POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13791, 21 July 1910, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES.

(SPECIAL TO "THK I'BESS.") WELLINGTON, July 20. REPRESENTATION ON LYTTELTON

HARBOUR BOARD. Mr Laurenson presented a petition from the Lyttelton Borough Council today regarding the intention of the Christohureh City Council k> introduce a Bill during tho present session of Parliament to alter the mode of representation on the Harbour Board. The petition states that the object is to give greater voting nower to the City ot Christchurch. with a view of securing the return of persons in favour ot the proposed Ship "Canal, and also to alter the present boundaries of the Lyttelton Harlwnr Board district, so that in the event of any loan proposals being submitted to the ratepayers, the votes of Christchurch and " tho district immediately surrounding would control the position. The petition suggests that if any change is niade in the present mode of election of members o! the Lytteltou Harbour Board, the same should be made applicable to all the Harbour Boards In the Dominion.

METHVEX COURTHOUSE. Mr C. A. C. Hardy nsked the Government whether they" would place a sum of money on the Estimates for the erection of a courthouse at Methven. He was told that the matter would be con-

side red. X Mr Hardy complained about the answer to liis question. He was surprised, he &aid, in view of the small expenditure required that the matter had not been attended to before. In regard to th*- station ,it strongly urged an improvement. Tho carriages on the line were in keeping with the dog-i>nxes running on tho Whitecliffs line for passengers, and the station was a nmeh for it. Sir Joseph Ward said an affirmative answer couid not he given to such questions befor? the Public Work Estimates were framed.

POLICB STATIONS. Mr Witty asked the Government when they intended to build police stntions at Ricrarton and Fondalton. The reply was that a vote has boon taken for the oreeti.in of » police station »t Rirrarton, and tho work will be proceeded with in (hie course. No provision for a building at Fendalton lias yet bMMi made.

THE WARREN ESTATE. Mr Witty .nske.d for enquiry into tho advisability of acquiring the Warren Estate, near Oxford, for closer settlement. Enquiries, said the Minister, were boinp: made as to tho suitability of this property for closer settlement.

POST OFFICES. Mr Russell asked the PostmasterGeneral whether he. will this session place on the Public Works Estimates the necessary sums for the erection of post offices at Ferry road and North Avon road. Ho was told that the matter will be considered Jn connection with the Public Works Estimates. , AMBERLEY KATLWAY STATION.

Mr Forbes asked the Minister of Railways -whether he will make provision on this year's Estimates for tho erection of a verandah at tho Amberley railway station. , The "Hon. J. A. Millar replied as follows: —It is recognised that the provision of a verandah at the. Amberley station would bo a convenience. Such work, however, is not regarded as absolutely essential for the carrying on of the "business, and I very much regret that owing to the large number of urgent and important worta that will have to be put in hand during tho current year to provide accommodation to enable the business of the. Department to be more efficiently carried on, there are no funds available for the erection, of a verandah at Amberley. The matter, will, however, be noted, and I will give it further consideration when a suitable opportunity occurs.

SPRINGFIELD TRAIN. Mr Witty asked the Minister of Railways whether he would give instructions for an extra second-class smoking carriage to be put on the Springfiold train on Wednesdays. The Hon. J. A. Millar said: —I .will have this matter investigated, and if it is found that the accommodation already provided ' on the train on "Wednesdays is not sufficient the matter will be remedied. '

SUBURBAN RAILWAY FARES. Mr Witty asked the Minister of Railways whether ho would consider the advisability of putting Addington in the same position as Christehurch with regard to suburban fares. Tho reply was as follows:—I regret I cannot make any extension to the existing suburban fa,res, noT apply those fares to stations other than the chief ■centres of the Dominion.

Mr Witty said ho thought the same facilities should be given at both ends of the journey. He thought the Government was losing by the present regulation. The present rulo was a great hardship to young people.

BURNHAM RAILWAY STATION. Mr Witty asked tho Minister of Railways whether he will give instructions to have better -waiting room accommodation provided at the Burnham railway station.

The reply of the Minister was:—l fchalL be glad to give the question of making improvements to the Burnham railway station consideration when funds are available. At tho present time, however, owing to" tho expenditure that has to be incurred during the current year for providing facilities that arc essential to the efficient carrying on of the ever-increasing business of the Department, it -will not be practicable to c!o anything towards improving the accommodation at Burnham station in the meantime.

DARFIELD RAILWAY STATION. Mr Hardy asked the Minister of Railways whether he will place a sum of money on the estimates for the purpose of erecting a railway station at Darfield. This, he said, was one of the poorest stations in the Canterbury district, and its equipment was much helow the needful requirements of the junction. The reply was that the re-building of the Darfiold railway station will be duly considered.

MINERAL DEPOSITS. Mr Buxton atked the JvTlnister of Mines whether he will cause a report to be made by Dr. Bell on the coal, lime, fireclay and other mineral deposits in the Kakahu and Raineliffe districts. The Minister replied:—lt is understood that tho coal, lime, fireclay and other minerals to which the hon. member's question refers are on privatelyowned land, and it is unusual for. the Mines Department to obtain reports on eucli deposits on private property. There are geologists and mineralogists in private practice whose services arc available for such purposes.

