POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1233, 15 September 1911, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

STRATFORD-ONGARUE LINE. A deputation of residents of Pio rio, near Te Kuiti, waited upon the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. It. M'Kenzie) yesterday to ask for n deviation of tho Stratford-Ongarue line from its present routo into tho Waitewhcrua Valley, llio deputation did not ask the Minister to agreo to tho deviation out of hand, hut merely that a commission he set up to consider the matter. Tho Minister said that the lino was authorised from Stratford to Ongarue,and Whatever his opinion on tlie deputation's opinion, no good object could he served by setting up a commission. Men were now, and had been for sonio time, working from tho Ongaruo eud, so that the matter might be regarded as settled. He was satisfied, however, that a branch line would bo considered in the future to go the war of the proposed deviation. Mr. \V. T. Jennings, who introduced tho deputation, informed the members of it that he would assist them in making proper representations .when the Prime Minister set up the proposed commission to deal with lines to be constructed in the future. TO SATISFY LAND HUNGER. Mr. E. B. Ross presented a petition yesterday requesting that the Government should acquire for subdivision into small holdings a block of land 3313 acres in area, known as the Balfour Estate, near Pahiatua. The estate, it was claimed, was eminently suitable for division into small sheep and dairy farms, and if so cut up would easily support somo twenty families. THE DENTISTS ACT. A petition was presented to the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr.; T. M. Wilford from Norman St. Clair Hales, of Wellington, asking that legislation bo introduced to enable him to obtain registration under the Dentists Act. The petition set out that Mr. Hales left New Zealand to studv dentistry at the University, of Pennsylvania in 1901, at which time it was tho invariable practice of the Dental Board of Examiners to accept the degree granted by tho Pennsylvania University as sufficient for registration. He duly completed his dentistry course of three years, and obtained his degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery, remaining also for an extra year for a post-graduato course. When he returned to New Zealand in 1908, ho found the new Act in force, and found also that ho conld not obtain registration. Certain regulations were in force under the Dentists Act, 1901, prescribing that the Univorsity Sonato should recognise as qualifying for registration foreign degrees or diplomas in dentistry which were granted after a four years' course of instruction subsequent to the passing of a preliminary examination in general knowledge equal to that required by tho University of Now Zealand. He urged that it would be just that students who had entered upon their couvso prior to the enactment of tho statute of 1901 and the regulations under it should be exempt from its stringent provisions.

BRANCH RAILWAY WANTED. A request for a branch railway through South Taranaki,- connecting the district of Opunako with the main line, signed by 113 residents of Eltham and the surrounding districts, was presented to the House yesterday by Mr. li. Divo. The petitionerfc stato that the lino would be of great importance to the progress and development of South Taranaki and of the West Coast of the North Island generally. Further, the construction would present 110 great engineering difficulties, and, passing as it would through one of the most productive districts in the Dominion, it would pay a high rate of interest on the outlay. A similar petition signed by 129 residents was presented by Mr. G. V. I'earce. QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS, Tho Government is to bo asked by Mr. ■Lang to subsidise any sums raised in country districts, for the provision of ambulances, so that sufferers may bo conveyed to hospitals for medical attendance in greater comfort and safety than is possible under existing conditions. Mr. Okey is to suggest to tho Minister for Defence that ho should draw tho attention of the Home authorities to tho fact that a number of those who left tho Dominion to do service in South Africa during tho late war have received permanent injuries which hinder them in making a living, and ascertain whethei they will make some provision by ■ way of pension or grant for services rendered to the British Empiro at a critical juncture.