PARLIAMENTARY NEWS AND NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXII, Issue 58, 5 September 1901, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS AND NOTES.

. « WHO ARE LIBERALS? "I don't know," said Mr. Maasey, "that the Government and their supporters have any real claim to be Liberals." If wasteful expenditure and extravagant administration were indicatipns of Liberalism, no one, he went on to say, would deny them the use of the term. If taking care of themselves and their friends were indications of Liberalism, they were equally entitled to it, If inconsistency and opportunism were indications of Liberalism, they were in the front rank of Liberalism. He believed he was correct in saying that there were better Liberals on the Opposition^ benches and in the country than among the followers of the Premier. The people of this country, so far as politics were concerned, were divided into Seddonites and anti-SeddoniteB — those who supported the Government and those who opposed it — and though the Government hid at present an overwhelming majority in the House, he was inclined to think they had acquired it by questionable practices — by making arrangements with organisations and cliques, and making uso of public money for party purposes. It required no prophetic spirit, he added, to see that if they were to' avoid disaster this "scattef-cash" policy of the past few years must be abandoned, and the public affairs of the colony be carried on with more regard for the principles of public economy than during tho lost ten years. FOREST-TREE PLANTING. Reference to the qualified Success of our forestry operations was made by Mr. Flatman. An area. of 18,337 acres ' had, he said, been planted, at a cost of £56,717, and the estimated value was now £66,262. The value of the trocs should have doubled in the time. He hoped thiit better success would at tend future operations, and that attention would be devoted to. tho planting of Australian hardwood trees. Under an Act of 1878 grants of land had been made to private owners as compensation for tree-planting, bub the effort had been a failure, as the State, though giving land grants, had maintained no hold over private owners, and many of the plantations had been cut down or destroyed. BIRTHS AND VACCINATIONS. A return laid before tho Legislative Council on tho motion of tho Hon. William Jennings shows that during the lasfc five years births wore registered and vacpinations recorded as follows:— 1896, 18,605 registrations, 11,917 vaccinations ; for 1897, tho corresponding figures are 18,733 and 12,440 ; 1898, 18,955 and 10,349; 1899, 18,835 and 6133; 1900, 19,546 nnd 4525, , The following enses are furnished (from Magistruto's Court returns) of prosecutions for noncompliance with the- compulsory clauses of the Public He»Jth Act 1876, instituted by Registrars during the last five years, with the number of persolis fined for refusing to have their children vaccinated : —1896, 28 cases against persons, of whom 10 were discharged and 18 wevo fined or discharged on conviction ; 1897, 21 cases, 11 discharged, 10 convicted; 1898, 13 cases, 3 discharged, 10 convktod; 1899, 36 cases, 20 discharged, 16 convicted. One of the primary objects of Mr. Jennings in moving was to ascertain how many, people had been fined for giving etfecb to their "conscientious objections" to vaccination., iv is, however, stated in the return that the Magistrates' Court figures do not supply any further details as to the results of prosecutions than to state the number '"of persons "lined or discharged on conviction j" so I that tho fines are apparently not ascertalnable. The figures bliq\v a striking fall in the number of vuociuatt'ons. A mooting of those interested in forming a Womon Teachers' Association is convened by advertisement for next Mon-j > day afternoon,.

The Director of .the Technical School, Mr. A. D. Riley, left this morning for Masterton on a visit of inspection ~*>f the technical work being carried on by pupils there. A movement in on foot to bring about a federation of the various Veterans' Associations in New Zealand. The Governor has been approached on the subject, and has agreed that it is desirable to give a colonial character to the associations. A meeting to inaugurate a central association, with uniformity of rules and regulations and clearly defined .aims, is to be held in Wellington in a few days. Robert W. Day, one of the bluejackets concerned in the fracas in Cuba-street yesterday, had to answer a further charge in the Magistrate's Court this afternoon, when Digby Jowers accused him of having assaulted him whilo in Oldliain's eating-house in Cuba-street, and having snatched from his hand a half-crown. Accused pleaded Not Guilty. Ho had no recollection of going into the shop, and was sure he had not taken tho money. Stealing, he said, was the worst crime he could be charged with. After hearing evidence the Bench' dismissed the case. The Poverty Bay Hospital has come in for a nice littlo windfall. Twenty years ago a much esteemed medical man,. Dr. Nesbitt, died, and his maiden sisters not being left in any too good circumstances, the public subscribed for a fund as a memorial to the old doctor for their maintenance, with a stipulation that on their decease the moneys should go to the hospital. The ladies having recently died, the fund was transferred to the hogpital, which, with the Government subsidy, benefits to the extent of £950. The money is to bo devoted to the erection of a new ward. The Taranaki Education Board has passed a resolution protesting against the contemplated legislation in the Inspectors of Schools Bill to place the Inspectors under the control of the Department in Wellington, as it believes the administration of Education Boards throughout the colony would be considerably weakened. This week's Canterbury Times contains no less than nineteen illustrations in connection with . reoent football matches. Other pictures are a panoramic view of Groymouth, and six of Oamaru and ita breakwater. Mr. H. Fielder, of Mannere-E.treet, circulatos an inset with this issue drawing attention to his annual clearing Bale. As ho is at present building a two-story warehouse and showrooms at roar of present premises, and must have room, he promises some real bargains for a few wooke. Messrs. W. H. Morrah and Co. will sell to-morrow afternoon, at 2 o'clock, the balance'of tho furniture loft over from today's Bale. On Saturday their usual horse sale will bo hejd, for which entries are now being roceived. Tho attention of toa blenders, merchants, storekeepers, and consumom is called to the auotion salo of .prime Indian tea to be held to-morrow afternoon, at 2.30, by Messrs. Levien, Shallcrass and Co., at their roome, Williß-stroet. The wholo lot connistß of 88 packagos ox recent steamers from Calcutta, and as it is all of excellent quality, an unusual opportunity will bo afforded of obtaining stocks at a cheap figure Messrs. Macdonakl, Wilson and Co. will to-morrow forenoon, commencing at 11 o'clock, conduct an extensive? Bale of new and secondhand household furniture, pianos, etc., at their rooms. It will bo sbon that .the oontents of an eight-roomed houso will be taken at 11 o'clock, and at 1.30 o'clock tho How linos of furniture, which aro being sold on account of tho owners, who aro giving up tho furnituure bußJnes«. A garlight display-will bo held at tho rooms to-night from 7.30 o'clock to 9 o'clock. Catalogues can be had on application to tho firm. They also annouueo that they will soil at the residence of the Hon. Mr. Butler, No. 31, Hillstreet, valuablo household furniture, eto.