STATE fIKPERIMJSNTAL FARM

Mr Nosworthy asked the Minister of Agriculture whether ho will take steps to establish a State experimental farm in the Ashburton district. This, ho pointed out, was one of the largest agricultural and pastoral districts in New Zealand, and an experimental farm would lie of groat advantage to the large agricultural community in tho centre.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie yaro vho following reply:—lt is not intended to establish an experimental farm near Ashburton. The Department, howover, is encouraging tho Establishment of various plots for experimental purposes, for which the Government supplies the manures, seeds and wipervision, and the farmer provides tho land and labour, and receives the crops. These experiments aro strictly bona

fide, to small areas. The crops experimented with are. varieties of gr£j&, wheat, oats, maize, lucerne, pe&s, roots and rape. There aro also mammal trials and top dressing of pastures.' This system is proving a great benefit to the farming community. Th-o -.jxperiments an> seen and understood by a, much larger number thau can be reached by tho demonstrations at the experimental farms, and, further, the effjets of local conditions are- much letter demonstrated. These trials aro carried out in connection wit!} th« Agricultural and Pastoral Associations and branches of the Farmers' Union, whose wishes as to tht> nuturo of i-he experiments to bo undertaken are earefullv studied. Somewhat similar , trials will be undertaken in connection '■■ with fruitgrowers' associations, namely, i co-operative fruit testing, the idea oe- ; ii:g that the Department should b« given a frot> so veil years' lease, of the necessary land adjoining an orchard, the owner of which would undertake the nfro-ssary lal>onr, the Department providing the trees and fertilisers. "A GRAVE REFLECTION." According to Mr J. A. Hajia.n. tho laws dealing with the analysis and' inspection of liquor are praotically a dead letter. In the Bouse to-day ho sp,>k<* strongly of the indifference •Mγ the Minister for Public Health in not actively administering them. tho present conditions," lie remarked, "it is open to any unscrupulous person, for private gain, to adulterate or 'doctor' liquor and sell it to unsuspecting persons with immunity. Such fraudulent and deceptive* practices often •do injury to consumers, and consequently should bo severely punished. ,, Mr Bannn added that ;t was a grave- reflection on the Department that tho laws acainst'adulteration, both as regards liquor and food,wero not rigidly enforced in the protection of the public.

'•DYING LIKE FLIES." "At the present time native children arc dyinjr hko flies," declared, iir Field in the House to-day. "There is no hope for the race," ho added, "unless .tnniething is dono to stop it." Mr Field asked the Government to provide for tho registration of tho births and deaths of natives throughout tho i Dominion, and a reply (.was given toI day that, tho question will be considered if possible this session. i>ir Field believes that if native births and deaths are registered the result will show an enormous mortality of youthful nativesi which will compel thp* Government to take some preventive action. SHEARERS' ACCOMMODATION. The Shearers and Agricultural Labourers Accommodation Act Amendment Bill, introduced by Mr D. McLnren (Wellington East) defines at length what shall bo held to bo proper an<l sufficient accommodation. It is provided that buildings for the accommodation of shearers shall be distant not less than 160 feet from tho shearing eheds, and not less than 900 feet from any killing yard or piggery. Sleeping, cooking and eating rooms must bo kept in n clenn and healthy state by the employers, and sleeping rooms must be 9ft 6in high, and not more than two bunks in that height shall ho allowed. Fireplaces, with proper chimneys, chaff or straw mattresses, proper light and ventilation, wooden floors, a Doiler and washing utensils, and other conveniences, are to be proyidod by employers. No sleeping room is to bo used for thei cooking or eervinjr of meals-

royal commissions. Speaking in tho House to-night the Prime Minister ridiculed the idea of requests being mado for so many Royal Commissions. "If we aro going to appoint a Commission to settle every littlo trouble that arises?' he said, "we might just as well shut un Parliament for the next few years. 0 Sir Joseph went on to. say that theso remarks were occasioned as a. result of a suggestion that a Commission should bo set up to consider the question of cooperative labour. It had been stated, but lie. did not believe it, that in somo localities labourers did not get up until twelve'o'clock. If New Zealand had not had the co-operative eystem there would have been timewhen tho unemployed difficulty would have been acute both in the towns and in the country. He would not like to _cc any member run away with the idea that enormous benefits were going to accrue by dispensing with a system which had a great deal to recommend; it : "Co-operative workers,", remarked Sir Joseph in conclusion, "have done very good work in this country." CIVIL SERVANTS' SALARIES. There has been a good deal of comment, both by members and outsider., regarding the increases proposed in the salaries of the higher paid Cml Servants, especially in view of the fact that quite recently so many men were dismissed under the short-lived retrenchment scheme. A DUMB MEMBER. Discussing some recent lappoixttmentß to the Legislative Council in the Bouse to-night, Mr F. M. B. Fisher said:— "There is one member who ha* never contributed a word to any debato since ,' he has been here. I don't know how /often he has voted, hut he is in the position of drawing from the country a -pension of £200 -ocr year, and for whatP For absolutely nothing. Why, ho bias never rendered' one ounce of public service, and -probably, could not if he wanted to."