ABINET DECISIONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 147, 16 March 1908, Page 8

ABINET DECISIONS.

* • ■ ■ . SATURDAY'S MEETINGS. GRANTS FOR'PUBLIC WORKS. ' Cabinet met on Saturday afternoon and also in tho ovoning, tho Premier. (Sir Joseph Ward) presiding. ' i It was decided that the Mana'watu Railway oraployoos bo allowed to join, the Superannuation Fund under conditions provided ..for in tho Act of last- session. The employees have already signified their willingness to join under thoso conditions. The directors of the company likewise havo agreed to pay tho sum stipulated in tho Act to subsidise back contributions. Briefly, tho conditions in tho Act are:—That the oinployoes pay into the fund the • amount of tho contributions that would havo boon payable by them had they bccomo contributors 011 January 1, 1903 (the dato -when ■ the Superannuation Act camo into operation). The benefits'would then bo. computed from that date, and tho.rato of contributions likewise. Tho sum required to bo paid in by tho company by way of subsidy was £5000. Authority was given for tho erection' of a technical school at .Patea, to oost' £320 j and another at Eltham, to cost £310. . > Various, sums -for public works, railways, roads, school buildings, and goneral expenditure, were authorised, amounting in all to £110,000. . . • '■ It was decided to extend tho Taurariga fruit-testing station. Tho (Government will havo to . acquire further land to'enable this work'to bo carried'°oati Mr. Gilbert Anderson, of Cliristolnirch, was appointed to represent tho Dominion at tho Freezing Convention to bo held at Paris this year (referred to last week). Mr. Anderson is 1 now in England. :Hc. has great experience in matters relating, to tho frozen meat trade, especially in its conhcction with this country, l and the Government oonsider him eminently suitable to represent tho .Dominion .at this, important; Conference. Leave of - absenco for twolve months was granted to Mr. F. H. D. Bell/isK'.C-, Crown Prosecutor at Wellington, and M|.-Myers was appointed to act in his ~stead.' : Leavriof- absence was also granted t-o Mr. T; W. Stringer, ; K.C., Crown Prosecutor, Christchurch; Mr. Stringer's-substitute was not appointed. 1 ' ' ■

It was decided to. introduce legislation to prevent tho dissemination of hydatids.. In this' connection, a , pamphlet will be issued shortly by tho Health Department drawing attention to tho. fact that hydatids is a. .disease which is absolutely preventable. The' matter was fully dealt .with iii'the'last annual report of Dr. 'Mason';,(Chiif ;HealthOfficer). Cabinot also decided \ to. establish' a 'Research Scholarship;:- This:;innovation will bo in accordance-with a. proposal introduced ,by the Minister for Education/ Tho object oftho scholarship will, bo to incite' research regarding, colonial products,-such,'for instance; as,hemp; timber, .minerals, etc.''' Government will , offer a. IJriiyorsity, • scholarship of about £100. Particulars and regulations Have not yet been- - completed, but they will bo, issued in due course -in tho ■ University' Calendar.: It. is-considered tho. scholarship,; as aniincehtivc, will have .valuable 'results.; .