NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 43, 14 November 1907, Page 9

NEWS AND NOTES.

In reply to Mr. James Allen, tlio Minister yesterday said that inquiry was licinc made

as to the bnst, moans to adopt for tlio prevention of firos on wool-ships, and it was hoped ft Bill would be submitted next session.

Mr. Arnold has pointed nut that by the rocont regulation providing for postago to bo nddod to the cost of all Govermnoiit puhiications, tlio rending public in Wellington had n great advantage over residents in other parts of tlio Dominion —for insti'iiien, n shilling copy of tlio Year-book, delivered through the post in Dnnedin cost. Is. Bd. The Premier yesterday said it had been arranged that the Printing and Stationery Department would pay postage upon such publications ns tlio Yoar-bnol;, .so that purchasers in other parts of the Dominion may obtain them at the same cost as residents h Wellington city. This, however, did not apply to Gazettes and other publications issued nt short intervals.

Mr. Wilford yesterday asked the Government whether, in view of the remarks of Dr. M'Arthur relative to the want of accommodation at Petono and tlio Hutt in the buildings nt present used for courthouses, they would cause two courthouses to bo erected iu these populous parts of the Hutt electorate. The reply was that a site had been acquired for a courthouse at Lower Hutt, and provision was made on the current year's Public Works Estimates for the erection of a building tliercoii. The question of providing a courthouse for Petono would receive consideration (luring the recess.

Mr. Hogan wants a deeds registry offico at Wanganui. "This is a matter," replied the Premier yesterday, " that has already been considered, and it is regretted that tlio request, cannot bo given effect to, seeing that, without any apparently compensating nilinntage, the establishment of such an oflico would necessitate an Act of P.arli.ime'it and the formation of a new district, v.'i would also be a great espensp to the department."

Mr. Hogg asked the Government whether they would consider tho expediency of completing the railway service of.the Dominion by providing up-to-date stonniors for the conveyance of passengers and goods between Wellington and Lyttelton. "'i'ho matter is worthy of consideration," replied the Minister, " but, with tho greatly improved service provided for by the Union Steamship Company and the many other requirements of the Dominion, no action is contemplated in this direction at present." . \

Mr. Jennings asked the Premier whether ho would, ■' owing" to the disinclination af private hanking institutions to provide conveniences for business people and workers in the southern portion of the King country particularly about Taumarumii and district, establish branches of the Government PostOffico Savings Bank in canh township where business .'.varr.antod such extension? It was estimated that over £2000 a week was paid in wages by sawmills alone. Tlio Minister replied that he did not know the extent of territory the honourable member had in his mind, but, savings-bank conveniences in tlio Southern King country had not been lost sight of. There wore in the district nine money-order offices and post-ofiice savingsbanks—namely, Kakahi, Makatoto, Mataroa, Ohakune, Ohura, Rauriimi, Taiimarumii, Turanpjarere, und Wainuru. In addition to the offices named, he would ho pdad to arrange for the opening of savings-banks with money-order offices at Horopito, Mniigapchi, Manunuj, Matapiina, AFatiwe, Ongarue, Piopio, Piriaka, Porootarao, .and Rangatatia also; provided that Postmasters consented to give bond and find safe accommodation.

Mr. fill asked the Minister for Labour "Whether his attention has been drawn to the statements of clerks, published in The Dominion of October 31, that tlio average wages of clerks employed in insurance companies were £1 ss. to £2 per week; and, if so, will the Minister consider the advisability of introducing legislation next session fixing a minimum wage for clerks?" "It appears hopeless," replied the. Ministers." tpitry to do anything' for clerks. , '■Legislation' has been brought forward] to try to help them, and they have petitioned, by hundreds that their . relations with their employers should not bo disturbed." ■. .

