POLITICAL NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 32, 7 August 1905, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

TIMBER AND FLAX ROYALTIES. The Timber and Flax Royalties Bill Drought down by the Government prorides that ,half the amount of the timber md flax royalties is to be paid to the ! local authorities The amount is to be paid quarterly into a deposit account by ihe Receiver of Land Revenue, and on the certificate of the Land Board that it has approved of the works on which the money is intended to be spent, the Refceiver will pay over the amount to the tocal authority. If the money .is not properly applied to the objects for which j it was paid, the Colonial Treasurer is empowered to proceed for the recovery of the money, or deduct the amount from any subsidy or other moneys payible to the local authority. I THE ESTIMATES. . ! Dull as the Financial Debate was, the discussion on the Estimates is likely to be osacfly the opposite. The Defence Department particma-rly will come in for \ iome lurid criticism, and the recent outcome of the Police Commission will prob- ' ably result in some comment of a decid- '• *dly interesting nature. These are only j two of tne Departments which are likely to provoke more than ordinary 'comment, ! hut it may be taken ior granted that »11 of them will be discussed at consider*ble length, and that on the whole the iebate will be lively. j ■PROSPECTS AHEAD. Now that the Financial Debate has been got out of -the way, greatly to the relief of members generally, the serious business of the session may be 'expected So begin. It is understood that Mr. Fisher will on Wednesday make further reference to hia charges in regard to the alleged voucher. If he should, the j >hances are against him having that liberty of speech which euch an occasion Jemands — a defect from which he suffered en loaa Inst attempt — and he will probably find at more diplomatic to wait until Friday, when, it is anticipated, rhs Estimates will be considered. On. the "first item" which will then come up for discussion, menrbers can practically ' fcalk aijout anything within the purview oi the Estimates, and such an opportunity ' would -be far more useful than the opening on Wednesday or a personal explanation.