NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 637, 14 October 1909, Page 9

NEWS AND NOTES.

/ ELECTORAL FIGURES. ';.: SOME INTERESTING • COMPAEISONS.- y\ : The;following;totals from', a. Departmental return show tho positions of tho 1905 'and 1908 electoral rolls for the Dominion:—Number on main. roll, April 13, 1908, 423,316; less removals jta'tjansfer, etc.;, since, printing of roll, 60,870: net total on rolli .862,440; plus olaims received < M ob . er31 ' 1008 ' 1M.5G3;. grand total on roll, 537,003; increase of numbers of electors on roll, 1908, as compared with number on roll after • boundary adjustment;"l2s,3l9. ' v 1 h*n another return, the following..totals are given for the Dominion with regard to seamen's' •Tight?-, and. absent voters' permits Number of seamen .who'.voted, 1022;' seamen who did not -.vote,-; 757; .total of seamen's/rights issued, 1779; absent-voters permits exercised, 3038; absent voters permits issued but not exercised, 953; total Of absent voters" permits issued, 3991. yto;, Y»ev of • the recent; prediction by Dr;.' Fmdlav ihat a majority of tho votes, through, out .the (Dominion will soon be in the hands of women, the'following totals for the last election are of interest:—Electors on roll: Men, 294,073; wolnen, 242,930;' number of voters who recorded yotes:;Men, ,238,534; women, .190,114; electors who.!,did not vote,; 108,355; 'informal votes, 4598. Proportion of males and females on tho roll: Men,.55 per cent.; ; women ,45; per cent. Proportion .Of, males arid .females voting to totll number, of votes:recorded:-Men SG/per cont.;' women U per cent. : Percentage of votes recorded by .males and / females respectively •to number'of males and females on the roll: Men 81.11, women 78.26.' Percentage of total number ot votes recorded Ho 'total, number of. electors on .the roll : 79,82." Percentage of informal votes recorded: 1,07. .. ..

A; WELLINGTON PETITION. : , .Mr. E. A..Wright has laid before the Housethe petition of Mr. Louis G. Pratt, of Welling- . ton. Mr.' Pratt was formerly a. railway guara, and was badly injured in the execution of his. duties. Later .he fell into a largo hole which' had_ been, left'unprotected by workmen at the Christchurch station, ahd this accident so increased .'his former;injuries as to incapacitate him;for further employment. Whilo heavily in debt through illness he accepted JE2W oirorod:by : the Department as compensation, f There was ■ no superannuation fnnd m operation at tho time, and ho ptates that he did pot'receiye such a sum as'would bo paid under the Workers. Compensation Act. Being now destitute and weak, and 75 years of age, he asks for further compensation from the Government. THE BARTON CLAIM'REVIVED. Tho provision.in the'Crowri Suits Act, iyhi«h states, that'-' before.an, action ; cajr be- brought against the Crown permission must be obtained from tho Minister in chargo of the Department affected, whs strongly criticised by Mr: Masse J on Tuesday night.. He said that when tho Act was passed there waa not. the slightest thought of Stato trading departm'ents coming into existence. With regard to, tho Barton case, he asked why '• the Hon. the. Minister for. Mines had not given the suppliant a chance. Mr. M'Kenzio: Wo did. ■* . ■ •' Mf. 'Massey: Tou did not, and this is sup. posed to be a Liberal Administration. Mr. M'Kenzio: Ho went to Court nnd lost. ; Mr. Massey: From what I understand Barton was not nt nil to blamo in the matter. ■Mr. M'Kenzie: Neither was the driver of th« wagon. . ' ■ ■ - Mr. Massey: Will you give Barton the ieces6ary permission to bring his case in Court? Mr. M'Jfonzie: He'has been, there already.' Mr. Fisher: Ho-went, into.'Court, but the Court decided that it could not hear the claim : as the consent of. the.'Minister had not-been obtained. , , , Just at this stage, :Mr...Mns»y's time was ur, bnt before resuming his seat ho remarked that he ; wonld toko • another opportunity , of bringing up the matter. ■■■v WHO ARE THE OFFENDERS? Some interesting commont -was made by Mr; :MaSS9y on Tuesday: night . upon the 'literature whiolr is,. usually, circulated bv the- Government at 'eleottOil' time. Mr. Fowldj had, ho said, deolarsd.

