POLITICAL POINTS

Evening Star, Issue 19328, 14 August 1926, Page 4

POLITICAL POINTS

LOCAL BODIES' LOADS DILL

[Fjiou Otra Pa rt.tawkvta.by Reporter]

WELLINGTON, August 13,

The Public Accounts Committee reported to the House to-day on the Local Bodies’ Loans Bill, which it recommends should proceed without alteration, ' ,

TALK VERSUS VOTE

An amusing instance of the strength of party ties was provided in the House to-night, when Mr Samuel (member for Ohinemuri) delivered an effective critical speech against the amendment to the Fisheries Act submitted by the Minister of Internal Aff; : rs. He considered it was an injustice to New Zealand sportsmen, and Mr Speaker, having heard such a sentiment, naturally named Mr Samuel as one of the tellers against the Bill when Mr M'Combs divided the House on the second reading. Mr Samuel immediately got tip to inform Mr Speaker that he objected to being a teller against the Bill. To his astonishment he was ordered from all sides to sit down and put on his hat. He had no headgear handy, but a more experienced member told him it was the custom when the doors were locked for division to address Mr Speaker sitting down, with the head covered. Having been provided with a badlyfitting hat, Mr Samuel repeated his protest, amid laughter, Mr Speaker inquiring ; “Is the hon. member going to vote against the Bill? ” Mr Samuel; “No, sir, I am going to vote in favor.” (More laughter.) Another teller had to be provided for Mr M'Corabs, who mustered ten votes against the measure, while its supporters numbered forty-five. « » * * VARIED ELECTORATES. One of the principal difficulties with which South Island members are faced owing to the continued disappearance of southern seats is that the electorates are getting too large. It was explained to the Prime Minister by Mr Holland to-day that half a member’s honorarium might have to be spent in travelling through his constituency if he gave it proper attention. While his own constituency, Westport, was not .the worst, he had to travel 160 miles in one direction, and sixty in another to get to all parts. Yet the member for Avon could cover his constituency on a tram. Mr Sullivan interjected: I could travel it with a threepenny bit. “Yes,” replied Mr Holland, with a smile, “and as the member for Avon is also a city councillor, he does not even have to pay the threepence tram fare.” * * * * MAGISTRATES’ SALARIES RAISED. The main purpose of the amendment to the Magistrate Courts Act, introduced by the Governor’s Message in the House to-day is, according to the Minister of Justice, to fix the salaries of the four senior magistrates in the four centres at £I,OOO per annum, and other magistrates at £9OO. This, he added, involved abolishing fees to magistrates for coronial duties, a change which would not affect the senior magistrates; and would mean a small increase to the other stipendiary magistrates. The Bill also contains machinery amendments in the procedure in debt cases.