POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11647, 29 July 1903, Page 9

POLITICAL NOTES.

(SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON, July 28 PARCELS POST.

The high rates charged for postage on parcels in New Zealand were referred to by Mr Millar. He said the present rates were just double those in force in England. The Postmaster-General said the matter of reducing postage rates on parcels hud been under consideration for some time. At present he could not see his way to make a reduction, but he hoped to be able to do so before long. SALE OF POISONS. Mr Arnold asked if the Government would bring the sale of poisons under ttie control of the New Zealand Pharmacy Hoard. He stated th„t under the present system every person who applied had to get a license to sell poisons, while in all the other colonies tne Pharmacy Boa id issued the licenses, and only issued licenses to those having a knowledge of poison*. Sir Joseph Ward said Mr Arnold's representations would have the fullest consideration. RAILWAY CHARGES. Mr Flatman asked the Minister for Railways whether he would recommend the reduction of rates charged on the railways for the carriage of .neep. especially for long distances. .Sir J. G. Ward said that _0 per tent, reduction had been made Hi lb_s, atid there hid been a largely increased traffic since then. Last, year vi, 821,000 sheep had been carried on" the railways. He was as anxious as anyone to see sheep earned at the lowest possible rates, but at present a further reduction could nut be made. Mr Buddo asked the Minister for Railways whether, as the present system of -selling grain by railway weight is frequently the cause of considerable loss to farmers, he will consider the question of starting a system of averaging the weight of a proportion of the sacks in each truck, or any other system on which more reliance can be placed, than the present, the cost of such a system not necessarily to be borne by the Railway Department. The Minister, in reply, said that at country stations, where there wer_» no weighbridges, only a few bags could be weighed and an average struck. Where there were weighbridges the trucks were weighed. Probably some of the discrepancy was owing to the fact that the Department allowed some pounds extra per ton in connection with the carnage of grain. INEBRIATE HOMES. When the Inebriates Institutions Act Amendment Bill was being considered in the Legislative Council to-day the Attor-ney-General said that its main object was to provide that only curable cases should iii future be admitted into the existing institutions-. Such cases, h" said, must have a first claim in future on the i/resent institution. At present there wus only one institution, and that was for males! If that was to be filled with incurables there would be iv room for curable cases, and great inconvenience and t Double would arise. The Government would do what they could in regard to all curable cases, but would not put more incurables iv Tue present institution. Mr Bowen: "Will the incurables at present in the institution remain in the institution?" Tho -Minister: "Yes." Mr Twouiey protested against the proposed alteration as an inhuman one. It meant that they were branding the incurables as outcasts. They should not, ho said, be so inhuman as to shut out incurable cases. Mr Geo. Jones made a similar protest, but tho objectors failed to secure an amendment. JOTTINGS. Mr Rutherford will ask the Minister of Lauds why 16,113 acres of Crown lands in the AJshlev road district are not leased. He is also inquiring from the Minister for Railways by whose authority was the footbridge attached to the Ashley railway bridge removed. Mr Rhodes to-day put in a word for travellers by the Little River railway. • Sir Joseph Ward was answering a question by Mr Hogg about footwtirmers for the carriages on North Island lines. He said these footwarmers had to be supplied in the south first because the climate there was colder." "Will you put them on the Little River line?" interjected Mr Rhodes, "they are absolutely frozen there." The Minister replied that "he would have them put on all lines where necessary as soon as he could.

Mr Laurenson a-«ked the PostmasterGeneral if he would take into favourable consideration the need of erecting a suitable post office at Woohrton. The Minister said the business would not warrant it.

In answer to Mr Laurenson, the Minister of Railways says the experience is that carriages for ladies only were not in demand on the railways. He does not think it is necessary to put such a carriage on the Christchurch-Lyttelton railway, but will make inquiry. He pointed out that such carriages led to unnecessary haulage wit hout any compensating advantage to the public. Mr Rhodes asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the iusanitary condition of the Akaroa post office, and if so will ho make arrangement- for the erection of a new building? Mr Rhodes mentioned that it was the surroundings of the post office that were in___it_ry. There had been several cases of scarlet fever. Sir J. Ward said improvements were to be made in connection with the telephone bureau. This would be enlarged, and the work would be done at once. He did not tliiiik there was any justification for the erection of a newpost office. Mr McLachlan asked tne Government if they would this session amend the law with regard to netting and sale of trout in \.ake Enesmere. Sir Joseph Ward said the Government had decided to allow the netting and sale of trout, and Mr Ayson would prepare regulations after hearing from a special meeting of the Acclimatisation Society on Wednesday. Replying to Mr Taylors question in the House *ta-day, regarding the construction of a sub-way" at the Colombo street railway crossing, Sir Joseph Ward said he would have enquiries made. The configuration of the country was, however, such that the approaches would need to be very long, and the cost apparently would be enormous.

A petition for a telephone for the benefit of B-ckeuhani residents has been granted, Mr Laurenson to-day receiving notice that a bureau would be opened at Malone's store.