in . connection'• with ' the " Rangitikei elec-' tion that the scheming which was successful at the general election had'not succeedcd on that occasion. Did he mean that the Opposition had boen guilty of misrepresentation? If so, ha would challenge him to give a single instance of misrepresentation on the part of. any. member of the Opposition. If ho did, ho would give him a dozen instances of misrepresentation on the part of Ministers. The Opposition had always played the game, ond played it fairly, but if it was going to bo further misrepresented by Ministers and their journalistic jackals it intended to hit back. Talking about misrepresentation, he was reminded of the pabulum that was circulated on the occasion of the generalelection. , He would just like to know who paid for it. Ono manifesto he had in mind was signed by the Prime Minister. Among other things it was stated in it that beforo the Liberal Government came into office relief works were needed. What was the position when Sir' Joseph left the country recently to attend tho Defence Conference? Was it not a fact that relief works were necessary, and unemployment was rife. Then, again,, there was in the manifesto pomp nonsense about settlors having to pay 100 per cent, for money prior to the advent of tho Liberal 'Government. Such stuff was not worthy of notice. He also noticed a statement to the effect that "eur financial position was r-.cver sounder, onr prospects never better." That was only last November,. remarked Mr. Massey. He would also like to attract attention to another statement to the effect that "the Government Departments could not get enough young men, ana had to advertise for them," Upon that date; Mr. Massey said, tho Government, must have known that it was in ,financial'difficulties. Sir Joseph Ward: We have never been in financial difficulties. Mr. Massey: The Government has since had to sack hundreds of men. . Sir.Joseph: So havo private firms. Mr. Massey: That is not the point. This statement was made at a time when they knew they would have in a fow weeks to go in for wholesale retrenchment. Talk about misrepresentation, .why I could givei dozens of similar examples. Vory applicable are the words "Lent wo forget," also tne closing words of that Well •known recessional— i "For frantio boast and foolish word, Have mercy pn thy people, Lord."

PETITION FROM THE WAIRARAPA,

CHARITABLE AID QUESTION. A -number of local contributory authorities in the Wairarapa, Hospital District have- petitioned tha House to the effect that they viewed with extreme disfavour the provision under which the Wellington and Wairarapa hospital districts - were united for the purposes of charitable aid.' They stated that, in addition to the usual claims for charitable and purposes, the Victoria Home for Incurables, an institution hitherto maintained by tho Wellington Hospital Trust, was now included 1 in the demand of the United Dishict Board, thus seriously increasing the financial burdon they had to bear. It. was believed by petitioners that the home, was .worked as an adjunct to the' Wellington with a view ef. relieving it from the caro of chronic eases, 1 anc) that with regard to the payments mado' by tho United District Board to kindred institutions situated, in other parts of tho Dominion; it would .'be found that, an extremely small percentage, of . patients treated in either case could be traced as coming from, or-.having any connection with, tho Wairarapa hospital district. The total payments '.to the Unitod District Charitable Aid' Board 'from Wairarapa hospital district for ten ycaTS, ended March 31, 1909,; was -CIS,OSS,. which, together, with subsidy,; gave an aggregate of -£36,176, whilst the amount received from the board during tho same period for distribution-in the Wairarajia hospital district was only £11,214: Tho petitioners added that tliay'were fully prepared to undertake the charge of all thoir- own sick and poor,, and to pay for the' treatment of thos6 of/them who might ,bo received into institutions outsido the district.'''!•

IDLE LANDS AROUND WOODVILLE. According to, a "petition presented to tho Houso last Bight, -there is, in the vicinity of Woadville, considerable , land held in. large .areas, ;'lt; is pbinted -out that tho/land" is'of first-class quality;, and suitable for dairying and sub-division into farms of 100 acres; Much of tho land, it is added, is.owned by. Natives, and it-:would be to their advantage for tho Government to acquire it. ; The. petitioners therefore trusted that the Government would take steps to that end. ' , > --, 1 ■■; - .

