NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1257, 12 October 1911, Page 6

NEWS AND NOTES.

A PASSING BREEZE. A slight brco7c arose in. the House yesterday afternoon when Sir Joseph Ward accused Mr. Massey of making "statements" at Levin. The Leader of the Opposition, he stated, hud said that the public debt itad increased from Xl>7 per lieaxl in 190(i to ,£Bl in 1911. Questions and replies being tlio business Woro tho .House at tlio moment, Mr. J terries inquired what tho Prime Minister's remarks had to do with que&tions. Sir Joseph Ward: "Of course it has a great doal to do with the expenditure of public money!" He followed this up by accusing Mr. Massey of making "a great number of extraordinary and unreliable Statements at Levin." Mr. Massey rose and indignantly protested. He challenged the lion, gentleman to prove that he had mado any statements that were cither incorrect or unreliable. Sir Joseph Ward: Well, he said that he supported old age persions. Mr. Massey said he would produce the division .'ist to show that he liad supported the first Old Ago Pension Act. ■At this stage the Speaker interposed and terminated the discussion. ENROLMENT FORMS. Mr. Okey stated in tho House yosterday afternoou that he had received a telegrain from New Plymouth stating that 110 electoral enrolment forms were obtainable there. The Prime Minister asked who sent the wire. The registrar at New Plymouth, who was a good officer, and was doing his work well, had a right to know who made such a statement. Mr. Okey said ho would not make the name public, but lie would show it to the Primo Minister. Sir Joseph Ward said he would wire to tho registrar at New rivmouth on the subject. BRIEF MENTION. The petition of W. P. Evans and three other similar petitions praying that professors and lecturers he brought under the superannuation scheme has been leferred by tho Education Committee of the House of Representatives to the Government for favourable consideration. The Tost and. Telegraph Department List for tho Financial Year, 1911-12, was laid on the table of the House on Tuesday. The Prime Minister tabled yesterday the proposed classification list of the Civil Service under the Public Service Classification Act, 190S, and slated in reply to Mr. Hcrrics that it was already printed. Tho petition of Alexander Yuill, of Wellington, for compensation in respect of injury occasioned by his temporary discharge as taxidermist at the Museum, and loss of retiring allowance, was referred to tho Government for consideration. on the recommendation of the M to h I'etitions Committee.