NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 239, 2 July 1908, Page 9

NEWS AND NOTES.

' T »'° Taihoa Ministers sitting together," said Mr. J. Allen, yesterday afternoon, as ho pointed to tho Hons. J. Carroll and J. 1U Gowan._ " The first, is the Taihoa Minister for Lands, and. tho other is tho laihoa. Minister in regard to Minei." In pursuing his reference to the last-named Minister, Mr. Allen said: (( Wo havo given mm over £24,000 for expenditure on goldlields, and what has ho dono with it? Ho has got it in his pocket—(laughter)—in his Departmental pocket, I mean." Ho did not, lie said, know why any member should feel constrained, to refer in terms of praise to tho assistance given to tho mining industry by tho Government.

.Owing to ill-health in his family, Mr. A R. Barclay (Dunedin North) has not yet put in an appearanco at tho Houso. and yesterday ho was granted leavo of abseuco.

Messrs'. Lev,'is (Courtonay), Graham (Nelson), Malcolm (Chitlia), and D. Reid, jun. (Taieri) arrived from their respective homes yesterday morning. Very few members aro now absent. , , .

. Tho Police Provident Fund Board report that during tho year one sergeant and seven constables wero rotircd and placed on tho fund, viz., Sergeant Latimer and Constables Stacey, and Weatherley. On March 31 thero woro 3 ox-inspectors, 22 ex-sergeants, 40 exconstables, 3 ox-detectives, two widows, and 2 children on the fund, their aggregate annual al.owanco being £6574. Tho following, pensioners died during tho year: D. Cartnull, H. Chisliolm, S. Stacey, and E. Sturmer. iii f thero was a. balance to credit or tho fund of £30,537, an increaso of £1411 oil tho amount at end of 'previous year.

. The Attorney-General (Hon. Dr. Findlay) told a Dominion reporter that tho-. Judiciary Jiill is sti|l undergoing, revision ia some of its clausos, and will not bo introduced for 501110 I'ttlo time yet. Ho will first bring before tho .Council several minor amending moasurcs on different subjects, and it is not yet quite decided which oF tho moro important Bills will be initiated in tho Upper House.

The Addrcss-in-Reply debate in tho Conncil will probably last the rest of tho week. It is expected that Dr. Findlay will speak on I'riday on the industrial arbitration problem.

In moving that a return bo presented showing tho railway passenger traffic bo-, twecn tho Bluff and Invercargill for two 3ears ending Juno-30, Mr, Arnold gav6 as a roason for the request that statements had been going abroad that people were fro-' ?>? 0 tr;ive ! lin S from Invercargill to tho Bluff to. obtain "that which they thought was for tho bodily welfare." 1

"Oh!|oh!" greeted tile Prime Minister yesterday when lie gave notice to introduce l tho Meiklo Acquittal Bill. It is stated definitely by those who opposed the Bill of last session that another stonewall will be put up if the measuro introduced is particular in its application and not general.

~ Yesterday notice was given, to. introduco tho following Bills: —lndustrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill (Hon.' J. A ; Millar); Inspection of Machinery Act Amendment. Bill (Hon. J. A. Millar);.Shear-. crs Accommodation Bill (Hon. J.;,A. Millar); Workers', Compensation for 'Accidents Am'ondniont Bill (Hon. J. -A. Millar); Public Bodies Leases Bill (Hon. R. M'Nab); Polico Offences Bill, Pawnbrokers'- Charges Bill, Impounding Act Amendment Bill, Coroners Bill (Hon. J. M'Gowan); Civil Scrvico Amendment Bill, Friendly Societies' Consolidation Bill, Government Advances to' Workers Bill, Incorporated Societies Bill, Meiklo Acquittal Bill, New Zealand Society .of Accountants Bill, Public Holidays Bill, Second Ballot Bill, Secret Commissions Bill (The Primo Mini-' ster).

Mr. Izard wants the Postmaster-Genera] ■to say .whether, ho-intends placing on the estimates for this year a .sum sufficient-to provide a site and to erect thereon a suitable post office in Molesworth Street, Thorndon? Also: whether lie intends placing on the estimates for this year a sufficient sum -to erect a railway station in Wellington suitable to tho requirements of the public?

Sottlers will be interested to know that Mr. Witty is to ask .the Minister for-Agri-culture whether ho will sec , that prompt' payment is made to those persons whoso cattle have been condemned by Government officials?

Mr. Wilford wants tho Minister for Lands to say whether ho will this season introduce legislation providing that all local authorities whoso lands have been acquired by tho Government.- for workmen's homes dhall bo entitled to demand from tho Government all local rates payable in respect of such lands prior to the acquisition thereof, in accordance with tho -promise made by tho Minister to a deputation in 1906

Mr. Ell is asking for a return showing (1) Iho amount m . interest paid by tho State oil the £500,000 paid for the 75,000 shares which tho State owns in the Bank of Now Zealand for the years ending 1905, 1906 1907, 1308; (2) tho amount in dividends receivod by the State for the years 1905. 1906 1907, IDOB. 1 '

Mr. Major thinks that members will go blind after a week or two from -gazing at the glaring white walls of the room where they sit.