POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1531, 29 August 1912, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

QUINTET OF LEADERS. FOR THE OPPOSITION. • A meeting of the Opposition party was held yesterday morning. The following Executive Committee was appointed to control the parly's affairs:—Sir James Carroll, Messrs. \Y. D.'S. Maciionald, Cv W.. Russell, G. Witty, and J. A. Hanah. Mr. CI. , W. 1-orbes (South Island); and the lion. A. T. Ngata (North ' Island) wcro appointed "Whips, ■ MR. WILFORD'S QUOTATIONS. ■

NOT ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGED. Some jokes have been mado in tho ■ House 'recently "regarding-:: tho •■numerous quotations from otlier members' speeches which have been made by Mr. Wilford '(Hutt) in recent debate;." The Mme Minister raised a laugh at Mr. Wilford's expense, this -afternoon. ""Did I quoto you correctly?" the member for Hutt interjected. "Oil, yes, quite correctly," Mr: Massey replied. "But in the debates on the Licensing Bill the other day you quoted me very correctly for ten minutes —very correctly indeed—but you did not give me credit for it." MEMBERS' PATRONAGE. APPOINTMENTS TO CIVIL SERVICE. A return was presented to the House yesterday afternoon by the Prime Minister, setting forth the number of applications made to the Public Service, excluding tho Railway and Education Departments on tho recommendation of Ministers during tho years ending March 31, 1909, 1910, and 1911. The return was ordered on the motion of Mr. Herdmau on August 31 last year. The return showed that in 1908 an inspector of machinery was appointed on tho recomme.ndatipn of Mr. Seddon (Westlaiul), in 1910 a messenger (Hon. .1. A. Millar),, in 1910-11 a custodian at Christchurch (Mr. T. E. Taylor), a caretaker at Nelson (Mr. J. Graham), a messenger at Auckland (tho Hon. G. Fowlds), and an inspector of machinery (Messrs. E. W. Alison and \V. F. Massey). Tho appointments to the Post and Telegraph Department were shown separately. During the period they numbered 142, the positions which wero filled , being those of cadets IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. In the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon tho Imprest Supply Bill \vas received from tho House of Representatives, and was put through all stages and passed without amendment. STATE ADVANCES. A return was presented in tho House of Representatives yesterday afternoon showing the number of settlors and workers who have received State guaranteed, advances from 'tho passing of -the Act to June 30, 1912. The'advances are shown in detail, and, summarised, arc as follow:— Advances to Settlers' Branch. Term. . No. Amount. \£ 36J years ' 1,778 1,145,895 30 years 2,930 1,438,070 .20 years 2,391 . 661,875 Total. 7,099 3,245,840. Advances to Workers' Branch, 3GJ years 10 2,225 30 years 112 35.345 30 years 2,934 948,940 Total' ......... 3,056 ' 9SG,'SIQ" ; Public Debt Sinking Fund Branch. 361 years '' 57 33,505 30 years 125 70.W5 20 years .34. 11,775 ' Total 216 ■ 116,275 Grand totals ... " 10,371 : ' 4,315,625