. BUTTER MOISTURE PROSECUTIONS. 1 "The ■ prosecutions in regard to moistur»>f butter in the Taranaki district, are 1 anything but-: a credit to the Department," saia Mr.' Okey (Taranaki),' in tho course of his speech yesterday. . Mr. Okey said that 'people whose butter had been graded first-class . were'after.wards prosecrfted on a charge that it contained oyer 1G; per oent. of moisture. They had no chance to dispute the matter, for when the samples were taken the : Department did hot send on a saraplo to the persons concerned. After, five months had elapsed, they were brought beforo the' Court, and by that timo they were not able to bring evidence to disprove the chargo, and,' therefore,' had to plead giiilty,' by- the advico of their solicitor. ' Mr. .Okey > referred' to another case in which he claimed' • that ■ there - had been injustice,' and • urged - that something should ba .dono by. the House so'that tho purchasers of butter should, not'have to .run tho risk of-the butter being shipped-Home with-over 16 per cent, of- inois-!' ture., . ' • , ' THE DEPRESSION AND VICE. Mr. E. E. Taylor (Thames), a staunch supporter of .the' Government, read the House last evening a doggerel couplet to the following effect:— " "We don't .want to work, but, by Jingo, if we must, '. . We'll havo tho union wages pr we'll r livo with-' : out a crust;" •- , "And, mark you,", added Mr. Taylor, "when you take oat of the Into trouble .the 6elf-im-?osed poverty causcd by the people's own vicea ;eay you have practically no poverty in New Zealand from; end to end. (Cries of dissent.) THE TIMBER INDUSTRY. '• A. petition signed by 851 wage-earners, asking that immediate and effective steps be taken tj foster and protect the timber industry,-was presented to the House by Mr. Jennings (Tanniarunui) last night. The petitioners. 6ot out that they believe the existing'depression in tho timber trade to be duo to (1) high price of house timber; (2) the introduction of foreign timber; (8) the general depression caused by tho stringency in tho money market; and (4) cxctisaivc railway freight- charges.: The petitioners , consider that tho first cause* could be' adequately dealt with by Parliament. In regard to the second factor, it ia stated that the, quantity , of Oregon pine imported' during tho past year-has been, computed at twenty-four million feet. It is contended that the w.hole of this immense quantity could have been supplied from our own forests and that, by doing 60' it would: have supplied employment- to :a thousand men for' three months.; It is further submitted, that certain members of the Timber Commission, who are also members of Parliament, are inconsistent in the favour shown by. them to the importation of a foreign tim-ber,-after having vot?d for the completion of the Main Trunk Railway on the understanding that-onn'of the ; principal items of irevenuo would bo that derived froni timber freights Their present action, it is contendod, is calcnUted to faiake the line a non-payable one. The petitioners ask: (1) : That the prices of local timbers: be so regulated as to secure the largest possible volume of trade; (2) that a. prohibitive duty ba placed on foreign tim,bers, except on timbers that cannot be pro. duced in tho'Dominion; and (3) that the raiU way freights on timber be reduced so as to place it on an equal footing with other kinds of prodnce, COMMENT ON RANGITIKEI . ELECTION,, NEED FOB "PURE EOLLS." What ho describod as tho true facts in connection with the assistanco that was given to tho candidates, in ' the lato Rangitikei election were outlined by Mr. Guthrio in tho Houco .last night. ' The member' for Oroua. stated that the Opposition candidate had received only the assistance of Mr. Massey and himself. 'As he (tha' speaker) was an elector of Rangitikei he had every right to assist the candidate who hold similar views to his own. -Mr. Massey,: he might montion, had gone to Hunterville on the afternoon of the first poll, nt -the unanimous wish of Ilia numerous'admirerP -in the district, who were anxious to know' him and for him to know them. When Mr. Massey renched' the district ho- had not si possible' chanco. of influencing a single vote. Mr. Massey .remained" for iho eecond ballot because -it was weir known that communications had pawed, as a result of which four Ministers were about to'.', enter' the district. Then again, the Government party had three organisers at work, and in addition tho threo defeated candidates. Sir Joseph Ward: What abont the undelivered speeoh upon tho night of the.first poll? Mr. Guthrio: If Sir Joseph had had such a splendid invitation as did Mr. Massoy he could not have given a refusal. His blood would have tingled, and he-would have given then) the speech of his life.

