POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1234, 16 September 1911, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

REMARKABLE BELIEF. Mr. Jlerdman, in liis speech in tho. Budget debute, in referring to tho Gov- ' emmcnt and to its politics, declared that ; they had no principles—only prejudices. [ Their lieliefs wore remarkablo in consequence—they believed in freehold and they believed in leasehold; they believed 1 in temperance and they believed in intemperance; they believed in gambling 1 and in anti-gamnling; ,thcy believed . in protection anil in free,-trade; they believed ill democracy, iuul they bclievod in 1 aristocracy—(Opposition laughter);, they ' believed in Native lands being opened up, thoy believed in keeping them , from * Wing occupied; tlioy believed in einglo 1 tax 1 Tho l'rimo Minister: No, wo never liaya believed in single lax. Mr. Hcrdinan: "Well, they believe in every other form of taxation that human ingenuity can invent." ANOTHER WEEK TO RUN. . Tho speeches delivered yesterday in con-' tinuation of tho Budget debate have inspired the debate with frosh life. It-19 ' now considered almost ccrtain that tho roview of tho Budget will not bo completed until the end of next week. Tho contribution of Mr. James Allen has given tho members of the Government food for much thought, and they will probably s open firo with their heavy guns. 1 ADMIRING ELECTORS. One of the most amusing stories that G is being handed round in tho lobbies just now is that a petition is being circulated 1 in tho electorate of a Government mem--0 ber of three years' standing only, asking 2 the Gofcrnmont to make him a Minister. 3 Tho remark mado by a leading member of tho Government party probably ex--3 presses tho opinion of tho Ministry: "Oh, B no. Wo don't givo away things like that 1 to a man who has only kept a. dog--6 watch." S s WHAT DID IT COST 7 1 Mr. A. L. Herdman is curious to know what tho iiro, which destroyed part of '• tho Parliament Buildings four years ago, 1 has actually cost tho country to dnti?, and 7 ho gave notice in tho llouso yesterday to ' move for a return'showing: "(1) Iho amount expended sinco the firo of 1907 2 upon tho old Parliament Buildings (this t amount to include all sums expended on ■> renovating, altering, and adding to tho 2 old buildings); (2) .the amount expended 1 since tho lire upon the Parliament Buildings at present in use (the amount to include the cost of renovating and altering _ tho said buildings, and the sums expended upon the new -Legislative Council Chambers, the institution known as the 'Tube,' and upon any other additions); and (3) tho amounts paid to tho contractor whoso contract for additions to tho old Parliament Buildings wfts in progress at' tho time of the fire." And for a further return showing: "(1) Tho cost to date of tho new Government House, at Wellington, including tho sums paid to tho Wellington City Council for repairing tho defective drainage - system; and (2) tho price paid for any land pur- , chased pwl now forming part of tho new 1 Government Uouso grounds," WHAT IS THE OBJECT OF IT? Mr. G. W. Hussell, in a question addressed to the Minister for Labour, asks: "Whether ho is awaro that tho Labour Department aro insisting upon an annual return from all factory-owners, giving tho. wages paid in each week of tho year to every employee, as well as their age, if under 45. years; if so, under what lawis this harassing, vexatious, and expensive responsibility Uirovvn . upon employers, what is tho object of it',; and does ho not consider sncli requirements likely to create a strong feeling against Labour legislation ?" TO MAKE MOTOR ROADS. Mr. 'I'. E.. Y. Seddon asks tho follow ing question of the Minister for Customs: "Whether ho will arrango that an extra 1 duly of, say, 3d. 'per tin of two gallons ■ bo placed upon potrol, for, motor-car use, , 3 tho revenue-accruing therefrom to bo; spoilt on tho improvement of roads,' ° tarring to prevent dust nuisance, and tho >' " erection of direction posts i INTEREST-PRODUCING OR NOT? I Mr. P. M-. B. Fisher challenges tho cor-' > rectness of the Primo Minister's account- - nney in placing public buildings among . tho inlornst-bcaring assets of the State in , a question which happens to bo topical by reason of tho firo wliich had occurred in " tho Government Buildings the previous i night. Tho question reads: "(1) Whether tho capital outlay invosted in tho Government offices destroyed bv iiro last night was ' classed in tho Budget as interestproducing, and if so, Where will the-in-r i'erest come from now that tho building is destroyed; (2) tile total value of t'ho . building having disappeared, how does ho propose to class the amount in tho next, ]3u(lgot, wilt it bo reproductive or imroproductive; (3) tho building having gone, and tho capital having gono, will tho cost of noiv offices bo defrayed out of loan* monoy or from revenue?" MR. ISITT'S OVERCOAT. Mr. Isitt has found his oveicoat! The important discovery was made in the Prime Minister's room. It seems that Mr. Isitt went into tho room with a deputation and his overcoat and caino< out wilh tiio deputation , alone. PETITIONS. Tho introduction of the Wangnnui District and Empowering Bill has been-fol-io,ired by a petition signed by 338 persons, proposing certain amendments of the measure. The principal proposal is that a single poll over tho whole of tho combined district is not adequate authority for tho raising of tho loan of ,l'2ofl,ooU for. . harbour works, proposed by (lie Bill. Tho ' petitioners ask that separate polls should lio taken in tho combined district, and ill each of tho constituent districts, tho county of Wangauui and the county of Waitolara, and that tho proposal should bo authorised in each of the .districts, bo- 1 foro it is deemed to be carried. Walter Rutherford, of New Lynn, Auckland. has petitioned. Parliament for compensation for injuries received in active service against the Maoris in IBG7, and for tho tes of property stolen by tho Maoris. His petition was presented yesterday afternoon by Mr. Glover (Auckland Central). Seventy-one Maoris who resido in tho kaingas in the vicinity of Mongonui, North Auckland, have petitioned Parliament to provide them with medical aid. They state that they are indigent and unable to pay tho foes to enable a doctor to visit their kaingas. The Government has provided for tho remuneration of tho doctor at Kaitaia, and the petitioners ask that similar assistance should bo given in their case, so that the doctor at Mangonui may visit the Maori districts without payment from tho Natives. THE MOKAU INQUIRY. It is practically certain that the Mokau inquiry will be concluded early next week. Two Departmental officers, Messrs. Kensington nnd Eisher, are to bo examined when tho inquiry is resumed on Wednesday, and probably Mr. Joshua Jones will also make a statement. It is unlikely that any other witnesses will bo called.