NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 309, 23 September 1908, Page 9

NEWS AND NOTES.

COMMITTEES AND WITNESSES. " Is it a fact," asked Mr. Ross (Paliiatua), "that certain members of tho Stock Committee can arrango for witnesses from their rospeetivo districts to attend the committee and give evidenco on tho now dairy regulations at tho expense of tho State, whilst other members of tho House, who have not tho privilege of' being on tho committee, have not tho saino facility?" Mr. lloss instanced his own case. He was not on tho Stock Committeo, he represented a dairying district, and had not been notified of tho facilities, which, ho was told, were available to members of tho Stock Committee. The Minister (the Hon. 11. M'Nab) replied that ho knew of no instances such as tho member had stated. Ho spoke as a private individual only, since ho was not the chairman of tho committee. 1 • Mr. Ross then .asked the. chairman of the committeo to make a statement. Mr. F. Lawry (chairman) said no such course of action as suggested had boon pursued. If any member of . the House had gono to him and had asked to have witnesses summoned this would have been done. At tho request of Mr. J. Allen, Mr. J. Arnold (chairman of the Friendly Societies' Committee) announced that that committee had not requested anyone, except the Actuary and the Registrar to give evidenco, and no request had been mado by members of the Houso or friendly societies to be summoned. Up to the prosont it had not been decided to pay expenses of any kind. Representatives of tho Druids and of the Friendly Societies' Council had attended and given evidenco, but at their own initiative.

A petition was received from a number of Auckland residents praying for amendments in the bankruptcy laws, and the committee to which it was referred recommend its favourable consideration.

Joseph Sonthwick, who was a teachor under the Wanganui Education Board in 1878,, and who has a total length of servico in New Zealand of 22 years, has petitioned Parliament for relief. Ho represents his average annual salary during that term as £160, which did not enable him to mako any provision for old ago. The committee to which the petition was referred had no recommendation to make.

In tho five years ending March 31, 1908, tho sum of £34,000 approximately was spent ill trying to stamp out tuberculosis in stock in New Zealand. This money was paid as compensation for diseased and condemned animals.

A return laid on the table of the House yesterday to the order of Mr. Remington showed that in the periods from July, 1902, to Juno 30, 1905, 286 convictions for drunkenness were recorded in the Rangitikoi electorate, and 84 prohibition orders were issued, while in .the years to July, 1905, to Juno, 1908, the figures were: convictions for drunkenness, 552; prohibition orders issued, 105.

When it became known in the Council yesterday afternoon that Mr. Ring's motion to re-commit the Second Ballot Bill, in order to reconsider Clause 19, had been lost by one vote, many eyes were turned towards Sir. Loughnan, who, after speaking on several occasions against the clause, had at last supported it by voting against the recommittal of tho Bill. Mr. Loughnau's action has been the subject of much unfavourable comment in tho lobbies. Ho states that ho approves of the general principle of tho Bill, and did not wish to jeopardise or delay it by joining in an attempt, which lie thought ivould bo fruitless, to remove the obnoxious clause.

A long discussion ensued yesterday on tho 'petition of A. W. Bnldcrston and many others of. Ivaiwaka, for an alteration in tho proposed route of tho North Auckland railway. Tho report of the committee, to'which, the petition was referred, was that before tlie railway was extended north from Topuni, as proposed, the Government be recommended to make an exhaustive survey of alternative rbutcs in order that tho best interests of tho various districts might bo served. Much amusement was caused when Mr. Dillon, member for Hawko's Bay, arose and commented on tho enterprise of tho southern members in uniting their forces for this railway, which was for a sparsely-populated locality. If railways were to bo granted tho districts in which they should be placed were those needing them the most. He cited the district between Napier and Ciisborne (renewed laughter).