POLITICAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16359, 1 October 1913, Page 10

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, September 30. NORTH RICHMOND POLL. Mr T. W. Reese has been appointed returning officer for tho poll to be taken on the question of incorporating North Richmond in the city of Christchurch. The poll will be taken on a Saturday which, is not yet fixed. LOCAL BILL PROSPECTS. An announcement was made by the Prime Minister to-day that lie will give up ono of the Monday sittings to local Bills so that they will not he rushed through both Houses in a hurried fashion at the last moment of the session. Two local Bills from Canterbury arc still on the House of Representatives Order Paper, tho Timaru Harbour Board Empowering Bill (Mr Craigie) which is down for consideration in committee and the Springs County Council Reclamation Empowering Bill (Hon R. H. Rhodes), which is also ready for the committee stage and stands fifth on the list. CHRISTCHURCH EMPOWERING BILL. The Christchurch City Electrical Empowering Bill received an unexpected but not serious check in the Legislative Council to-day. It was referred, to the Joint Statutes Revision Committee to decide whether or not it is a private Bill. No doubt the committee will meet this week and resolve that it is not a private Bill, then it will continue its course. Opposition has been shown to tho measure by the Hon Seymour Thorne George, who raised the point of order. When tho Hon O. Louisson moved that the Council go into committee on the Bill, he intended at once contesting the point, but someone interjected, “ You lose your right of reply,” and he gave way, only to find that the Speaker was ruling that there was nothing but to await tho completion of the procedure, which can scarcely harm the Bill. LEGAL COSTS. To secure a more informative statement regarding legal costs paid by tho State and tho value received, Mr G. W. Russell has given notice to move for a return showing (1) the amount paid to the Hon F. H. D. Bell’s firm or members thereof for law costs (a) during each of the years 1893 to 1896, when Mr F. H. D. Bell was a member of the House of Representatives, (b) for tho years ended March, 1891, and each year thereafter until tho appointment of the Hon F. H. D. Bell or that of his partner as Crown Prosecutor and Crown Solicitor was terminated; (2) the total law costs paid to Messrs Stout and Findlay and Messrs Findlay, Dalziel and Co. in each year from July,‘lß94 (when Messrs Stout and Findlay began practice in Wellington) to tho date Sir John Findlay resigned his political offices in December, 1911; (3) the total sum in each case claimed by owners of land in which Sir John Findlay was engaged as counsel for the Government, and tho total sum in each case awarded by the Court. LAND BOARD APPOINTMENTS. The Prime Minister is being asked by Mr Forbes to give his opinion whether the following paragraph from the “ Oamaru Mail ” is a correct statement of the position in regard to tho vacancy to be filled on tho Otago Land Board: “ The Government is nominating Mr T. A. Munro, of Kurow, to the Otago Land Board in place of Mr J. A% Macpherson. Mr Clark, of. Chalmers, 6trongly supported the retiring member, but Messrs Lee Smith and Scott insisted on the appointment of Mr Munro.” AN ECHO OF THE RALLY. Mr Witty wants tho Government to state how many of the 700 military pensioners who the Hon F. M. B. Fisher stated at Palmerston North would have died as paupers if the present Government had not passed the Military Pensions Act of last year were receiving the old age pension prior to tho passing of the Military Pension Act of 1912.