NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 686, 10 December 1909, Page 5

NEWS AND NOTES.

',',-. ;.i- ■/:. .the LAND l BILL; ■ ; ':,WILL IT BE PUSHED -, ; During'the. course of. the discussion in the Council-, last night .on ■ the .Land Settlement Pinauce Bill,. tlie. Hon.- J. M'Gowan prefaced his- remarks'by stating -that- he: would, reserve hiif, comments on land tenure,, because tho Land l Bill might come down later on. 'A hope it'won't: '" ■'■■' ';Dr:..Pindlay,i.But..it wi.U.... . ; ... ; ..'. ,'. ; .,.;

The opinions of members appear-to-be divided as to. the chances of the Land Bill , being brought up for reading'discussion .before the end of the session.' Some 'of. the 'members say that there -is* a ..likelihood' of."such''a. debate" taking place before the' Bill is'sbolvccY but. twoor three prominent-leaseholders, on being soundedon the subject, state they do not anticipate .'.that :.the. Bill wilb.get: any farther than'it has already gone. .■; They, state -that, if. 'the second reading-of .it. is .moved .the ma-., jority of' the. leaseholders will, speak on the subject.' Many of the freeholders in suchcaso would necessarily be drawn into tho debate, and if-tie Bill were pushed to a second reading it would probably take up nearly half the remain-' ing time of the session..' ; ••.•;•_•.' ;. -• , 1 THE DREADNOUGHT OFFER. . CABINET,. SECEETS. ;'■■{:.' A persistent. attempt was inado, by Mr. T.' E. Taylor. (Christchurch 7 North) yesterday to. extort from Mr. Hogg a full confession of the circumstances.in which. Cabinet was induced: to agree to the Dreadnought offer. Mr. Hogg, 'had stated, in reply to Mr. James Allen, that, he agreed to ~ it. .'because i it was represented' that a very grave emergency had itrison, and if the same representations were' made he would'.do the' same again. '■' - ;' ;'■■'.. . •,. . ' Mr. Taylor said it.would be.very,interesting' if Mr. Hogg would tell the House, what the eride'neo .was brought, before the. Cabinet, to justify their vote, on- tho occasion.; Was there aiiy document, ■'a.'.-ciiblegram' , '-.'frpm :; Mr. Asjuith or.auy member of the ■British' Ministry, which - suggested .«■ Braved .national crisis':' Oi'. wus- there simply >a geucfal c 6 iverintion, initinteil by';, tin-.;-Prime; M.itu.stev," He did- liot.-supjiul-ivrhal. Jlinihfei 1 hbd : any' objection to. Mr.'Hogg ;■ Inking thV aduso' inio hia 'cunlideace "to: thiit-extcnt,' : ' ! -

Sir Joseph Ward.i:' Let's get on!with tho Bill. Mr. ,r a ,ylor.:.les,T daresay. .. ;■■,•/ fcir Joseph Wai-d: •.Hβ can't tell, you .what' takes, place in, Cabinet. . . — ■• '■■ ■■ ~ Mr. .Taylor: 1 don't, see ,why the. Star Cham-' ..bei;.;.should* be able to cover up all its tracks •.oy. saying.-tluit its secrets are inviolable. He wanted. Mr. 'Hogg to say .what "evidence was ■brought, forward, b.v the Primo .Minister.' Did ■the.: King. cable out to say tho Empire .was.' m- .trouble?. Were all the.members of the Cabinel very excited?.- ■ . f ,'. , The Prime. Minister: . lVhat. reply did you gel. from Mr. Asquith?. ■:■ .. ' •;;■ ' ■-.-■■ -.• Air. Taylor, said, he liadiiever; regretted sending bis telegram to Mr. Asquith. If the Prime Minister .had gone to Cliristchurch- after he s sent the telegram ho would have, found, what , was the real: opinion of 'the'.country'on .the! ■; Dreadnought question. Ch'ristchurcK was the only' city where public opinion had oipressed itself. Seven out of nine people ■ in- Christ'cliurch, at: least/had been-.entirely .-'opposed'tothe, violent action taken. , The . member for • Miisterto'n . would earn • the gratitude of - tho ■ whole country '■' by saving .what ■•. toot place, 'in .'.the ._ ..Cabinet. .'lf. ho; did. not speak, he might -die arid take ' the secret ■ with; him. -"Let him .tell us , now," urged Mir.. j Taylor dramatically,. "before he dies.",' : :, ; .The-Acting-Chairman'. (Sir William ■Steward) ; at this stage hastily put the question" "that .this'clause-, be- agreed. to.-'. . . * - ,' ■•'..'.■ .;. ': ;" : L OTEKAIKE ESTATE. : "'■ ; ; _ Anlecho of the trouble that .occurred-, regard'ing the. Otekaike Estate some time ago- was ■heard iii the House of. E«presentatives yestor- , 'day.-- Messrs. M'Kellar and ■■ Mitchell, 1 ;'-of :oamaru, petitioned for'compensatibu" for "loss Sustained by refusal togrant-a-renewable.lease Hinder; Section.SO of the Land Laws .Amendment 'Act, 190T, on the. estate. The Lands Cominitteo reported that they had .no recommendation to :mako. ; .- ■ ■■■■.: ■■. .-. - ":.;,.. .'■ ■■" -'-. •■'.-' ■.-•■:'.■;'

