NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 667, 18 November 1909, Page 5

NEWS AND NOTES.

TO-DAY'S BUSINESS. The Pr,une Minister informed a-:Dominion represenltaitive this morning, that further consideration in committee of 'the 'Hospitals and'Chatitablo.lnstitutions BUI will probably be the first business dealt with to-day. Following a'it oii. the' Order Paper-will' bo the State Guaranteed Loons Advances Bill and the Land Settlement Finance Bill.' No information was. obtainable as'. to when the discussion of,the Estimates will.be commenced.'. '.. .'',"• AN UNUSUAL PETITION. A petition has been sent .to' Parliament by the.. religious body of Christadelphians (Brethren of Christ) to the following effect:— 'That the denomination, constituted- "of the associations ,or ecclesias. of this: name, conscientiously ■ oppose, and earnestly protest against, Brethren of Christ -having anything b>. do :'with politics in wordy strife or armsbeaiing,; under any. conceivable circumstances or conditions whatever, regarding it .as 'a course of conduct,disloyal to Christ and perilous to their eternal welfare. That, as they regard participation' in .war,, and all that appertains to .war',-to be opposed to.the law of Christ,; : they .humbly, pray the lion, members of the House of Representatives of New Zealand'to grant exemption from the bearing ofarms to the associations known as Christadelphians." - . - ;, ■'".'■ -''■ •'■ ~

RETRACTION. ... : A correction wa's made, by Mr. Davey (Christchuroh. East) on Tuesday of a statement made by him withregard, to'sinking funds Of the Wellington City Council:... Mr. Davey had quoted Mr. Fisher, M.P.,- as saying -that the Sinking :Fand Commissioners of, the Wellington City Council,- in,endeavouring to secure 6 per cent for the funds, had been obliged to accept ;2J per cent, owing to shrinkage, in the value of property. In this statement he had been mistaken.: What Mr. Fisher, had said was that if the Wellington Sinking Fund Commissioners had had to realise on their securities they would'have:secured only 2$ per cent. He did not wish to misrepresent Mr. Fisher, and therefore he made the correction.

OTAKI COUNTY BILL. A petition has been presented to Parliament Jjy the council and residents of the Hutt County in regard to tho proposed' Otaki County. Bill. The. Bill, proposes .to combine parts of Hutti and Horowhenua in a new oounty, with the result, that there would remain in the Hutt County 716 electors and land of the capital value of .£1,366,535. It is urged-that the diminution of-the Hutt County to this extent will inordinately increase tho .proportion of revenue required for office expenses. . No reduction in the council's staff could be made without impairing its efficiency. The .petitioners believo that the" estab; lishment ; of numerous with- .comparatively small areas of control causes inequalities of burden in. connection with tho maintenance of the main 'roads and bridges.

QUESTIONS. : Mr. Arnold will ask tho-Government,whether it is correct, as reported in' the newspapers, that at a- deputation w&pb waited upon the Minister for Justice yesterday a private citizen stated, that he had been shown the statement prepared by Mr. Commissioner -Dinnie for presentation to the Minister, and not yet considered by Cabinet or mado public. ,If so, will they ascertain by whom it was- so shovin, and how many other unofficial persons, have had tie opportunity of perusing it? '. Mr. Massey Irishes'to know from the Minister for Railways whether it is a : fact ; 'that in connection with the -tenders, for lubricating oils the, specifications-are, so. arranged: as to make'it impossible for-any other firm or company than the Standard Oil Company to' comply with tho .conditions; and,'if so, will he nave thc< specifications altered British firms or their agents in New Zealand,, may. be able to compete.; '•'" •■ . ...• -~- ■; ■ Mr. Glover gavonotico yesterday-to .ask the I Minister for fierfemco whether he - has author-,j ised aninquiry into the circumstances 'attending the trip of. No. 1 Garrison Artillery Vc-lnn-l teorn to Wellington.; and,-if notj : does he' in-l-0,..1. >A, f hnlii:.*i%««i\ "- ■■.V\~">—^-:.-r J --\r"-.'-: -c-J