POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14758, 30 August 1913, Page 12

POLITICAL NOTES.

"IF I WERE MINISTER."

CHRISTCHURCH PENSION OFFICE.

COOLIES FROM FIJI

ENCOURAGING SHIPPING

SORROWS OF MR GLOVER

LEVEL CROSSING,?

(srrxiAi to ''the pres3.") y WELLINGTON, August 29. COMMERCIAL BANK OF AUSTRALIA BILL.

'' The Committep on the Commercial Bank of Australia Limited Bill, which proposes to give authority to that bank to issue notes in New Zealand, reported on the measure to-day. The Committee has struck out clauses 4 and 5 dealing with liability on notes, on the ground that although under the Articles of Association of the company the liability of the company is limited, clauses 4 and 5 of the Bill purport to impose upon members an unlimited liability in respect of notes issued in New Zealand under the provisions of the Bill, and as such liability would be unenforceable against members of the company not domiciled or having sufficient property in New Zealand, clauses 4 and o would tend to mislead members of the public accepting such notes, and would also inequitablo, by imposing upon the- bank's shareholders in New Zealand liabilities not imposed upon its shareholders elsewhere."

THE ItOYD GABLICK ENQUIRY

The Royd Garlick Committee did not meet this afternoon, and will not meet again until Tuesday.

SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAYS.

Mr Laurenson, in making a plea this evening for the payment by the State of the expenses of private members in visiting public works, said if such assistance were granted to members, thousands of pounds would be saved every year: He instanced the Canterbury, Westland, and Otago Central Railways, and said that if members had seen tho localities before the lines were commenced they would never have been started.

Dr. Newman, in a contribution to complaints regarding the railway service to-night, said: —"I wish I was Minister for Railways for a week; I would alter these things. ' I would call in my officials and say, 'Do this within three days, or take your dismissal.' (Laughter.) It is simply intolerable," he added, "that these things should continue. All that the Minister has to do is to say the word, and it will be done. I suppose they are waiting for this Heaven-sent General Manager." (Laughter.)

Mr .Witty etated this evening that the Christchurch Pension Office was understaffed. He believed that this office had more work to do than any other office in New Zealand, and he considered that a clerk and an assistant were insufficient to cope with the work. Could more help be extended? he asked.

The Hon. James Allen, who was in charge of the Estimates at the time, promised to pass the request on to the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, under whose care the office was.

Mr Young lias given notice to ask the Prime Minister whether the Government will enter into immediate negotiations, through the Imperial authorities, with the Government of Fiji, with a view to seeing if it would not be possible to compel those persons and corporations who have been responsible for the importation of Hindoo coolies into the islands, under the authority of the Fijian Government, to return them to India at the completion of their i-ibour contracts, so as to check in some measure, if not altogether abolish, the migration of coolies from Fiji to New Zealand.

IMPERIAL DEFENCE COMMITTEE

Mr Myers is asking the Minister of Defence whether it is the Government's intention to appoint a permanent representative on the' Committee of Imperial Defence in London.

Mr Okey is asking the Minister of Industries and Commerce whether his attention has been drawn to the increase in the cost of freight betweeu the Dominion and the Old Country, and whether he will endeavour to encourage additional shipping lines to come to New Zealand and participate in the increasing trade of the Dominion.

The patience of Mr Glover became exhausted to-night during the discussion on the Railway Estimates. He endeavoured timo after time to catch the eye of the Chairman of Committees (Mr Malcolm), but failed, and had to give way to other members whose seats apparently came into the chairman's view more readily. After Mr Glover had risen for about the sixth time without obtaining the right to speak, he exclaimed in a tone of deep sorrow, "You cut mc out every time.''

The Chairman, sternly: The hon. member must not use expressions like that.

Mr Glover: I withdraw, sir, but a rose by any other name will smell as sweet. (Laughter.) Mr Glover then vacated his seat and took that usually occupied by Mr Malcolm himself, just in front of the chairman, and there patiently awaited his opportunity.

The level crossing danger was brought up by ilr Poland this evening during the discussion of the Railway Estimates. The Minister said that he was now obtaining reports upon what were regarded as dangerous crossings. He intended, he said., to invite the assistance of local bodies in regard to the- erection of discs at suitable distances from the crossings. (Something in this direction had already been done by the Southland County Council. He hoped that ho would be able to make a satisfactory arrangement with the various bodies on a £1 for £1 basis.