J! TRANSFERS OF! CROWN .LEASEHOLDS. L' During.the; past, two -years there have been 3131 transfers of Crown leaseholds allowed by ;land boards.' The 'area of .land-:thus ;trans-' ferred is 2,181,016 acres.-.The number-of ■trans-' i'fers in ■ the diffecerifc 1 feiid -Ilistncts'. has' been .as^ollows:-Aii6i;!aM'-'BB3; I ' ; ira\\'k J e , s Bay' iTai-anaki-fOl, 76, Marl(borough 103, Westlaud 159, .'Canterbun-: 335, Otago p 305, Southland-272;.'■:.■ . ■:-; '.;'. ~'.;■'

;■:-X ;' : . : capital site -.bill;-,'.;■■; U The Capital Site Bill which lins : been-intro-duced by Mr. Glover* was circulated lastnight. It provides .that "on and .after, a'day, to, bo specified by ,thc G,oyenior. by proclamation, :tho seat of Government of the Dominion shall' :be- removed, to- the city. .of Auckland." The Minister for out of '■ funds' to :be. appropriated for the, purpose,/.shall provide "such public buildings, in" Auckland's ; may7i be necessary "for the conduct of 'public business." In order ■:to obtain' tha necessary (funds'the Minister for'Financeas to.bo nuttor-, •ised according to; the , Bill to borrow up to' ;.£IOO,OOO at a . rato of : interest not exceeding ifour per cent. , It-.,iV., proposed, to; give power, •to' the Government to-soil, lease, orothcrwiso' of such of the ...public ;buildings ,'ii •Wolliugton '.as -willVbe •'rendered' unnecessary, .by the removal of theiseat of Government, and ;tp apply the proceeds , towards defraying ■ the cost of the new buildings at Auckland. '■'.'■:■'. A TEACHER'S DISMISSAL h^ ■ .-A.' case of dismissal; from- the ■Tβ- Oranga' .ChristchurchV' that-, attracted soma ; attention at tho time,, was'.reported.oh by tho .Education Cominittco.yesterday: ,, Ada Harrison•represented that "sho was ■'dismissed'"from- |.ho .position of day , school teacher at'.the 'home, tor ■ inEiyfficicnt and ' .'unsupported.-reasons,: . and .-prayed for, reinstatement'- or ' an ■> equivalent ■position'-in the Civil' Service. "The ' committee li'onnd; that the petitioner was, fully qualified for, the'position of nu ordinary' puolic school j teacher, but did not adapt herself to.the special ■reniiireinerits at Te Or'anga. Her/removal was jno't arbitrary, or. unjust, and was not tho out:come of. her evidence given at tho inquiry. -lie;fqrc Mr; Bishop, Commissioner.'- The committee reconimendral.that a testimonial ■snonldybe given .to, tho ..petitioner, .as .bad been offered 'by the Inspector-Gorieral, recommending her to ,any Education Board for' employment, and that tho Department should, if any siiitablu vacancy occurred,.;offer;..her the..position.;■

:-■'■"■'■■• ,',- "' HUTT TRAMWAY. .; " ; -A ■' petition has beoii presented, '■ through • ili-. Herdman,M.Pi, by-23-ratepayers of tho Hutt IBorough, protesting .against...tho .passing, of •tho Hutt Valley-Tramway District Bill. They stale-'that as the. Bill-provides that "oue poll may bp'taken for,the whole tramway, district; the proposal could ho carried by a majority of. in I'etone, 'though' only one-third of the.liability of the scheme would bo borho by the;Potone ratepayers. Moreover, all rate;payers- would 'bo nil titled" to vote for the loan 'notwithstanding. that a. large. number, .would :probably be aftenranls oiempted from paying .rates. The petitioners, consider it an', impossibility to detoruiinu how fur the trams would increase values. ■ They favour the rating on /unimproved' value, and object to :the proposal :in regard to tho llntt I'ark railway, : The railway, they . say, , .''is' not/renuired,.."as it is-.proposed, to run a tramline, close beside it. They object also to the proposed alteration! •of the definition of "ratepayer,"' which would give voting-power on polls for' loans , - to'.pev-' sbhs'who .pay rates ito. the-borough, notTnth'.standing that they would not bo liable to,pay 'rates'to the Tramway Board." . ■■' ':; .'..■;!

