POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14746, 31 July 1911, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

' IMPREST SUPPLY } PASSED.;

[BY TELECEAPH.-—SPECIAL COIIBESrOOTENT.) ■■■'•■;..- Wellington, Sunday. The Legislative Council met at 11 a.m. today, and - passed the Imprest Supply Bill without debate. The Council then adjourned till 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday,

-»■ A QUIET HOUSE. ' , The precincts of ; the House are remarkably quiet. Only three Ministers, Messrs. Miliar, "R. McKenzie, and Ngata are at the seat of Government, and the places of several legislators are still vacant. Members .have not been plentifully supplied with food for thought, as the only Government measure in circulation is: Mr. Fowlds's Mental Defectives Bill. Saving the fact that the term "mental defective" is now used instead of ■ "lunatic," this solitary Bill may be regarded •as curiously appropriate to the present state of Parliament. Indeed, a feeling which seems to pervade the corridors may very well be expressed 'in the phraseology of the new measure, the .members in fact, or at all events i a,: considerable section of ; them, lack that "oversight, care, or control" which is requisite for their own. good or in the public interest. j

DUTIES ON FOOD. When Mr. Hogg, endeavoured during the'session of 1908, and then, not for the first. time, to get the duty on flour removed, his Bill was rejected on the second reading by 33 votes to 21. He declared that he would try again and keep on trying. He is fulfilling his promise, and is going somewhat further, as the measure he has now introduced is called The Abolition of Duties on Food Bill. Butter and apples, as well as flour, are certain to figure prominently in the measure, and the member for Maslerton will, no doubt, endeavour to persuade the House to reduce the duties on the necessaries of life as much as possible.

TEACHERS* SUPERANNUATION. There are in the Dominion a number of teachers who, for financial reasons, were unable to avail themselves of the provisions of the Superannuation Act when it came into ; force* in 1906. A petition is being forwarded to both Houses of Parliament, signed by such, teachers, ; praying that they may be allowed to come under the Act provided they pay all back subscriptions with four per cent, interest added." . ';.

" > MORMON DOCTRINES. • The spread of the ; Mormon doctrines! among the Maori race forms the subject, of a question which will be asked by Mr. G. M. Thomson (Dunedin North). He proposes that the Minister should look into the matter and consider the advisability of taking the necessary steps to rid tha country of missionaries of the i Mormon faith. ,' ; ..';;.-':■ . '

THE PROTEST OF DEMOCRACY. The Prime Minister ia expected to arrive in Wellington on August 22. The Hereditary Titles Prevention Bill, introduced by Mr. E. Newman (Manawatu) has been set down for the second reading on the following day, • and Mr. Newman - and supporters will then. . declare ; their objections >to the introduction of a titled aristocracy into the most democratic State in the world. As its name implies, the Bill proposes to prevent say person resident in New Zealand from accepting a title which will; be inherited by succeeding generations.