POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 14963, 24 August 1912, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Our Pahliamestaiiy Reporter.] WF.LLIXGTOX, August 21. IMMIGRATION IDEAS. Two members have given notice of questions to the Government with the idea of increasing the inflow of population. Mr Myers suggests the unique experiment of an advertising brass band. He asked j tin Minister of Defence whether he would consider die desirability of .sending to Great Britain a band from one of the New Zealand regiments, '(insisting of a military combination similar to the British Army bands, guaranteeing the band j against .financial Joss, in oider to aduntjse I tho Dominion in an effective manner, and thus attract immigrants to our shores. •'Such a scheme,'' he added, "would show that the conditions of labor in New Zealand arc eaieh that ordinary woiking men have leisure and oppoitunity to quality themselves as musicians, and it would als<: have the effect of advertising and popularising New- Zealand in the estimation of betu-r-ek.-s working people, demonstrating the eucress which has attended the compulsory military training si heme, and developing instrumental music in tho Dominion in a manner unobtainable except, by some such impetus." The sugge.-ti.iii _pul huwaid by Mr Anderson is that, io encourage the end gration of farm laboreis fiom Gicat Britain to New Zealand, the < Joverument should, if possible, provide the same facilities ati are at. present in force for ihe emigration of domestic servants from the Home Land. Domestic servants ate cotiveved to New Zealand from Gicat Britain for £2 16s, while the cheapest fare for acricuitural laborers is £B. MR JSITT'S YoTK. In the course of the Budget Debate Inst evening the member for Oamaru made somereference to the independence of the member for Chrislchuu-h North, which brought jMi Isitt to his feet. "My pledge was ! simply that I would vote en tile no-conri-j deuce'motion with the Mackenzie Ministry, and after that, all conunitud on my part I ended." he declared. ! CRITICISM (IF PARLIAMENTARY I BUILDINGS. | In blaming the Mackenzie Government ' for committing the country to the election of new l'aiii.iiiK'tilaiy Buildings, Mr Lee declined that this course v.a* an astonishI ing and reckless waste of a quarter of a I million of money, winch could have been ! spend t-> gieater advantage in road'ng i the backbloeks. " I would not be smprised, however," he added, "if the present Minister of Public Works ties the work -up, as it should be, for another rive years. I consider the new- Parliamentary Buildings an institute of the must jvekie.-* and wasteful expenditure." Mr Lang added that it was at present very haid to know re.allr how much the buildings would cost. He suggested that, the Go- ! veinment should elect a proper Chamber j straight away, and that the piesent building would serve all purposes for a considerable time. LOW-CLASS SOCIALISTS. "The farmers, when it suits them, are the most extreme- Socialists,'' asserted the. Labor member for Wellington South (Mr Hindmarshj during the Budget Debate. Oailv he waved aloft the big Reel flag, and'the House laughed frequently at this i amusing metaphor.' "Yes, they aie the , most exueme Socialists." he added, as he went on to ask what more was Mate aid !to country interests than Socialism. "I am perfectly sure v.e will see in the panels soon a notice about a meeting of low-class Socialists at 1 aumarunm - daughter) convened by Comrade C. K. Wilson—(renewed iaughfer'j—and that connades are requested tn wear re<\ ti->s. because Comrade C. K. Wilson will explain to farmers why tiiev phould crt State assistanrc." (Laughter.) Oovernmem Supporter: "liefer to die other side." Mr Hmdmarsh: "The other side! Tlt»y hardly count just. now. (Laughter.| 'this fide (indicating the Opposition) are much sounder, in that they are more consistent. The Ooverumem followers aie so utterly inconsistent, but ttv'v are most extreme Socialists in their own particular cla-s, and when they aie asked to a) ply thai principle they simply laugh. "J'bry are nothing than opportunists." RELIGIOUS TKACHLVO IX SCHOOLS. Parliament ir,if approached a short time ago by certain petitioners from the Palmerston North district asking that the Xew South Wales sy.st'-m of religious teaching in schools l>e introduced by a Referendum Pill. The Kducatifti Committee intimate that- they invo no recommendation to make. ONLY BARF. JUSTICF. "That, in view of the fact that the discretionary power veMcd in th*- Teacher*' Supcianniiatinn Hoard under section 225 <:f the Kduc-.ition Ad w;?s taken away by the Public Service Classify atinn and Super, animation Amendment A< l without notice, the question of giving the?" petitioner* and other,, .-i'ndariy situated t Anther option of six months within which to join the Superannuation Fund be referred to tic Government for fivnrab/e consideration." Suoh wa* t'he repot t of the Kdueation Com. mil tee upon the petition if t-Jeoige Blacken, of L.ig.lau. INFORMATION ON THK FSTIMATKS. In completing their investigation on the final cla.v-es of the Departmental Fxtimates. the Public Accounts Committee icjx.itt"! the following resolutions .•—"Tii.it the Government, he recommended to .supply a more detailed account with regaid to the ileitis of the Scenely Preservation Account; a return showing the total expen<iit nit- on the township of Ruuaiiga : details of the total expenditiue incurred by the. Dominion on the Roulnix (France) Kshibitien ; details of the total «-xpe;idituic incurred liy the Dominion regarding trade representatives and oversea agents ; .1 statement showing full details in concoction with the purchase and fencing <>;' Runanga No. la Block. Hawke'.s 8.-y I Lands and Survey Bepdrtment. miscellaneous fvarvices, £650). being a large aiea of native land purchased by Mi G. W ■ Russell; a return showing the expenditure year l>y year on the .subsidised Wungauuil'ipiriki steamer service, since its establish iiient : and. finally, that the Minister of Marine should look into the item 'Acetone light for Ream Rwk. £320.' before payment." A TYPOGRAPHICAL BLUNDER. Mr Speaker drew the attention of £>ie House to a paragraph appearing in the Southland 'News' of August 19. in which he had been made to figure ae reprimanding the Hon. Mr Fisher in connection with the appointment of Mr Macaiister as (Jo. vernment Agent for the Insurance Departments. He wanted to make if clear that he had done nothing of the kind. After disctirsion, during which, it was; pointed out that the matter was purely a typographical error, the word speaker (meaning in the paragraph the member speaking at that time) appearing in the paper with'a capital S, which made the statement taken exception to appear a* coming from the Speaker of tho House, the matter na s dropped.