JOHNSONVILLE ELECTRIC LIGHTING BILL. The Local Bills Committee reported yesterday that tho Johnyuivillp Electric Lighting Bill was a private Bill, and that in addition the Standing Orders lind not boen complied with. The commitwo recommended that tho Bill bo not allowed to proceed. The ropoit nas agreed to. LAND TENURE. Mr. Okoj is filing tho Minister for Lands nlioUtyr, seoing that under Tho Land Act, 1832, lioldors of small gra7ing-iuns could alter their tenure to lease in porpctuity, and under Tho Land Act, 1907, the lcaso in perpotuily was repealed, he will bring down a Land Bill to B»o li6lders of small grazing-runs of less than MM acre? tho light to change their tenure to that of renewable loaso, which tokos the placo of tho lcaso in porpotiuty. A TELLING ARGUMENT. H A tolling argument for tho freehold was put forward hv Mi. Wilford last .ovomnirt in a iIJTr I I * l " 0 ,1 1, laste<l onl v v fivc mmutcs. Mr. , oul d ho hol(1 m sus Wil throe photoplilib The farst showed -v fonr-wheded >c . Hide with Ihe horso» sturk m the mud ot a i oid in the Gisborne district l'ho second showed three hoisre laden \ntli t-n board* w Inch wero lxsiig through rougli oom\! trj broken gvUux wtwe settle-

nient was supposed to have been in progr«j» with six boards on their backs Clinibine over mountains nnd thronch forest beforo ili© Bottler could build his rough whare To whom," asked Mr Wilford, "locs, tit* unearned increment bolongr"

LEASEHOLD PROPAGANDA Thp leasehold part\ arc still talking of in--1 »nguralm s a phtform camp-ugn in opposition ito the Land Bill during the rcoc=< l< was in wniJrd to'inaugurate tins tamp-iign at Hast-" 1 ings (o night, but owing partly to the truce ■wnngpd at the Go\ eminent caucus, and I . parllv to thp new laihini time table not bo- ) nig con\oniout, it has been decided not to hold tli s meeting It is stated however, that a rigorous crusade mil bo instituted early in the >.c\\ W It is «lulid tbnt one of tho supporters of tho pirtj has offered to act as aa« %nncp agent in the tour, and to pa} his own expanse*. The members who mil conduct the campaign will prohibit include Messrs T. E, ' i Taylor, ltussell, Arnold, Hanan, and, posnblj, i Air Laurenson Auckland is one ot the centre selected for tho delnoranco of speeches, the part} being far from satisfied with the measure of support at present given to their - platform in thnt city. » RAILWAY JO MIRAMAR. Mr Luke is asking the Miirster for Pubbe vlorks '* nether he will give the necessary in-, to have a sunoy made and data ' prepared for the purposo of considering the ■ advisability of extending the railway-system lrom Uβ \ro to Kilbirme and Miramar. TO KILL RENEWABLE LEASE. , Speaking in the House this morning Mt. Massoy declared that his object in moving one lof his amendments with reference to land tenure in Committee on the Lands for Settlement Administration Bill the other evening j was to kill tho renewable lea"» system It was I in his opinion i senilis mistake for any conn- i try to wttle'land undei «nch a svslom Then j again, in <.pilo q£ all that had been <wd to the entrary, tho tinio was coming uhen the-ifceb- i ants holding Hud unjer tlit perpetuity I -vstem would be eron<cd tho right of the free- : hold on rcT-onablc (trm^ TARANAKI OIL INDUSTRY." 3lr Okey iTarinakil ls.lo ask the Umister for Mines whcthoi, in order lo assist the : i petroleum industry that is now at such a promising stige m tho Taranakt district, he will ' make inquiries as to the advisability 6f the Government putting down nno or more bores a< \ a place recommended bj Dγ Bell, Government e Geologist, who is now engaged m mating » " geological suuey of the district ' ELTHAM BOROUGH'S PETITtON. Mi Dive (Eginont) is asking the Prime Mmi. stor whethei, m order to give effect to the recommendation of the A to L Petitions Committoo in regard to Eltham Borongh'i petrhon for compensation, it is the intention of the Government to pl/ico a sum of money on the supplementary estimates this year to meet such recommendation JOTTINGS The Kiwitei County Validation Bill, Wsi- 1 pain Co'unty Bill, and Inglewood Terhnical School Site Bill have passed thp Local Billi Committee. Tho petition of John Drrooll, of Welling. ton, prajiug for compensation for loss of office in (lie Government smice, has been referred to the Uovernmtnl bj tho Petitions Com.'A iniltoo for favourable consideration. ' "I wish the. Govornniont would be a httl« ttroDgei on the leasehold," said Mr. Craijpe, member for Timaru, yostcrdaj, cfter declaring : his allegiance on other questions "They wonld ' bo out of power tomorrow," interjected s£r Mjume ;