POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14111, 2 August 1911, Page 11

POLITICAL NOTES.

(SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON, August 1. WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT. When tbo Minister of Labour brings tho Workers' Compensation Act Amendment Bill before Parliament, several private members will endeavour 'to insert amendments in committee. Sir Arthur Guinness will endeavour to eocuro the repeal of the domicile clause of the present Act, under -which the dependents of a worker domiciled outsido the Dominion cannol obtain compensation. Tho member for Grey proposes that any dependent of English nationality residing within the Empire shall be entitled to recover on the death of tho breadwirinor. Mr Millar has endeavoured in tho past to attain tho samo result by way of reciprocal arrangements, but so far without success. »Sir Arthur Guinness believes it will be better for New Zealand, to &ci an example which other States may follow£H EAR Eltt , ACCOM MQDATION. Mr McLaren has again introduced his Bill for tho amendment of the Shearers and Agricultural Labourers' Accommodation Act. 1908. It is in every detail the Bill of last session, which was among tho " slaughtered Innocents." THE 000K ISLANDS. Mr Wright presented to-night a petition from Dr. DavvKon and Messrs Hosking and Reynolds, of Rarotonga, asking that immediate steps bo taken to remove from office tho present dent Commissioner of the Cook Islands, on the ground that ho has shown himself deficient in Qualifications necessary for tho office; also that a now Commissioner bo immediately appointed, and a separate judge of tho Court and Land Titles' Court; funaer, that a Koyui Commisflion be appointed to investigate the moral, legal, and social state of the Cook Islands, and that such Commission should take all evidence on oath, and its sittings be open to tho Press. Mr Wright also gavo notice to ask when tho report of the Chief Justice on his recent mission of enquiry in the Cook Islands would bo laid be-) foro Parliament. MINISTER'S STRANGE BEHAVIOUR. The manner in which tho Minister of Public Works received a deputation with reference* to tho tramway regulations in Wellington a few days ago is tho subject of a question of which notice was given by Mr Herdman this evening. Tho member for Wellington North asked whether the attention of tho Government had been drawn to the "strange behaviour , of the Minister, and, if his conduct had come under its notice, whether it proposed to take any action in. tho matter. DATE OF GENERAL ELECTION. There was no reason M'hy tho date of the .general election, should not be hxed before the end of the session, Air Massey said this evening. On the last occasion tho election was fixed for a date much earlier than was expected, with the result that members were subjected to great inconvenience. Ho could not understand the mystery with which tho revision of the electoral boundaries had been enveloped J or the purpose with which the Government allowed members to leave Wellington before they knew when the election was to take ?laco. If it was in order that the Government might select a date that would suit the party, it was on ldvantago which the Government should not take. DEATH DUTIES ON SMALL ESTATES. The Leader of tho Opposition in the Houso to-night emphasised the need tor an amendment of the Death Duties' Act. It had never been intended that taxation should bo imposed upon? entail estates up to £100 that were formerly exempt, but that had been done .under the new Act. The taxation was also imposed in the case of gifts to near relations, but there was a flaw in. the Aot which made it possible to evade the taxation by transferring the gift in cash. Those two matters should be remedied without delay. "THE HOPE OF THE OPPOSITION." The criticism by the Opposition of the Government's financial operations was summarised by tho Minister of Education, thi3 evening. "It is all part of an organised attempt/ the Hon. G. IWlde declared, "to injure the credit of the country, with, the idea that when the Government is able to borrow money only at high rates of interest there will be a disinclination to borrow. The natural result will be that there will bo discontent, because there will be no , money to meet the peoples' requirements. Then in desperation people will turn to the Opposition, and put them in the Ministerial Bench. That is the hope of tho Opposition." JOTTINGS. A petition signed by Robert S. Morgan, on beiialf of tho Railway Officers' Institute, asking for improveu pay and conditions for the officers of the first division wae presented this evening by Mr Arnold. • -Mr Wright gave notice to-night of a question regarding an alleged, outbreak of typhoid fever at tho Porirua Mental Hospital, affecting, it is said, some thirty persons. Tn© questioner also seeks information ac to whether there is an infirmary or a trained nurse in connection with the institution. Mr Fisher, referring to a statement, in. a Hawko's Bay paper regarding the employment of a "railway spy," residont in Timaru, has given notice of a question inviting the Minister of Railways to make his promised statement on the matter to the House this session. Mr Herdman is asking for a return giving the expenditure in connection with the new Government House, Wellington. ■ , . . Mr Wilford will ask the ActingPrime Minister whether th© attention of tho Government has been drawn to tue Parker judgment relating to wiroless telegraphy, and whether he will explain the legal position of tho Government in its contract with the Australian. Wireless Telegraph. Company. Mr TTilford also asks whether any provision has been made for indemnifying tho Government against any action that may bo taken by the Marconi Company. > "In Ms speech to-night, Mr Fowlds Baid Mr Massey load referred to the slave-driving tactics of the Government I last session, and hoped they would not be repeated this session. Mr Massey I had to remember that he did not control Parliament. Tho Leader of the House decided that certain legislation had to be put through and that legisltttion was put through. Some very important legislation had to bo dealt with. Tho Government wae just as desirous as anyone for the expedition of the work ot the Boundary Commission, and the Commission had done its work in \a week less than previous commissions, although the work was much greater on this occasion. Mr Fowlds told the House to-night that tho Attorney-General went Homo as a colleague of Sir Joseph Ward's to attend the Imperial Conference. He was also to attend to th© matter of the Webster claim, 6o far as he ooiild without staying over some twelve months to await tho slow movements of the English legal machinery. Mr Davey to-night presented a petition from the Canterbury College Professorial Board praying for an extension of the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme so as to inelnd© University professors. Four days' leave of absence has been granted to Mr Nosworthy on account of urgent public business." The Seeds Control Bill was introduced and read a first time to-night.