POLITICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17295, 5 November 1921, Page 10

POLITICAL NOTES

(special to "rnr rr.Ess."\ WELLINGTON, November 1 Money and Gaming Bill. The allegations made by Mr A. D. McLeod (Wairarapa) that a consider, sum of money had been sent down from Auckland to influence members of Parliament in connexion with the report of the Totalisator Commission lias not been allowed to rest. A question on the subject was asked to-clav by Mr H. K. Holland, who enquired' whether the Prime minister would agree to the setting up of a Select Committor to go thoroughly into the matter and lvport to the House. Mr Massey said he was not in the Hoitsl* when the allocation wns made, or it" he had been there he had not hoard it. Ke had seen reports on tho paper-', and had he-inl about it afterwards. It was quite impossible, however, for him to make a definite state- , v tnent on the matter at a moment's ' iwt'Ve. Very often statements were made in Parliament and rumours were reported which proved to have no foundation. In saying that, he was not "irddn..; any reflection noon Mr Mc-l.-on.l. Ho "would take a little time to cri-'sidcr the suggestion made by Mr Holland, and wmdd refer it to hi* colleagues in the Cabinet. Cost of Eaclng Commission. The mst of the Racing Commission was not more than £4400. the Minister of Internal Affairs announced in the House to-day. "That is a very different story from £18,000," the Minister added, referring to the fact that a newspaper had given tho latter figure as the correct one. ,- It should be remembered," ho proceeded, "although this Commission's report, so far as tho debate tho other night was concerned, was not vouched for by tho House, there is no question that tho report contained a great many very valuable suggestions in the interests of clean sport, and that sooner or Inter a good few of the suggestions made by tho Commission will be given effect to, and will be worth the money which . the Commission has cost." Local Bodies Loan Bill. An amendment to the Local Bodies Loans Act Amendment Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day. Replying to a question by Mr Wilford, tho Hon. TV. Downie Stewart said that after the Bill had passed both Houses, a question had arisen in the Law Drafting Office ns to whether the Bill as passed fulfilled all that was wanted. It was found that it did make provision for the guarantee by tho Government of portions of loans raised. The narticular loan refererd to wns the Southland Electric Power Board's partial loan of £750,000. Tho new Rill was to provide not alone for the guaranteeing of the loan in toto, but for portion "of a loan as well. The amendment was agreed to. and subsequently passed the Legislative Council. •■• Geraldlno Railway Deviation. The Minister of Public Works to-day informed Mr Burnett that ho would do all he could to expedite the report on the suggested Geraldine railway deviation. Limbless Settlers. To-day Mr McCombe asked if the Government would give free passes on railways to soldiers who had lost limb* in tho war. The Ohristohurdh Tramway Board, he said, were prepared to °tS Hon. D. H. Guthrie said onlvitt two such cases had application been made, and these 'had been grunted. Me could not give general passe* oyer tne railways, but he was P***™ ** *££ sider eases in which men bad to come to their work from the suburbs to Me. city. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TKtGRAH.) The Orchard Tax. In the House to-day, tfie Orchard Tax Amendment Bill was introduced by, Governor-General's Message. The Hon. W. Nosworthy said it waa intended to re-enact the Act of Wl6 for a period of five years. The tag amounted to one shilling per acre, with a minimum of 2s 6d. The total tox amounted to between fioJXO ana £IO,OOO, which went to tlhe BruitgroWera' Federation, to assist them in their Mr' Isitt urged the need of keeping keen supervision over small orchard*, for it was no use one man keeping nm orchard clean, while another man too* no trouble to get rid of variotM pea» fruit was fheir io. He thought the penalties for failing to keen orchards clean should be increased. He also thought the Government should in some way encourage and assist the spraying of small orchards. ' Other memberß spoke favourably or tho Bill, whioh was road a first time. Government Guaranteed Loan. In the House to-day, Mr Massey remarked that there was some idea en the part of local bodies that the Goremment would guarantee every loan, but this wae not so, and when in Bng-. land he (had been informed by leading financial authorities there thnt if the Government attempted to guarantee every loan, it would seriously affect tm» Dominion's credit. He realised thug this might be so, and he (had promised that before tho Government guaranteed further loans, ho would consult the. London financial authorities.