POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3296, 15 August 1911, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) EDUCATION RESERVES. SOME NEW PROVISIONS. The law relating to the administration of education reserves is to 0e amended in a number of directions by a Bill introduced by the Hon. G. Fowlds. Extended leasing powers are given to high school trustees, who are declared to be leasing authorities under the Public Bodies Leases’ Act. The rents received may he used for any of the purposes to which the income of the trustees is properly applicable. Power is taken t-o set apart any portion of education reserves or endowments as sites for public, secondary or technical schools. _ This is to be done on the recommendation of the controlling land board. Transfers, subleases or mortgages in connection with any reserve or endowment have to be approved by the land board before they become valid instruments. The boards are to deduct the expenses of maintenance and upkeep of reserves, as well as a sum for administration, from the revenue derived from the land and pay ’all into the public account, where it will form part of the consolidated fund.

RAILWAY WAGES. ENGINEMEN’S BIG DEMANDS. The New Zealand Locomotive Enginedrivers, Firemen and Cleaners’ _ Association nave intimated to the Minister of Railways that they were quite willing to accept the New South Wales and Victorian conditions , and rates of pa\, on condition that the scale of pay was in the same proportion above that, of laborers as was the case m Jhe New South Wales railways. This offer 'has been declined by the Minister of Railways, who says that the increased cost involved would be such that no railway system could stand it without making material increases in the goods and passenger rates. The proposal meant that New Zealand enginemen would have to be given an increase of 5s 4d per day in the first grade, bringing them up to 17s lQd per day. as against 15s, the highest wage paid in New South Wales, and 14s, the highest paid in Victoria. The cost would be in class A (on the basis of 7s per day) £25,157 per annum, and in class B (on the basis of 7s 6d a day) £17,489, while corresponding increases would have to be given to firemen and cleaners. This would bring the total expenditure up to £71,846. “If these are the demands of only a small section of the railway service,” added the Minister, “the public may realise what they have to face.” NOT A JELLY-FISH. THE HON R. M'EENZIE RESENTS THE NAME. During the debate on the Civil Service Reform BilJ, the Hon. T. Mackenzie twitted Mr Herdman with having at one time called the Cabinet Ministers despotic and at another time described them as jelly-fish. , . Mr Herdman. explained that Ministers were despotic in dealing with the Civil Servants under them, but when they dealt with the public, they were jelly-fish of the most pronounced type. . The Hon. R. M'Kenzie: Do you applv that to me? (Much laughter.) No jelly-fish when I’m about! (More laughter.) Mr Herdman : No, I class the Minister for Public Works rather as a flounder. (More laughter.)

JOTTINGS. Mr George Armstrong, Mayor of Akaroa, and an old of_ the Peninsula. announces tha.t it is his intention to contest the Ellesmere seat at the coming general election as a supporter of the present Government against Mr R. H. Rhodes, the sitting member. Mr P. C. Wood has been approved as a Labor candidate for Grey by an enthusiastic meeting at Runanga. As Mr Geo. Nelson has decided not to contest the Napier seat at the General Elections, Messrs H. B. Lusk and W. J. M'Grath have been asked to corne forward.