Tho Native' Affairs Committee expect to be able to report the Native Land Settlement Hill to-day. , •

Mr. Jennings yesterday asked the Minister fo.- Public Health whether- it is true thnfc a number of persons, comparatively recent arrivals in New Zealand, have been nnd are now patients in our sanatoria for consumptives . and our .public hospitals? The Hon. G. Fowlds, in replying, said thero was in. To Waikato Sanatorium several patients who had within tho past five years arrived in New Zealand. A very careful inspection .was made of all passengers from oversea,, and in virtue of tho powers contained in the Immigration Restriction ■ Act a considerable number of people.were refused entry. 'In such cases the shipping companies had to take tho passengers back again.' If the inspection of passengers was made more strict very considerable interference with shipping would result. Short of actually requiring all passengers to submit to a clinical examination, which would requiro several hours in the case of intcr-colnnial ,boats, ho did .not think the present system could ho improved. While every effort was made to prevent the admission to the Dominion of people likely to become a burden upon the rates, Acts of the nature of the Immigration Restriction Act had to be administei»:d with tact and judgment. All the shipping companies had been advised that no oiie who through sickness was likely to become a charge upon the charitable aid of the Dominion.would bo admitted. Tho attention of tho Home authorities had also been drawn to the regulations. While New Zealand should not be made tho dumping-ground'for the indigent incurables of the outside world, we must, guard against administering the Act in an inhumane spirit.

Replying to Mr. Field, the Minister of Education (Hon./ G. Fowlds) said it was his earnest desire to promote tho subject of ternporanee in tho schools. "Provision for it is made (in the syllabus, under which it is in the power of teachers to treat the subject very fully. Probably the existing provision in tho syllabus will ba strengthened when the next revision takes place. The school journal will afford much help to tho teachers in dealing with,, tho subject."

Mr. Okey asked the Minister for Agriculture, "Whether it is his intention during the present dairying season to send one of the dairy experts to tho Old Country to report upon the mode of dealing with" tho dairy produce upon the London market, as suggested by him at a meeting of those interested hold at Palmerston?" The Hon. R. M'Nal) replied, "The matter has already boon dealt with on the lines.stated at Palmerston."

. "The Government," said the Minister, in reply to Mr. Hogg yesterday, "do not consider that tho time has arrived for tho State production of coal for gas-making purposes. Tho present arrangements for the carriage of coaj by sea , are considered satisfactory, but with further development and consequent increase in output from the State mines the question of procuring State-owned steamers will have to be considered."

The Labour Bills Committee in going through the Shops and Offices Act Amendment Bill have struck out Clause 3 regarding the observance of the Sovereign's birthday on Mondays.

The Labour Bills Committee have no rocomiuen'dation to make on tho petitions praying for preference for Unionists, neither have they any recommendation to make regarding the petitions praying for tho repeal of- the Arbitration Act. i

The (ioldficlds anrl Mines Committee yp.sler<lay reported upon a number of. petitions asking that steps bo taken to put a stop ti. tlio silting of tlio Ohinemuri and Wnilmu rivers now taking place through tlio inflow of tailings nucl other mining dcliris from tlio claims of tlio mining companies. Tlio Committee reported that in their judgment, expenditure upon any scheme that may ho devised for arresting the silting of these rivers should be on a contributory basis, the local bodies whose districts are aifeuted by such "iltinu providing their miola towards

tho cost. Subject In , this...prpy l isi6n, .'the Committoo recommended that tho petitions bo referred. to the Government for favourable consideration.

Numerously-signed petitions wore/ yesterday prnsenlcd to Parliamont .praying ■ for superannuation for Civil Service..officers. ...

