POLITICAL NOTES AND NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12326, 20 July 1903, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES AND NEWS.

[BY TiaEGIUPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Saturday. MAHUTA AGAIN. After the Premier concluded his speech on Friday night there was the usual crop of personal" explanations. Amongst those who complained of the Premier's misrepresentations was Mr. A. L. D. Fraser. Mr. Eraser's grievance was in regard to state-. ments 'mode as to Mahuta's lands, and he threatened at some future date to make »- velations regarding the negotiations that «- ceutlv went on between the Premier, Mr. - Can-oil, and Mahuta. He promised that these revelations would be as a Mozart-sym-phony to a Mount Peleo eruption compared with 'what he had stated the other night. , RINGS AND COMBINES. S;

Mr. Symes, a Government supporter, says he is not in favour of the legislation proposed in regard to rings and combines, vj.l don't think we have any in the colony, ho said, "but if we have the Government are the sinners." He mentioned the Government Accident Insurance Department_as an instance of this. The proposed anti-trust legislation would, he thought, be a blow to our co-operative dairy system, because that was certainly a ring and a combine. Those interested hud'combined' to get a better price for their produce.

POWERS OF •CHARITABLE AID I ~ .--. : BOARDS, . -.'■;' : : , ■ i In regard to the doubt in the minds of ; charitable aid boards as to their power to purchase land or to erect buildings, the Government propose to bring down and pass , legislation this session lb remove any such doubt. RAILWAY MATTERS. Mr. Taylor will aisk the Minister for Railways whether he will this session amend the provisions of the Government Railway ; Superannuation Fund Act, 1902, to provide-- | (1) That the provision made for a widow, of j a member shall apply to the member's mother if he lias been her sole support; {2} that the allowance made to the widow of a member who has been superannuated be the same as if the member had died previous to his retirement; and (3) that in the compulsory retiring allowance each year's service rendered to the Department count for superannuation. He will also ask the Minister for Railways whether he will raise the wages of the wood-working.machinists in the railway j workshops from the 8s 6d per day now paid | to the same level as has been awarded by the ; Arbitration Court to similar craftsmen in j private employ, namely, a minimum of 10s j pel' day. ROADS ,AND BRIDGES. I It is thought thai; the main idea, of transferring the Roads, and Bridges Department from Mr. Duncan's charge to j that of Mr. -Jones is because of the j scarcity of money likely to b» available, | and because Mr. Hall-Jones will be more j likely to resist pressure lor grants from members and constituencies; : - " i THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. It is expected that the Finanoial Statement Will ' be before the House at most within a fortnight, and there is a probability of it making its appearance about Friday next. JOTTINGS. •

A Cliristchurch petition asks- that the education boards be elected on a popular franchise. ' A petition baa been presented from Crown tenants in Otago. praying: that Crown tenants be given representation on the land boards. ' t Mr. Mahder wants the Government to take into consideration the necessity of_ taking over the Great North Road in the North of Auckland'. . - • . . • . The desirability of making reserves of native bush along the North Island Mom Trunk line and other railway lines passing through forest country is being urged on the Lands Department by Mr. Ed. Mr. Houston wants to know whether the Minister for Lands, when disposing <>? any kauri or other timber, will include the land on which the limber grows, in order that the local bodies may derive some benefit therefrom. ,:.;■'.' ' ' :

Mr. Witheford intends to ask the Government whether they will give as an endowment to the city of Auckland for hospital and charitable aid' purposes the whole of the land in the Auckland provincial district which the Minister for Lands states is worthless. '••:'.' : .-:... . -X Mr. Witheford has given notice to ask the. Government whether they will -grant, concessions by means of their steamers and railroads, ih regard to the carriage of war canoes and rowing boats to the. Auckland, annual regatta, 1904, and to the RotoruaCarnival. , . Mr. Moss has given notice to ask the Minister for Lauds if provision can be made on the Estimates for a grant to the Waihou Domain Board to enable it to improve the domain, as this domain will he an additional attraction to Te Aroha as a holiday resort. • . » When the Counties Act, 1886, was passed, the County of Kawhia, among others, v\'i\S exempted from its operations except upon a resolution passed by both Houses of Parliament. Sir Joseph Ward has now g^ ren notice of motion that the. Governor be requested to proclaim the Act in force within the Countv of Kawhia.

Mr. Hefdninn has given notice to move that' there be laid before the House a return j giving the cost to the country of the recent j Parliamentary exclusion to the Pacific i Islands, such" cost to include any sum or sums paid or to be paid to the Union Steamship Company for nitrations to the s.s. Mapoui and all other expenses incidental to the trip. Mr. Kirkbride is asking the Government whether, in accordance with the recommendations of the Waste Lands Committee of last session, tlsev have obtained a report from the officers of the Roads Department as to the best rout* to be adopted to connect Turanga Creek and Maraetai districts with the main road to Auckland, and, if so, what has been decided on in consequence. Mr. Taylor has given notice to ask the Premier whether in view of his recent declaration that he is in favour of preventing intoxicants being consumed even in private houses within no-license districts, he will submit legislation to the House this session providing for such a law within the prohibited native area in the King Country, betore suggesting such an interference with the liberty of the subject in other parts ol the colony.