POLITICAL NOTES.

Mataura Ensign, 23 July 1914, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

INTERESTING RETURNS. sr BM ITT F.I) TO TH E HOUSE. BY TELEGRAPH. FROM OUIt RI'KCIAL CORRESPONDENT. WELLINGTON, July *l. A return .sulnnitted to the House on tb- motion of Mr Ell (Chmtchurch South) shows that for the year ended .March .11, I!)M, the amount' received as death dutieis upon the estate* ol deceased peisons amounted to tj®7,703 12s 2d. Another return shows that the miraber of men in the second division of the railway service who wen l pronumil to tlio first divisoti during the financial year ended March ill. was 13. The numl>er of men in the second division who lost their promotion through being unable to transfer during that year was five. The total cost of transfer of thoMK who have been promoted during the same year was £.'V)4. The amount the men in the second divkioh paid in tines as per punishment list for the same year was £'-1)7 10s. LICENSING BILL. No date lias yet been fixed for the committal of the Licensing Bill but there in a general understanding among members thai it will not lie taken until next week. So far as can bo ascertained the opponents of the Bill have not yet made u;i their miuds as to whether to let the Bill go through, leaving' tho whole responsibility to rest on it* author to light it to a finish by numrirou» amendments. In the latter event, as has already been suggested, there in a wealth of material available by way of nmendmenUi that will enable the opponents of the measure to hold it up for days. "So far an the inspection of liquor is concerned," Maid the I'riino Minister in tho House in reply to Mr Glover (Auckland Central), on tho liquor question, "there is good renuon for it. Perhaps there in even a better reason than for tho inspection of food and drugs in the ordinary way," to which the House gave cordial assent.

THE POLICE FORCE. 'Phe Government is considering the advisablonoss of erecting houses for member* of the police force on Departmental sites now lying idle. AN ELECTIVE SENATE. "An elective Senate," said the lender of the Council in moving the second reading of the Legislative Council. Bill, "would have the full right of initialing legislation and the full right to criticise ami examine legislative Acts in 'another place' and if necessary to, <>tay them it could introduce legislation. Hon. W. Beehan: They can do it now '■ Hon. H. 1). Bell: What sort of legislation do you get in the. Council f Mr Beehan: That depends on tho •leader.

Mr Bell: My hon. friend is fo entirely satisfied with the present position that 1 have no loom to deal with him. lie litamh upon a pedestal of hiH own. lie ha« been .so long in the Council thflt lie must excuse me treating his arguments with rc'is'ieet but as arguments which 1 am unable to folloV. I know mjv friend is one of the stahvarU. 'Mr Biehau: '""Vankiil

betterment principle. A FRUITLESS DISCUSSION. WELLINGTON, July 23. The betterment principle, wli.ch was discussed iii the Rouse Jast night in » splendid thing in theory but would b© most <llificuU to put into practice. Tho debate takes place yearly and generally ends in the courtesy of tho second reading being extended to the member in charge ol the 8.11. Whatever gooit might bo in the. principle it is now too lato to (apply it, consequently the evenings spoilt in dcbataig _t are wasted.

'THE OTHER SIDE." "Provide for the blind on this occasion," sa : d Mr An/lorson (Mataura) in the House of Renresentativos yesterday when Hiii. F. M .B. Fisher (Minister in Charge of the Pensions Department) was discuss ng the possibility of extending pension benefits. The Prime Minister: That means the other side of the House. (Laughter.)