POLITICAL NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 101, 26 October 1904, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE LOAN BILL. The Loan Bill, otherwise known as the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Bill, provides for a loan of £750,000, and the maximum rate of interest proposed is 4£ per cent. Of tho total amount, 5275,000 is in respect of the following railways : Kawakawa-Gra-hamfown, Helensville Northwards, Pae-roa-Waihi, Gisborne-Karaka, Egmont branch, Stratford-Kawakawa, Marton-Te Awamutu, Blenheim-Waipara, Midland, Greymouth-Hokitika (extension to Ro&s), Ngahere-Blackball, Otago Central, Heriot extension, Catlin's-Seawnrd Bush, Rivers-dale-Switzers, and permanent way or other materials. For additional rollingstock for open lines, and such other works and purposes as may be authorised £75,000 is proposed 1 to be expended. The sum of £350,000 is proposed for land settlement, including the construction of roads, tracks, and bridges for the purpose of opening up back blocks, and £20,000 for the purpose of developing the goldfields, and £30,000 for telegraph extension. WELLINGTON STREETS. Judging from some remarks he made in the House yesterday evening, it is evident that the Premier still retains a fatherly interest in the Wellington City Streets Bill. It will be remembered that when the Bill came on for its second reading he suggested that it was a private Bill, and had it referred to the Joint Committee on Bills for its opinion on the subject. That Committee did not agree with the Premier, and reported that it was really a local Bill; so that nothing stands in the way of its gomg through except the Premier himself. It is significant, however, that when the Premier was yesterday asked if he would .give local Bills another chance, he made the remark that a Wellington Bill was blocking the way (evidently referring to the Bill in question), but he intended to have a conference with the member in charge (Mr. Aitken), and see if the difficulty could be removed. It was., he added, possible that some conclusion might be arrived at, but" it, would be a pity if this one Bill were to prevent other local Bills proceeding. UNIVERSITY MATTERS. The subject of our universities was mentioned by the Premier in the ' House yesterday evening. Some time ago, he said, Cabinet came to the conclusion that something should be done in tho way of providing funds for each university, with the understanding that each of the four should make a specialty of some particular branch. The sum suggested' was £6000, making- £1500 for each university, and the specialties were; Otago, medicine; Canterbury, mechanical engineering j, Victoria College, law; and Auckland, mining. However, a deputation of Otago members was asking for an interview on the subject of the School of Mines, and the Government would wait until the views of the deputation had been expressed before coming to a conclusion on this important matter. Another proposal that had been made was that the Government should take over all the university reserves,, giving the universities in return an income not Jess than they now receive from those reserves/ It would, he remarked, be an advantage to the universities, because they would be saved the cost of administration. Exception had, however, been taken to that proposal, and that would prevent the Government from this session Jjringing down a Bill dealing generally with the reserves. TEACHERS' SUPERANNUATION. On the subject' of a superannuation scheme for school-teachers, the Education Committee reports : "That in the opinion of this Committee the efficiency and permanence of our primary system of education is contingent on the improvement of the conditions under which our teachers laboui-, and they regard a superannuation scheme as the means best calculated to ensure at once encouragement to teachers, and a vigorous staff to carry on this important work." RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. During the five years ended September, 1902, the number of accidents to employees in all branches of tho Railways Department totalled 1-952, of which, as the Minister informed the House yesterday, 1891 were of a minor character, involving neither loss of limb nor more serious result. Of 36 deaths, 22 occurred on the running track, and 13 to the station staff ; 25 accidents were attended by loss of limb or permanent disablementeleven on the running track and eleven to the station staff. Of the minor injuries 815 happened on the track, 504 in the workshops, and 395 to the station staff. Of the total accidents, almost one-half were on the running track, and the balance about equally divided between the workshops and the station staff. SUPPLY OF AMMUNITION. The Public Accounts Committee recommends that in tho Ammunition Supply Bill a clause be- inserted providing for the purchase of the machinery, buildings, and plant suitable for the manufacture of ammunitioa for military purposes, and that the draft agreement with the Colonial Ammunition Company be approved Of, subject to the valuation on takmg over the plant, to be ascertained at the date of such taking over, and not at the commencement of the contract. TEACHERS' TRAINING COLLEGES. The report of the Education Committee on the subject of training colleges was presented to the House yesterday. The Committee adheres to its report pf last year in recommending that control should rest with the local Education Boards, aided by a Committee of Advice. The Committee is also of opinion that a pupilteacher course prior to entering a Training College is not satisfactory, and that future teachers should be encouraged to continue at secondary or District High Schools, to matriculate at the University, and pass through the Training -College before Deing employed in teaching. This reform, they admit, must be gradual, and the Committee recommends that the proposals of the Inspector-General be adopted, with some amendments. The Committee proposes that a student may be admitted (1) on having completed the pupil-teacher course, and on having passed the matriculation examination ; or (2) that ho shall have kept terms for at least one year at the University College, or have gained credit at the Junior Scholarship examination of the University^ and satisfy conditions as to probation in teaching. The allowances proposed to be paid to students arc : For the first year to those who enter under clause I— £3o, with University College fees, with an additional £30 if the student lives away from home. To those under clause 2— a bursary of £10, together with University College fees, with sixteen scholarships; £30 additional when the student lives away from homo. For the second year— under clause I— £3o, with University fees, and an additional £30 when the studont lives away from home. The estimated expenditure under those recommendations is £6660 for the first year, and £5200 for the second year. The salaries and allowances are estimated at £2580. f JOTTINGS. The Lands Committee recommends the Government to grant tho prayer of Joseph Polglase, of Mangatainoka, who asked for conpensation for loss sustained on account of an error made by the Lands Department. For Influenza ami Cold in tho Head take Woods' Great Peppermint Curs, In 6d and 2a 6d.— Advt. For children's hacking cough at night take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, Is 6a and 2s 6d.— Advt.