POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13907, 5 December 1910, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES.

« (SPECUI, TO "THE FREBS.") WELLINGTON, December 3. THE FIVE MILLION LOAN. An important statement with reference to tho five million loan was made by the Prime Minister in the House tonight, Hβ stated that he had been informed that morning by a representative of one of tho Home firms which were concerned with tho underwriting of the loan, to the effect that a parcel of about 100,000 that had been underwritten by a certain institution had been sold on the open market at £98 xOs net, par. This meant that the loan was going out in a very satisfactory manner. He did not want to give the name of the institution, because he was not sure ho had the liberty to do so. What it shows, added Sir Joseph Ward, was that despite tho fact that the loan was taken up by the underwriters, it was now going out at a not Jess amount than was paid tor it, which was very satisfactory from the point ot view of this country. THE APPROPRIATION ACT. The Appropriation Act provides, inter ! alia, that £800,000 shall bo transferred from the Consolidated Fund to tha Public Works Fund. Advances may be made to dairy companies under certain conditions. There is also a provision authorising expenditure by local authorities in celebrating tho Coronation of King Georgo V. It applies to Borough Councils, County Councils, Road Boards, Town Boards, and bour Boards. Another clause provides for tlie extension of the appropriations till July 31st, 1911. DEVELOPMENT OF WATER POWER. While the Public Works Estimates were under consideration this mornjng, Mr M-assey enquired how many water power schemes tho Minister of Public Works proposed to proceed with to begin. The Minister replied that as soon as a satisfactory market could be obtained for the Lake Coleridge scheme, the Government would know what the position was. In the meantime investigation would •be made in connection with other schemes. Mr Massev expressed satisfaction with the reply. OLD SOLDIERS' CLAIMS. The vexed question of the delay that has taken place over the settlement of the old soldiers' claims cropped up in tho House to-day. Mr T. £. Taylor said that if the payments were long delayed, the money would be only oi" use for paying tho cost of tending to the veterans' graves. He ivas sure the Prime Minister would not relish his trip Home if ho remembered that there were numbers of old veterans in need in New Zealand. After further discussion Sir Joseph Ward gave his assurance that a settlement of all admitted claims would take place within a few weeks.

THE KOUBAIX EXHIBITION. A vote to cover the cdst of a display of. New Zealand produce at the Koobaix Exhibition was discussed in tno House to-da.v. « . ,« .. Mr Herries asked whether the proposal was to exhibit .New Zealand wools in the French centre. The Hon. T. Mackenzie replied tlint French wool buyers were beginning to romo to New Zealand, and under the jircumstances it was thought that Aβ* Zealand should make a good display A the fine wools it produced. Mr Herriee: What clasees will Dβ shown. Mr Mackenzie: All classes. Mr Herries: Who is to make the selection ? The Minister: The Department. PUBLIC HEALTH. Mr C. A. C. Hardy asked why.the services of Dr. Valintine were not rexjgnised by an increase of salary. A jountry practitioner would earn a rrenter income than Dr. Valintine was getting for his very valuable services io the community*. Sir Joseph Ward said the salaries or the higher officers were not dealt with on the Supplementary Estimates. Everyone recognised tho very high value of I>i-. Valintine's services. Mr Hardy said Dr. Valintine had dono very Rood work in connection with the'Hospitel and Charitable Aid -Vet, which was working very well. Mr T. E. Tavior urged that more care should be devoted to analysis of food products to. prevent adulteration, a considerable amount of which was was goin<j on in some Xew Zealand factories imdtr the shelter of fictitious ' The Hon l>. Buddo said Mr Taylor was probably unaware of the amount of work that was being done. Fbr three months of last ye-ar tho analysts %vero fully occupied with analysis of milk to determine a projJo.r standard, and that having been done, the work specially referred to by Mr Taylor Was now receiving attention. THI3 COOK ISLANDS. Mr James Allen asked whether the vote of £600 for medical service at the Cook Islands was for additional medical service. On receiving an affirmative reply from the Hon. J. Carroll, he went on to aek what the Minister proposed to do about the uneasy feeling which appeared to exist in connection with the islands. He urged that the Minister should himself visit the Cook Islands, or send a responsible officer during tho recess. It was impossible to properly administer the lelands without personal knowledge of the local conditions. Mr Wright said he understood an application had been received from a woman doctor who had excellent credentials, and would like to go down, to tho Islands. The Hon. Mr Carroll said he would go down to the Islands himself, or send a responsible officer. He would carefully consider all the applications for the position of medical officer. THE STATE SAWMILL. Mr Herries drew attention to the enormous expenditure proposed in con* nection with the Kakahi sawmill, which had been purchased by the Railway Department from the Public Works Department, viz., £3000. The Hon. J. A. Millar replied that most of the expenditure was for new plant, which was necessary. Hβ said the sawmill had another 17,000 acres of bush in addition to that ■upon, which they were now working. Mr McLaren referred to the timber trust, and a circular sent out to some carpenters who had started in a small way as contractors. He characterised the position as industrial tyranny. The men were threatened that they must not go into the trade except on the terms and conditions of the Trust. Would the State sawmills under such circumstances supply timber to the public ? The Hon. Mr Millar said that trp to the present the mill was supplying only State requirements. Hβ would look into the question, and later on something might be done in the direction indicated. • A SINGULAR MISHAP. "The change has been due to a singular incident/ said the AttorneyGeneral when explaining an amendment made by his ExcelLency the Governor jn the Shops and Offices Bill. The amendment was the inclusion of the word "not" in a certain clause in the schedule. During the process of printing, said Dr. Findlay, the ink went through from one side of the page to the other, and obliterated the word "not," and consequently the word had to he re-inserted. "It shows," said the Attorney-General, "how the law may be altered." JOTTINGS. When the Supplementary Estimates were under discussion Mr Massey objected to the item of £60, "expenses in connection'with rain-making operations at Oamaru," but he was content to place his protest on record. He did not believe in "going into the tohunga business in this connection. (from a coerespondbnt.) POLITICAL TEMPER. WELLINGTON, December 2. Things were only ordinary in £he House after supper to-night, the political thermometer registering about 104 degrees in tho electric light. Observant pressmen noticed that two members, both hailihg from the West Coast of the North v Island, were distinctly at variance over some matter which was not made clcaT. "Crawler, eaid one of the members, with a face which was white with passion. "Como outside and settle it." This, of course, was beyond the hearing of the Chairman, and, in fact, was unnoticed by most of those present. But it looked very real to those near enough to hear, and it was a relief when the fact that a settlement had been arrived at was made apparent. End of the sessions , rows are not infrequent, but this one bad great potentialties.