POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13845, 3 September 1908, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

, QUESTION DAY. ■ ."SECOND BALLOT BILL DEBATE. tBX telegraph.—special correspondent.] ? Wellington*, .Wednesday. ' The weekly discussion on replies to questions occupied the House this afternoon. In the first pint of the evening some life was infused into the proceedings by .; the debate on the second reading of the Second Ballot BUI. The principal speak* ers were the Prime Minister and the Minister for Labour in support of the Bill, and Messrs, Ma-ssey and Allen in opposition to. the measure, After the supper adjournment proceedings became dull, and the speeches that were delivered fell on the ears of only a thin House. ■;',' 'the Legislative Council sat during the ; ? afternoon only. ELECTIONEERING TACTICS. In the course of his speech .m the Second - Ballot Bill to-night, Mr. Massey stated that he had been informed that a telegram had been sent by a, Minister of the Crown during the present year, stating that the present member for Waitemata must be defeated at the. coming elections at all costs (the occasion was prior to Mr. Alison notifying his intention of not seeking reelection). . .. ,- 7

Sir Joseph Ward said that he would like to have that telegram produced. Mr. MasSef: I had the information half 3 dozen different sources. *

Sir Joseph Ward: It was not ray telegram. . : - ■ _ '

Sir. Massey:_' "It was from a Minister of the Crown. « X..: /.;■'■•"•.■•'

Sir Joseph Ward: I think the hon. gen%mau ought to ( produce that telegram. Mr. AJison stated that he also had been , Informed by several persons that they had teen a. telegram signed by a prominentMinister of the Crown, which stated: '' Alison must be defeated at all costs." He bad not seen the telegram himself, but the information had been communicated to him »y several persons-, each of whom stated that lie and seen it CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION. ■;■'■<'■■ The Public Petitions Committee, in re- : porting to-day on the petition of Elizabeth Walls, of Christehureh, for compensation for land sold by the Hobson County Council for non-payment of rates, slated that it 'had no recommendations to make, to ht as the prayer of this particular petition vm concerned. Messrs. Bollard, StallAorthy, and Bamne defended the action ■ taken by the authorities in regard to the case. It was stated that the value of the land (some 60 acres) was only £10, and that the amount of the rates in question was only 7s 6d. The report was ordered to lie on. the table. JOTTINGS. In reply to Mr. Poland's question regarding the danger to traffic at the western end of the Karangahake railway tun-, nel, the Minister for Railways stated today that if the local authority is prepared to provide the funds for a crossing-keep-er's wages he will be glad to give the question of an appointment further consideration. 7ihe Minister for Mines has stated that some adjustment must be made between ' the local bodies interested before any fur* .■ y Aer expenditure on the Waihi . Beach Road rough'the Tuuranga County .am be undertaken. Mr. Hemes has been informed that the question of enlarging the Te Puke Post Office is under consideration. In reply to Mr. Greenslide, the Minister for Justice states that the plans for the Hamilton East police quarters are in hand. The Auckland Harbour Board Loan and Empowering Bill was reported by the Local Bills Committee to-day, with a recommendation that it be allowed to proceed. The Public Petitions Committee report* that it has no recommendation to make in regard to the petition of A. J. McLusky, of Auckland, who asked for -ompensation on account of the loss of office as ? police constable, and for an inquiry into'the circumstances of his injury and discharge from the prison service. A return obtained by Mr. Jennings shows that, 'the area of land purchased by the Government in Awakino County totalled 159,925 acres, the price paid (including the : cost "of subdivision ind survey) being . £21,061. The price at which the land was sold to settler* was £40,312. The present . improved value is £86,864, and the uninv . proved value £54,822. The total " thirds" .accrued amount to £1024, the amount paid v to the local body being £444. The area ot land still unoccupied, is 23,155 acres..