POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14159, 27 September 1911, Page 10

POLITICAL NOTES.

(SPECIAL TO "TH» PRESS."} WEULINGXON, September iC. The House was discussing the unfairness of the method of distributing the Government advertising this afternoon, when Mr James Allen, interrupting the Prime 3linistcr, said: "All we want is fair play-" "The honourable gentleman is never satisfied. Ho will not be satisfied even in heaven if he ever gets there, which is problematical,'' replied Sir Joseph Ward. , ~.-..' •I withdraw that last remark, Sir Joseph added promptly, "and I wish the honourable gentleman a safe passage there.'' 'Shall I meet the right honourable gentleman there?" queried Mr Allen. "Well, you won't meet mo in the other place", because 1 have got an easy conscience," replied Sir Joseph Ward. ! "You'll never get to the better land •if you do not give fair play," interjected Mr Massey, to wlrch Sir Joseph replied: "If I meet the Loader of the Opposition tlit-re I havo no doubt ho will bo sitting on the opposite side of , the bench to mc." ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. Lais Anderson, of Waikawa, Awakino. petitioned Parliament for a re- ' fund of £244 and interest, being part of a loan from the Advances to Settlors Department of which he alleged that he haa been defrauded by a solicitor who was acting as agent for the Department. The Ato L Petitions Committee was satisfied tliat the money had never been paid to the petitioner, and recommended that it bo paid, with interest, to date. j I NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE. i Tho Prime Minister was asked by Mr Massey, Leader of the Opposition, this afternoon whether any progress had been made with the judging of the competitive designs for tho new Parliament Buildings. Sir Joseph Ward replied that the adjudicator, Colonel Walter L. Vernon, bad been ill since his arrival in New Zealand, and had been delayed in his work by that cause. Colonel Vernon : would make his award before long, and ', an announcement would then be made to tho House without delay. MAORI WAR VETERANS. Tho perennial subject of the claims by war veterans for recognition of their services was raised in tne House of Representatives this afternoon by Mr ; Herries. Ho said that members had j been put off thne after time with promises tha.t enquiries were being I made by magistrates, but so far no one had seen the reports. The Govern- ; meut had treated tho members of the ' South African war contingents generously, but they had neglected the old Maori war veterans who had performed such fine service in the establishment of tho colony. Mr Fisher said that th© number of veterans was about iOO. Unfortunately these old men were dying, and ' unless some action was taken soon, tho opportunity of paying off the debt which these men had rendered to the ' country would be gone. It was no j consolation to these men to know that | the State would place flowers jon their graves; they wanted something to eat , while they were alive. ' The Prime Minister indignantly re- ' pudiated the suggestion that the Government was neglecting the old soldiers. He reminded members that a few days ago he had stated that the magisterial reports had reached him, and they wore now being printed. Sir Josenh Ward described the debate as political lr~oorisy. He was politically sick of the constant parade of phil- ' anthropy, which had no object other than the catching of votes. I Mr Fisher: One of your own sup- j. porters has asked you to put £10,000 on the Estimates for the old soldiers. | Sir Joseph Ward replied that he took no notice of requests to increase the . Estimates, unless he thought the ex- j pense was justified. A STRANGE POLITICAL CUOTOM. [ It is not often that a hat is to he seen spinning over tne heads of sedate legislators as they sit in Parliament, but the spectacle was witnessed in the House of Representatives this afternoon, when Mr Wilford had occasion to make an explanation to Mr Speaker upon a matter of procedure after the doors had been locked for a division. Mr Wilford had not his own hat at hand when the need for it arose, but his appeal for the loan of one met with an instant response. A back-bencher tossed a soft, grey hat to Mr Wilford, who wore it gracefully, and made his explanation with head covered and seated in his place, as the forms of the House demand in such circum- j stances. MOTORS ON SUBURBAN LINES. Discussing the question of traffic on suburban railway lines, the Minister cf Railways stated in the House this evening that great pressure, had been brought to bear with a viow to getting a lower rate for suburban passengers. The matter could not be dealt with casually. He would have to see where it would end before agreeing to any further concessions. As to motor trains, an order had been sent to Thornycrofts for two of tneir motors, and the Government could build the carriages here. Owing to pressure of business the order could not be fulfilled in time, and a cable had been sent cancelling it* if the motors could not be shipped at once. Enquiries) were being made from the Westing- ' house Company and other companies in regard to motor carriages, both for suburban and for other lines. A 6 soon as the Department could get them on the lines they would utilised. AN ANOMALY. In the House this evening Mr Anderson (Mataura) mentioned that newspapers were forbidden to advertise alcoholic liquors in No-license areas, i but that the restriction did not apply to railway station advertisements. He contended that the law should be made consistent on the point. OHRISTCHURCH-GRETMOUTH SERVICE. The Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Railways, to-night intimated that he would run a one-Say service '•from Greymouth to Christchurch for one month, if it could be made to pay, during the busy part of the year. If it did not pay it would be disoon- , tinned. j JOTTINGS. ' T, T w,r L3 ? teltoll Borough Extension BUI (Mr Laurenson) was read a first time this afternoon.