NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 644, 22 October 1909, Page 5

NEWS AND NOTES.

THE COUNCIL CHAMBEB. ■ 'il , UNQUALIFIED TONDEItNATIOS. : ;' X \ Reference to tho design and method of veni" tilation 'of the Legislative Council Cbattbot ' was made by the HonL J..E. Jenkirison yester. ' day. Hβ said he did not know what i&o chani- • bor. resembled.. .-,.'.■',. : - ■ .. ; ■• .-. -A, voice: A shearing shed.' ■■,/.''.'' , . Another councillor: It's a shedifice. - •'< Mr. Jenkinson went on to say that the' Goternor s 'new residchco was 'being* built in the samo way. •-. .v.':...,-; , .". •'.'.:■■..•■■■■. ■■..■.'.;!",:';.;*:'■...•; <; -■A member: I 'heard that;- they wore adding ■• it on to the lunatic' asyloin." ' ~,-.-, '■■•:. '-,:. i Dr., Findlay; It may serve for a Legislative Chamber.some.day.;- >.> ' ~ ,: : ? Mr. Jenkinson! I. know, tliat,Dr. done all in his power to have this place, made comfortable. If we were to be hore only, tem> porarily it would.not matter so'much,.. biit wt will bo here for ten. years. : '••-.: '.."'.'■ ',V Dr, Findlay: Seven years. (Laughton)' ' ■ .; A voice: That.is all ho will bo Hero.'■.■■■''"■■;.-''-, \ Another member; And two of. them "haVe gone. . / •Vv.' , -'' ::Yv'■■".' ,- ; .'- ; , ' i;.;;-." *-i Mr. Jenkinson: I trust nndhopo in the iriat , tcr. •. ■ ; : ■ .■'■ .> : :•■.•■. -.•' .;' • ■: ■'--.. .;'■,.■ (■ ■■■>■. Resuming, Mr, Jenkinson referred'in scathing terms to ,tho adjuncts to the chamber.' . :Tho messengers' room/which provided accommodation for six-or seven officials, had only, two small,' windows—nnt much- bigger than .those of a prison cell. ; Then, again, there was not a ropm in which anybody could make love or tell secrets without the risk of being heard in the next-room.'- , . .-'-:- v V,'".'. ..■••':'.'■ ■•'■'•■?: Dr. Findlay: Have you tried it? .', '^ Mr. Jenkinson: Oh, no. . . '. .;:', ''. In the course of further remarks Mr'.'Jenkinson said he could not imagine : who was responsible, for tho .designing. .: From what he could see.radical alterations;would have to be made. With the present system, of heating'it would be impassible to sit,in the chamber lone during next winter. Money had- beeii frittered away in regard to, the. building, as had been done in regard to other public works. . i..',■':■'. ; DILATORY 'RETURNS. ;' ■-; v' ; f Attehtton was 1 drax\-n : by Mr;~Maisqr :ye» ! . terday to the fact that there were, 43 motions for retornsuow standing on; the Order:Pap_er, and members had not had a ! single, opportunity; of moving 'for a return this session. '";"■.:'.'•''"■•'•' Tho Prime said that there had; been no opportunity for .it to bo done durine the 'Addrcss-iu-Eeply, but an opportunity would •to given, next week.. ■ " :■ . : ■■' :■ ■.. Mr. Massey. further - stated that. during the short session• thorn : wore 'quite , a ...number.'-(!.{ returns moved nnd agreed to by tbe House, but not one of them had yet mado. its appearance. He asked-1110 Prime Minister to' look into the master andseo-that tho roturns wort produced os: soon as possible. •'■•'.. '!>, '■■"■■. 'j • Sir Joseph Ward said ho would.be glad to 1 look into it.' iHe saw. no.'reason tvhy. they ; should.-notbe'produccd.,:.',... v ;-.:'. ; " INTERESTING'; SECOND' BALLOT.'■FACt;i "Who gained :most ,by the Second Ballot Act?" nsked Mr. Xaurenson when the'.Lcgje-' latnro Amendment Bill was nuder .discussion in ;thc. House yesterday. ■'. Mr. Fisher, v\\o wa* explaining- his measure,, said he had- not intended to raise the point. ' :As it; had been riiifd, hn would- like to: point outl what was rather 'significant." '.' Was :it not'a. fact thai ' when a second ballot took ■ place aftor the eenK ei-nl election when Ministers wore'. free ,to; take, a hand in the election, the .Government wonfj Yes,-but when second ballots took place «tj a : time, when'the-Ministers were,: not free to assist, the Opposition -.secured the .victory I ..:;(; BILLS BEFORE THE HOUSE^:{'; Mr. : Mlaren's Public Works Amondmen; i Hill proposes that, where the configuration oi any district is such that within 'any partibulaij; • area or areas it is difficult or •inexpedient, to construct a street'or.road of;the width of noi less. than sixty-six feet, the local authority may by resolution'6O.dcclare^and the Governot may by. Ordcr-in-Council *lithorise , the ; local! authority ■ to permit tho construction >of ai street dr road not being less than.thirty fee • in width, upon i condition that no' bnildini shall be erected' within thivty-tbrco foot fion tho centre of such street or. roadi' .'