POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 14184, 8 October 1909, Page 4

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WEILINGTON, October 8. ' PETITIONS; :

A petition was presented to tho House yesterday in Which Francis K. Caverhill asks for an inquiry into the action of the Public Trustee in Dunedin in connection with the lease of 199 acres of land in the Ckrtomam Riding, of the CSutha County. Caverhili held the land under lease from, •the Public Trustee, mid, being desirous of selling out, he negotiated for its sale, together with the stock and implements, for £2lO. On seeking; the Public Trustee’s sanction to the assignment of the lease, 'Gaverhill was informed that the purchaser was not considered good enough financially, and it was suggested that Caverhill should surrender his lease. Having no other course, he did so, and realised £lO5 on his stock-and uqplements, Immediately Caverhill’ surrendered his lease; the purchaser with whom he had been negotiating, and whom tho Public Trustee had objected to as ‘ not good'enough financially,*’ Was accepted as a tenant’by the Trustee. (Haverhill states hia loss at £lO5, and alleges that the Trustee’s consent was withheld to prevent petitioner making any profit on the sale of his interest in the lease. Mr G. M. Thomson presented a petition from Mary Muirhead, whose husband, while in tho employ of the Dunedin Corporation, lost the sight of an eye. He accepted a lump sum as compensation, and was found occasional work at stone-breaking. He is now Hind in both eyes, .and is mentally afflicted, as the resralt of the accident, so petitioner alleges. As the Corporation refuse to help her, petitioner asks the Government to instruct the Insurance Department to give her assistance. A LARGE ORDER. As usual at the beginning of the session, a tremendous number of notices of motion and questions have been handed in. These include a loquest by Mr Alien fop a return showing full particulars of all the loans and advances secured from March, 1908, to the present date. Mr Massey asks for returns showing the total cost of the Native Land Commission, and the amounts drawn by each member of the Executive for travelling allowance. Mr Malcolm asks for a return showing all the dismissals, transfers, appointments, etc., brought about/under the retrenchment policy. Mr Malcolm also asks the Government to set up two Local Bills Committees to expedite business. Mr T. E. Taylor has several questions, among which aid requests for the Government to prevent the Flour-milling Trust and the associated bakers from exploiting the public, and for the Government to convert the Post Office Savings Bank Department into a Dominion Bank, with the sole right to issue paper currency. Among the private members’ Bills given notice of are the New Zealand Local Time, Society of Musicians, and Education Act Amendment (Mr Sidey), and, Tapanui County (Mr Malcolm).