NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 672, 24 November 1909, Page 5

NEWS AND NOTES.

; ' PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. " In answer to Mr. Hino (Stratford) the Brime Minister stated yesterday that the time'when the Public Works Statement would be brought down depended on the way, in! which tho business'of Parliament proceeded. If it proceeded satisfactorily, tho Statement would .be brought down-at an; early date, if not, it'would bo impossible to bring it down at an.eady'date. ■ Mr. Massey: Will it be down before Christmas?' " , ■'■ ' ~..; Sir Joseph Ward: Before Christmas, ; I hope! LOCAL PETITIONS. , ■'.' The Native' Affairs Committee! has roported favourably on the petition of Christina Prouso, of Wellington, that the Validation Court may bo empowered to hear and determine an application in respect of a : transfer of Native.land in the Horowhenun,'block. *•'.■ : The Education Committee, reporting upon the petition, of Henry Bromley, late overseer of the Training Farm, Levin, for compensation for, alleged wrongful' dismissal,- stated that they, had no recommendation, to make. ■\ '■' ''•', ! ...' "r— — :'. ~'./■ i -l-_'-i '• ■ ■'.-■'. POSITION OF MR.< DtNNIE'S REPLY TO ; ; '. v .' ; ;MR.'.';B.ISHOP.> ; ,v . E«ference : was made' by' Mr.. Arnold yesterday to the rejoinder made by Mr. Diunie (Comnraaoner of Police) ■to tho report: by Mr." Bishop, S.M.; on' the police. force. He said members could not be prevented from criticising the, reply which Mr. Dinnio had made '■■ to Mr. Bishop's report."; It was : his opinion tliat Mr. Dinnies rejoinder should'form part of the records in "connection with the inquiry. If the Prime Minister could hot'find'some, way of having Mr; DirinieV statement placed'on tho table of tho House,'ho hoped howould have the reply granted'as'a return. ...'•' "_ The Prime Minister said ho would be' glad if.Mr. Arnold would;give notice of a ouestion' on the subject... It was an 'important "matter, involving the question 'as : to■ whether the! report of a' Royal' Commissioner .could bo re. viowedby tho party concerned. > - : Mr. 'Arnold':.' We' may reach the' police estimates by l'nday. ..,;-•■ . '~,,.;:. . Sir. Joseph:. If. you give, notice to-day, Twill give answer to-morrow. '.-■ ~<-•. v.\i

|', v ' ,; VSCHQOL' TEACHERS',CLAIMS. '.';!"'.' ' ' George : : Wilmot,;'a ; '>retired' 'school ''teacher?' who was'compellcd to.resign owing to'blindness' after; 21 yearsV service,'recently'petitioned Parliament, for a' compassionate allowance.:' Tho' Education'. Committee' ..yesterday reoorted: that they had no recommendation to make in-re-gard to.the application,, ~.;.:' . , : ', • 'James Kerr Menzies, .who'was.a.teacher der. T tho - Otago Education Board for ■SQ -years' and could, not, afford; to join the Teachers 1 Superannuation Scheme when it came into' force, recently npplied'to be admitted-to the' benefits of the fund, and expressed his wil. lingness to pay arrears of premiums and interest thereon. The' Education' Committee ye* terday reported .to'- the., House recommending the of provisions' similar to- those contained in Sub-Section 1 and 2, Section "25 of the Education Act, 1903.'-. ' : ''. '' '

RAILWAY. :PASSES >FOfl TEACHERS. A report was' ( reoeived'from the. Education Committee yesterday .with respect, to several petitions. asking that'.the'.privilego. of travelling free- on'the railways' to attend classes might be continued to school teachers. It was ; recommended that the-report,should lie on the table, ami bo referred to'.the .Govefnmcnt''.for . ■ -: '•'." .' ,;."' Mr. Hardy (Selwyn) moved asaii amendment that the report should-be .referred back to the committee for, further consideration. ■ : '- Mr,' Anderson (Mataura) seconded,the amendment.:. > ,■.':'- : ;,... -.' r- ■ , , ;'.;',' ' : Mr. Massey thought that a, serious'mistako would ~be -made:, if the' privilego ■ were with-' drawn. Ho had,never heard that the.concession ,had cost 'the Government very much. ' . Tho:Hon. G.:Fowlds said that.a'great deal of-misapprehension existed as to what was pro. posed to be. withdrawn.. He went on to mention': that -some--time-ago'tho boards were circularised with a view to stopping the indiscriminate issue of '. passes. . The Department intimated that.itiWas proposed, to continue the issue of passes, which wouldfcbver the largest proportion-of the classes: In response,to representations ;by ■ boards ,it was decided that the free passes: should continue 'till 'tho end of the year,, so .that there would.be no interference, with'the'classes-in progress. The' Department also intimated'.' that full consideration .would be', given to all applications, inrespect of classes> outside those in respect of which the; passea : were to.be retained. All that the Department was doing, was, to : prevent an abuse of -the privilege. > ■ The amendment was approved.