ' - The travelling expenses and allowances of Ministers for the last financial year amounted to £1930. The'amounts drawn by ditferont members of the Executive are as follows: —Mr Seddon,-£529; Mr McKeniie, £306; Mr Cadman, £5169; Mr Walker, £140; Mr Carroll, £521; Mr Thompson, £143; .Mr Hall-Jones, £119. THE AGENT-GENERAL. Inquiries were made -by Captain Russell yesterday as to the terms under which the Hon. W. P, Reeves now holds the appointment of Agent-General, and whether it was the intention of the Government to reappoint him for a further term of three years or any shorter period. Captain Russell had, he said, previously expressed the opinion that the work of the Agent-General had been thoroughly well done by Mr Reeves, and he thought it was undesirable that a high oflicial should be kept in the position of hangeron to the goodwill of the Government. There should be an emphatic declaration on the part of the Government that they did or did not intend to reappoint him for a definite period. The Premier assured Captain Kussell that the Agent-Ueneral was no hanger-on; in fact, it was. the Government who were hanging on to the Agent-General. Mr Reeves's private business was suca timt "he contemplated retiring- from the position of Agent-Ueneral, but lie was prepared to fill it for a further stated period if the Government so desired. The Government expressed their willingness that he should do Premier having resumed lib sea* without saying anything vary definite, UJ,p<~ Russell said: -Might I ask the "ton. »ntteman now to answer the question wincn was as to the terms of.the appointment* ana whether it was the intention of the Government to appoint him for three years or any shorter period?" Tho Premier sud. the Agent-General received £1250 a year,- and hod agreed to continue to hold office ui> to the end of the year. The Government lv& no -wish to t«spunate-the , appointment, be«v, perfectly satisfied -vrith the way in wluea Air Reeve 3 had carried out his duties.