Proceeding, Mr. Guthrie said his principal object in speaking iu .regard to the matter was to call attention to tno necessity for tho electoral rolls throughout the Dominion being purged. Ho declared that the various rolls must be in a fearful state if they were in a similar condition to that which was used in oonncotion- with the recent by-election. Why members of the House could havo no idea of what happened at Rangitikoi. There'were, ho continued, no less than 150 electors in one lot living milfs away from the electorate, but thoy formed a committeo to take a hand in the contest. "If," he added, "wo don't got pure rolls it must lead to all kinds of bribtry and corruption." (Hear, hear.)

... QUESTIONS AND MOTIONS. Tho following appear among the latest batch of questions:^ Mr. Fisher will ask the Minister for Defence whother ho will recommend the Government to sot up a Defence Committeo to sit during the present session, with a view to furnishing this House with-information that will enable it,to fully comprehend the defencelessness of tho Dominion at tho present time. Mr; Okey intends to i.ask tho Govornraorit whether it is a fact that Sir Robert -Stout, as chairman 1 of the Nativ.e Lands Commission, has received £1286 honorarium and ,£SBO travelling oxpenses, as shown in Return B.—l, in addition to his salary of £2000 a ■ year and ■travelling expenses as Chief Justice. Mr. Wright desires to know whether the Minister for Justice is aware' that charges of conspiracy and perjury have • been publicly mado against a police officer named Constable Leeco, and whether he will have these charges inquired into, and, if'the charges prove untrue, - prosecute tho author of the; statements for libel. Mr. Herdman'will ask the Government whether they will introduce legislation which will give to boarding-house-keepers rights over lodgers' goods and chattels, similar to thoso possessed by innkeepers over the goods and chattels of their guests tinder tho Licensing Act, 1903. : Mr. MXaren intends to move that there 1>« laid'before this House a roturn showing the' number-- of persons; possessed of JSIOO and up to £500 in capital, and of persons possessed of over, £500 in capital, who have rocoived as. sistea passages into the Dominion during tho year ending September 30, 1909. V Mr. Wilford is to "ask tho. Minister; for Marino whether ho will make immediate provision for the erection of a lighthouse, at Tongue Point, Terawhiti, and so remove tho .great perils involved in the navigation of Cook and thus insure a greater,; guarantee of safety to mariners and the -travelling public. . '•, Mr. Arnold soeks to-know whether the Government have considered tho advisability of offering a bonus or prize <for. tho first person whq . successfully manufactures and flies an, aeroplane within the Dominion; and, if so, will they state the' amount- tp bo given- and. con-, ditions under which such prize is to ,bo 'secured. " Mr. Jennings.wisliosito.know from tho.Miriis-, ter for-Agriculture whether lie will furnish to. tho.House the reason why the Department.in* stituted. proceedings against - certain firms and sottlers in Auckland .and Taranaki for butter containing an undue proportion of moisture; and then, in some cases withdrew tho prosecution; :whilo others were fined and mulcted, in-' .heavy costs. ..." .. .. • Mr. Fisher,is to ask tho Minister for Public Works whother , the ' Government have considered the"-question of so amending, the'law as to remove the. disability, undor which the Bnit of Motorman'Barton, in his recent: action for damages against the Crowrt, was, rejected on thegronnds that, tho-State'was'not liablo for the nogligenco of its. employees.; . V Mr. ' Herdman .will ask 'tho Minister for Public Works whother the plans and specifications of the proposed new railway station at' Wellington have' Keen prepared, whother tins sito upon ! which-it .is to. be orected has been decided upon, ;and when its : erection is to bo !proceeded' with.'•