An educational question* which has-"lately caused considerable anxiety in various'' part's of New Zealand was ventilated-.in the-House ol Representatives .yesterday, afternoon. Mr. Ross asked tho Minister'for Education whether be would arrange that the staffing of .schools and.salaries of teachers be this arranged and paid on the basis of. last year's average attendance in cases wlioro thp same has bemi seriously affected through tho prevalence of epidemics, suftli as' whoopingcough, measles, and , influenza? - .The Hon. Mr.' Fowlds (Minister for >.. Education) replied:— "l w,il|., tuko, thq position into consideration when all the returns for the year are in tho -Department,.-and the effect of the existing regulations has been ascertained.. It..is * very, unlikely, JimVe'Ver,' that, with tho provision. in.Mtlio'lregulatious for substituting certain quarterly .averages of the previous year, there will be any serioiis effect on the staffs and salaries'for 1908." The Canterbury College. Endowment Bill proposes to vest the Coldstream Reserves, near Ashburtony in- the Canterbury College, as an endowment for the purpose of promoting in 'such- manner us the Board *'of Governors thinks, fit, the study and investigation of [chemistry and the physical science?. The Coldstream Reserve, which consists of 1480 acres of land, was set apart, more than 30 years ago under the Now Zealand'University'"Reserves' Act, 1875, as ah endowment for- higher education in Canterbury, to be used as Parliament might;determine. No provision has been made jiij the Mi.itter up to the present time, and the accrued revenues now amount to £5000i ; This sum is to lie devoted to thn erection of tho proposed now chemical; laboratory at Canterbury College.' .; : . . . - r s . ; ~ . The Native Affairs Committee, rejiprtiiig on the petition of 'Gertrude 15.-Meinertz-hagen regarding' the Waimarama Block'," recommended that legislation bo introduced to give relief to.- settlers under-. Section \l6: of the Maori Land Settlement;, Act, 1005,: who did not make .declarations* under, Section 26 of tho Maori- Land-'-Administration' Act, 1900, prior- to the .execution of such leases, such relief, to: be . subject, to,.,proper. provisions for. restriction ...of .area ; - and. ; the. protection of valid..interests of tho;.Crov.ji. or any person. " ' ' ".' •*' *"' '■ Speaking in the Legislative . Council on Tuesday afternoon; v the ■■Attorney-General (Hon. Dr. FindlayV. that the Government intended to go on with the Industrial"Co'riciliatibh arid'.Arbitration , Act Amendment Bill this session.. "Oir the. Hon, Mr. J'aul expressing.-surprise,■ Dn t'indlay repeated ;.with emphasis, "I .assure, the lion, member that we relj\,upon.-, getting the Bill passed this session." He also st'aterl : that the Arbitration"'Court""wVis _ now quito up-to-date with ibs/work;, .TheTrlpji. J.;/!'.. I'aul endorsed-this statement, and:said : tliat. the Court was more- fully abreast-of.: its work at present' than'..it -had -been,for the. last eight years.. .. ..-.. ■'; ; ,- iVi . .-. ENCOURAGEMENT' OE RIFLE SHOOTING.'" WHAT .THE v: GpVERNMENT.;IS%OiNGv In the House of Representatives >ye.&ierday afternoon, a question.' •by- ; .3l'r. ■■ Fieldelicited from the Hon.. R. ,M',Nab, .Acting-' Minister for Defence, an iiitpr.estjitg-..state-ment as to what the ..Governments js doingto encourage marksmanship,-as a-!.fac.tor.iin national defence. ;.. .;■■" ;,; I;,>■:■■■/*„;;,■ :

The Minister said:—"'.The. Cp.unei.l;...of. Defence is giving consideration' to il|U ; question pf encouragement and training in rjfle-sboot-. ing. The facilities .for instruction-have.been .niuoh extended Jately .-..and will bo made more inclusive. An-offioer lias also been recently appointed |to s.;)nerinfe.i]d.-riflo clubs alone. There are'lDO rifle rSiiges'in the Dominion,'with a large numbfir, .of -targets on some, of tjiem... .Tho/s'cll.ool-cadot movement is controlled by ..the- Department; of Education. The concession's '.made'"at, liresent to defence rifle clubs are'-a'ji increase'-of free ammunition up to 120 rounds .annually, while each member is allowed T . to purchase 100 rounds at the very reduced price of ss. per 100, and the issue of free railway-passes-to the annual meeting of tlie New Zealand Rifle Association, and also fbi; competitions in districts up .to 100" miles!.,. , Members are also allowed -to earn a' marksmjin's badge.. Clubs, in addition to a course;'of'cla.s'S-fijung, , drill at. least once, quarterly,, and'submit to discipline on, rifle range. T.hpjv are also allowed to purchase arms at bare cost; £1000 annually is voted for the expenses of the New Zealand ißifiV Association, and many- riflo clubs now compete;. £450' is;,also voted for competitions in.; various,, centres of the Dominion open, to the, rifle clubs'and public-school, cadets-may,com-pete ; £500 is about to be cxpendgcl in • pb--taining champion belts for competition. .Tlie capitation of defence cadets ; has been, iraisi'd. to 12s. Gd., and nn additional animal allowance of fifty.-round 3 free,,., ammunition granted. Municipal bodies have nowj" under section 361 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1900, legal-,authority■to"enctinrage';rifle-shooting. It would help very'mucli"iKtliey : would assist. - The , questions raised by-\the honourable gentleman will the - further and continuous attention of tho*Councilduring the retfess. The .'inducement's 'have thus this year been; much increased/ , ,.'' ■"'