NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1195, 2 August 1911, Page 6

NEWS AND NOTES.

FREE SCHOOL BOOKS. The Minister for Education (Mr. Fowlds) states that the expenditure on fieo reading books for the State schools will bo heavier this year than it has been in any previous period since the introduction ot the policy. Having started with the provision of free books for the junior classes, the Department of Education has built up the system, and now free reading books will be available for all tho classes in the primary schools. An additional expondituro will be necessary to replace some of the books with which the system was introduced. WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. Mr. Wilford will ask the Acting Prime Minister whether the attention of the Government has bceu drawn to the Parker judgment, relating to wireless telegraphy, and whether he will explain tho legal position of the Government in connection therewith; also whether any provision has been made for indemnifying the Government against any action that may be.taken by the Marconi Company. MR. R. M'KENZIE'S BEHAVIOUR. The manner in which the Minister for Public Works received a deputation with reference to the tramway regulations in Wellington a few days ago. is the subject of a question of which notice was given by Mr. A. L. Hcrdman last evening. The member for Wellington North asked whether the attention of the Government had been drawn to the "strange behaviour" of the -Minister, and if his conduct had come under its notice; and whether it proposed to take any action in the matter. WORKERS' COMPENSATION. When the Workers' Compensation Amendment Bill is before Parliament, Sir Arthur Guinness will move in the direction of enabling dependents living in other parts of the Empire to recover compensation on the death of a .worker. Mr. .Millar has endeavoured iu tho past to attain the same • result by way of reciprocal arrangements, but so far without success. Sir Arthur Guinness believes it will be better for- New Zealand to sot an example which other States may follow. ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES. Mr. G. W. Russell is to ask whether the Government will announce the new electoral boundaries as soon as the Representation Commissioners have reported, without waiting for plans to be prepared. PROFESSORS AND SUPERANNUATION Mr. T. H. Davey has presented a petition, on behalf of tho professorial staff of Canterbury College, asking that professors and lecturers bo granted the option of being iucVled in the_ benefits of tho Teachers' Superannuation scheme. The petitioners urge that a professor's emoluments aro rat so large as to justify his exclusion. They point out that teachers on being made professors or lecturers aro permitted to continue their contributions and state-that a table has been prepared, and submitted to tho Education Department, showing that two professors, at most, would bo likely to come on the scheme for a considerable number of .years. The petitioners claim that if it lio arranged that professors do not. draw a higher pension than teachers, and yet pay more for their inclusion, tho fund must obviously benefit. A LATE CONSTABLE'S PETITION. H. W.' Glynn, la,to a police constable stationed at Wellington, has petitioned the House of Representatives to cause a full inquiry to be made by the Public Petitions Committee into the cause which led to his being, as ho contends unjustly, called upon to resign from the police force of the Dominion, and that he may bo reinstated in tho position that he held or provided with a suitable position in tho public service, and granted such other redress as the Houso thinks proper. Tho causo mentioned which led to Glynn's being called upon to resign was that, on February 3, 1911, he was convicted/ in the Magistrate's Court at. Wellington, 'of having assaulted a man named Black by kicking and shoving him. For this offenc'o Glynn .was fined .£2 and costs. . .

. PETITIONS. •John Wright, of New Plymouth, formerly a corporal in tho No. 2 Waikato Volunteers, is petitioning for a meelal ami other recognition of his services in tho Maori War-from April, ISG-t, to 1567. .Eighty-eight veterans residing in Taraliaki, and. all possessing the Now Zealand War medal, have petitioned, through Mr. Okey, for pensions or other recompense for their services in the Maori wars. Ore of them, Mr. Nicholas Golding, is 93 years of age, and all are getting on in years. Tlio widow of H. M. Lyon, killed by a train at Trnnthaiu on January 25, 1911, has petitioned tho House of Representatives for a compassionate allowance to assist towards the maintenanco of and her daughter. Mr. v W. H. Field presented the petition. SIR J. FINDLAY'S LOCUM TENENS. The. unusual position in the Legislative Council, which is carrying on busi-' ness without the presence of a Minister of tho Crown, was tho subject of official explanation last night, as reported above, in this connection, Standing Order No 53 is of, interest. It i sas follows-" A Message from the Governor shall be presented to the Council by a Minister of tho Crown, who is a member of the Council, or by some member authorised to present the Message, either by such Minister, or (in case of his absenco or incapacity) by some other Minister of tho Crown. Mr. M'Gowan has alreadv presented several Messages from the Governor, but m no case did he furnish the Council with any evidence that ho was authorised to do so.

BRIEF MENTION

Mr. D. M'Laren (Wellington East) has ogam introduced his Bill for the amendl'ent ot the Shearers and Agricultural Labourers .Accommodation Act, 190S It is in every detail the Bill of last' s. e s. sion, which was read a first time Yn July 13 and perished 111 the annual slaughter ot tho innocents. Sir William ■ Steward's Marriage Amendment Act is in circulation. It Is tho same measure which he lias brought icrward on several occasions, its object being to make it lawful to marrv a deceased v.-ite s niece or a deceased husband's nephew. ' ■ The Seeds Control Bill (Hon. T. Mackenzie) was road a first time Sir W. J Steward is to ask the Minister for Internal A flairs whether, in tho interests of public safety, he will introduce legislation making it oblKitorV upon the drivers of all vehicles traveling upon public roads to carry lights after .sun-down. Mr. Okcy is to ask for a return showing tho cost of the election of harbour boards under the Act of 1010, and also the cost of electing harbour boards under the old Act. A return of the area of lands alienated by the Crown from 1592 to Mil is beiii" sought by Mr. Fisher. He desires to know, also, the estimated valuo of the land at the lime of alienation.