■:■' :':;T< The IVaitara. Bowugh E«sen-es Vesting Act which has been introduced by Mr. Jennings proposes to,vest certain lands in the Waitari Borough Council as 'an 'endowment 'for' tb public library. , : ; ■". •■ ■'': : ' r| - !v Tho Wcstland and Nelson Eeservc Amoudmeht' Act,' introduced by Mr: , Guinness which has caused eomo excitement on .the Coast, proposes that for all laud 1 leased undeffi the .original -.Act; of 1887, which is iwed fo religious , or. educational'.purposes other thai for schools carried on for ! pecuniary gain "oi profit, tho Public IVuslce shall cease' to enarßi other than a ; peppercorn- rental.- vA..clmißo . ij tho original Act that -reads, "the fees islti< . paid to the valuators'shall, be chargedrto; flu incoming lessee,". shall bo repoaled in favoii of- a regulation/that the valuators'■ foes, Vim the cost of tho valuation fixing the annua rental. - of. each parcel of - land shall, bo: pirn by thu unsuccessful .'party to such/ valuation Tho provisions; of tho Arbitration, Act,,, IMS shall not, apply to'any valuation- mado- undel thb principal Act. , ';-'. -.'.':.-' ■ : .. )' '■'■" '.;. : ' '■;:'''"- .V;." JOTTINGS.^: ; .': ; ; '■•"' '' ( . Mr. Okey. (Taranaki) has' given';noticed:.jh ask tho Minister for .Railways whether he wil arrange tliat passengers travelling second-elas on the trajjis-between Wellington and Auck land shall be entitled to sleeping-berths if the' are willing to pay them.- '.'.. '■'. ■"'• -.''>'. CV* . Mr. Field is; asking the Postmaster-Gn.r.srn , when tho Government- intend-to utilise fh sum of £7W, granted on .-'-.the 1908 Estimate for the purpose, in building.on its proper sit a now: post, office at Khnnuou;-to tako tbb plac 'of'tho. old .building, built oil'the site which is quite, "out, ; of date,..-and which 'it. i proposed to sell to the library authorities. 1 " I iloh't believe' Hiat', there is one' memhw who has experienced' tho second 1 ballot wl« wants to have the experience again/'—Ml; F M. B. Fish.or, 1 ..; - : ' ;.-,'.' .-::■:,.■'■■ Prior to'the resumption of the'debitor , the Address-in-Reply in. tho Legislative Conn oil yostewlnjv .tlio■ Hoi\. J. B. Jenkinson,.'pi behalf of Ms colleagues, and himself, ospressec syinpathy with the Hon. A. Baldey upon tlii death of Mrs. Caldey. ■ " Whcii' one gots oyei 50-years," remarked Mr.■ Jenkinson, : "it wouli : appear.that tho losses of! and friend; becomo more numerous. lii fact, wo find tjiii world almost-.a vale of.tears." '.. : ■ .. , hy. It is not intended to appoint two local Biiil Committees. this - session for.\tho- enko (o£ ex pediting business, ■; - ; ''■;} .' .. : ; ; ; . ''■; ■■•■-,. It was stated by tlie Jliriistoi , 'for Lands-tha , suitable lands.were• being acquired; near tin centres of population' ,fer .subdivision, inti workmen's lots. ,: \ ■';*'■.\- " • •■■•:> - ; - ■', A great deal of information' ; has. been col - !cct«(l on tho subjcctVof old, soldiers'..claim's with a viow'to its being placed in the hands o aresponsiblo officer, to.make full inquiries'aiu .report .to the Government, ;.,; ~; ..' : ' !..'■'> The question of making provision for a trac! up the .Otalci. Gorjo to: the. siiinniit.of' thi Tararuas must stand o_v«r-. until,.urgent, rpa< requirement*; in bush; districts.ha'vo been pro yiucd,for. - . '■■■:-, ::■'[■-'. ~..';•' ;,-: ; -'.; - ■ ..-":' Tho question of, electing, a, sclio'olhoiiso.fa; Nonuandak. will bo considei'cd amount, of tho, appropriationSi is kuowri.iigcW tions have already .been .reserved for-scliob' sites at the .Wilford Settlement, \ A Bcnoral 'revision -of ;parcel-tiost':.arrange: mciits- is untjer.review-,: nnd consideration: Will b? given to places like ilt'>-. I'ljiuouth if it ■ cau bo dond, id. roasaiiakle. uist,■:"< ■■:■:;-V,i.-.r: : '