POLITICAL NOTES.

North Otago Times, 19 November 1903, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

By. Telegraph.

(From Our Own Correspondent.), Wellington, Nov. 1.3*.

—Blackmailing tho Dank.—

Under this heading the Post tonight deals scathingJy with Mr Scddon, and his attitude towards tho Utin.l of Wow Zealand. After showing how this Bank had improved its position and was rapidly evolving itself from the mess,of ten years ago proceeds to enquire, on what principle can Mr Seddon justify his claim to sovonty-five thousand fully paidup shares in a flourishing institution. It reminds Mr Seddon that when a deputation, of delegates from the Trades and Labor Councils of tho colony waited on tho Preriilcr a few months ago urging the establishment of a State Bank ho appeared, from one part of his answer, to have gfftsped the rights of the position very clearly, He pointed out that the colony's relations to tho Bank of New Zealand was that of a guarantor and mortgage. It had backed tho Bills oi the Bank, but it bfrd never assumed a proprietary interest d 9 facto. Ho proceeded as follows:" As regards tne Government's present position to tho Bank, what would bo said of a mortgagee who, when the moixgugoi uad completed all the conditions, of his advanco, had brought his business to a flourishing state! and was prepared to redeem the security given, if he would say to the mortgagor, " I won't allow you to redeem because lam coming in to take half of these securities myself." Yet even after this explicit statement ho proceeded to talk of the possibility of'a''limited partnership," though to the ordinary conscience or morality of mortgagees the claim would (not depend upon tho quota that he claimed. He would bo entitle* to tho principal, interest and costs, but nothing more. If he claimed in addition either the whole or any fraction of the security, tho claim to the extent of this excess would bo unjust and extortionate, and no court of tho law or morals would tolerate |th« claim for a moment. A civil Court would compel him to restore the exCess if he had grabbed it, andpossii'ly a criminal court might, under certain conditions, have something td say to his action too. The Premier has invoked the analogy of private deal, and he should abide by it. Parliament never ftsked that tho guarantee should be paid for when suggest that now that the Bhnk, has giving it, and it is monstrous to bettered its position, and has something better than a deficit to annex wo aro entitled to annex it, Such molality and such logic a ro not to >)o justified in public any moro than in private life. In conolusion, tho articlo declares that it was to the colony's own interests and not thoso of tho Bank that the Guarantee in 1894 was given free of charge, and it will be in tho colony's own interests, of her reputation for honor and good faith, to continuo tho guarantee on tho same terms.

—Bible Reading in Schools,The Premier was asked by Mr Taylor this afternoon wh a t steps he proposes to take to enable the electors to express their opinion on tho question of Bible reading in schools, seeing that tho Referendum Dill had boon thrown out by the Legislative Council. Thq Premier said th a t tho rejection of the Referendum Bill was inexplicable, and the Council should have paid greater deference to the wishes of the representatives of tho people. It wjas impossible, without tho authority of Parliament and tho necessary appropriation, to tako a referendum, "so that there is no likelihood of a referendum being tjaken. Tho Promi e r would not promise to make provision for it. . , -State Fire Insurance,An amendment to the State Fire Insurance Dill was. brought down by Governor's message, making tho approval of the Board necessary before tho manager can apply to the Colonial Treasurer for supplementary capital. The amendment, which was originally made by the Legislative Council and rejected by the House as being beyond tho power of tho Council to make a " pin money " clause has been approved by both branches oi the Legislature. -Fire Prevention Bill.— The Select Committee to which tho Fire Prevention Bill w a s referred recommends that tho Dill be not proceeded with this' session,, and that during the recess the Dill be forwarded to all looal bodies, fire brigades and insurance companies, inviting them to give consideration, to the leading features of tho measure, with a view to their giving ovidenco upon it if they should deem it desirable to go so when the Bill cornea before the House next session, —Jottings.—

Next session tho Government will introduce a Bill to enable land within and without boroughs to bo taken compulsorily for workmen's homes.

Tho Premier favors the abolition 0 f tho totalisator, and he trusts that next session tho House will toko tho opportunity of dealing effectively with this question. Tho Premier will visit tho Chatham Islands during tho recess. Replying to Mr Herries, who had asked why certain tradesmen's accounts contracted during theDukc's visit had not been paid. The Promier said the Government had not received the accounts until a, few months ago. Thero is no necessity, in tho opinion of tho Premier to glvo further publicity to letters published warning people against going t O , South' Africa owing to' tho bad statqofths labor market. >