POLITICAL SIDELIGHTS.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 458, 16 July 1898, Page 2

POLITICAL SIDELIGHTS.

— ■ m The Leader of the Opposition is inquring whether the Government will take immediate steps to remedy the scandalous condition of most of the lunatic asylums -of the colony, as disclosed in Dr MacGregor's annual report ? At a meeting of the Railway Committee on Wednesday, it was decided by Bto 7 not to adopt Mr Cadman's suggestion to summon Mr Vaile from Auckland to explain his stage system, the Committee being of opinion that the scheme is impracticable. In answer to a question from Mr Fisher suggesting that the Premier should be allowed to speak in both Houses, the Minister for Lauds jocularly remarked that this might be done through the medium .of the graphophone. Mr J. W. Thomson was informed by the Postmaster-General that to extend the telephone line from Owaka to Tahnkopa would cost £800, and the estimated revenue was £5 per aunum. Unless the County Council were prepared to pay the estimated deficiency of £72 per year till the line became self-support-ing, the prospect of its construction was very remote. J The Hon. JD. Ormond styled the'speeches of some of the so-called representatives of Labor m the Legislative Council as " a degradation to the name of Labor in the colony." According to the promise given on Tuesday the Minister of Bands has given notice to' move that the question of the purchase of the Otahu Estate- under the Land' for Settlei ments Act be referred to. the Waste LandsCommittee. . **. "? .v. l _? is £ er a i ked : (?) * f il is tr ue or untrue - that the New Zealand Pine Company, on. b! the group of Guthrie Companies, of ivhich Sir Robert Stout is ehaiwnah, has been sold —lock, stock, and barrel— for £14,000? (2) If it is the fact that the company stood in the books of- the Bank of New Zealand as valued at £110,000? And if so (3)D6 ! tHe Bank-^at js, tlie Coldfiy- imder its Wara_> l f ri^MM^'-'™***" 59G.00.? *tt wa l s stated, Mr Fisher added. tfu**t the Walter Guthrie companies had involve/1 the Rank iii losses to the extent of £300,000.— The Premier said he knew nothing about this company or thejr relation to the Bank, nor did he intend to seek for such information;