POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13170, 17 July 1908, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

(srsciix to "the fbess.") WELLINGTON, July 16.

MISSING PAPERS

When the House met this afternoon, Mr C. Lewis rose and complained of the disappearance of public and private papers from members' seats in the House. Private letters that he aad placed under the cushion of his -cat had been taken away. Tho Premier said it was intended :o replace the present chairs by proper seats, and also to give ton. members desks, in which they could lock .ip their papers. Members would be there. for at least next session, and it v.as desirable that they should have more comforts than at present in the -way of seating accommodation. The Speaker, after enquiry, explained that the papers, about tho removal of which Mr Lewis had complained, had been collected by the messengers, and were to be obtained in the messengers' rooms. A PROHIBITION MOVE. During the past few days members of Parliament havo been deluged wi l .h so many letters, telegrams, and postcards from constituents asking then , to support the bare majority principle 1 t regard to prohibiting the sale of liquor, that it is evident there is a concerted movement in action. Mr Laurenson has a Bill on the Order Paper dealing with the question, and this is the measure hon. members are being asked to support. A great many members are considerably annoyed that such extreme pressure should be brought to boar on them under all tho circumstances. Several point out that they have sapported the prohibition movement, nnd have pledged themselves to the tbr.Hfifths majority' principle at the reqsnvst of the party which is now asking then to go back" on these pledges. A wellknown member to-day assured mc that there is great indignation among mc tubers in consequence, and the present move will undoubtedly do harm to t'so prohibition movement. He says iho Bare Majority Bill has not a hundred to ono chance of becoming law, hut oven if tho Lower House were to iiass it unanimously, it would certainly bo ■thrown out in the Upper House. j ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES. The attempt that is being made by Dr. Chappie, the newly-elected member | for Tnapeka, to bring tho question of tho readjustment of tho representation of the two Islands up for reconsideration, is not, so far as can be gathered, likely to meet with much support from his follow members, even in the South Island. This is the impression gained by our representative from conversations on tho subject with some of the South Island members. "Wo recognise the awkwardness of our position," saiu ono of them. "We are going to have some very large and scattered districts in tho South Island, it is true, but we are fair enough to recognise that what wo now have to face is only what the North Island has had to submit to in the past. I remember tho time when the South Island had a dozen more members than tho North Island, and as tho North Island is so rapidly gaining in population, it is justly entitled to the increase of members that it is now seenring. Then it may also bo pointed out that many South Island people aro now residing in the North Island, and it is their representation that is being provided for by the increase in the northern seats. , ' LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS. A return asked for by Mr Herries was laid before the House to-day, stating the securities comprising the investment account of the Land for Settlements Act. Tho particulars of securities were shown as follows: —Local loans, 3 per cent, stock, 1912, £99,10*; Cardiff Coraoration 3 per cent, stock, 1914-5, £26*000; South Australia 8 per cent, stock, 1916-26, £32.866; South Australia 3 tier cent, stock, consolidated 1916 or after, £82,000; Transvaal 3 per cent* guaranteed stock, 1923-33, £100,000; Sheffield Corporation 8 per cent, stock, 1925, £15,036; Victoria 3 per cent, stock, 1929-49, £13,620; New South Wales 3 per cent, stock, 1935, £67,000; Ceylon 3 per cent. stock, 1940, £10,000 j total, £445,630. RAILWAY EMPLOYEES. In reply to Mr Sidey, the Minister for Railways, said tho questions as to whether a railway, who was off duty could take part in an election as a paid or unpaid canvasser, or in a general election as scrutineer, for which position ho would receivo payment, were recently asked, and tho reply was given that an employee could not take* part in ah election, either as a paid or unpaid canvasser or scrutineer. Tho railway rules and regulations, and the workshops rules, however, provide that members are not to take an active.part in, politics. Immediately it comes under notice that any member of the service is taking a prominent- part in political matters, his attention is directed to tho rule, which he is expected to obey. It is intended that tho regulation, which does not interfero with the political freedom of railway employees, but which has been framed for the purpose of preventing them from putting themselves in a false position, shall be adhered to. RAILWAY WORKSHOPS 3lr Sidey has not been able to persuade the Government to enlarge tho Hillside Workshops. In reply to a question, the Minister for Railways said the whole or the railway requirements in the matter of rolling stock during the past seven years have, in so far as it is possible without infringing patent rights and special processes, or incurring unnecessary expenditure, been met in. tho railway •workshops of the Dominion, and in the case of locomotives, supplementing tho output by lotting two contracts to a private firm at the Thames. The approaching completion of the North Island Main Trunk Railway, and tho consequent necessity of providing additional rolling stock has taxed the capacity of the shops, but that demand having been coped with, the existing shops are fully capable of dealing with tho present requiremonte. and allow a margin to provide for prospect ive expansion. In these circumstances the enlargement of the Hillside Shops cannot be authorised. JOTTINGS. The free carriage of salt on the railways for farmers who wish to use it for destroying Californian thistles, cannot be entertained by the Government. Mr Flatman. who asked for the concession, protested against the reply. Regarding an extension of the second daily letter delivery at Waimate, Sir Joseph Ward intimates that he will give the- matter consideration "when the time-tabl«» for the express train in th n South Island on the opening of the North- Island Main Trunk lino is arranged. The Native Minister has informed Mt R. H. Rhodes that there will sbortlv be a sitting of the Native Land Court fixed for Kaiapoi. when all the South Island Tmsineas will be gazetted, and ir circumstances necessitate an ad- ; journment to an? otn«r arrange- : ments can be made accordingly. R«garding Mr Buddo's "queetior '■ ,! about a State farm in North Canter- '' bnry, Mr McNab states that the whole i \ question of experimental farms is now : under consideration. '

In reply to a question by Mr Rutherford, it was stated that claims for capitation on account of instruction in needlework in public schools are rendered quarterly by some Education

Hoards and annually by others. No complaint has reached tho Department lrom the North Canterbury Board.

"If the lawyers of this country." says Or. Findlav, "had invested only in gilt-edged soonnties, they would he happier and better off than t*<?y are. For my own part, while I have succeeded in my profession, I have failed in my speculations. A large part of what I hare gained in my profession has gone for wages in industries that did not pay."