POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4408, 15 July 1901, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

Land Settlement In Hawke’s Bay. A remark made in oiur Napier correspondent's letter, published in Saturday’s issue implied that laxity had been shown by the Liberal members lor the district, Messrs Hall and Fraser, in the matter of impressing upon the Government the necessity of acquiring land in Hawke’s Bay for subdivision and closer settlement. We are assured on the best authority that the gentlemen named have been most assiduous in th© matter, and - that, as the result of their persistence and the proved necessity for a vigorous prosecution of a land settlement policy, the Land Purchase Commissioners have quite recently visited a number of properties in Hawke’s Bay district. The report of these gentlemen will shortly be presented to the Government, and it is fully expected that the outcome will bo proposals for the acquisition of several estates suited for close settlement. There is also a probability that in the course of a few weeks a number of members of the Legislature will pay a visit to Hawke’s Bay district, with a view to seeing for themselves the nature of the country and the need of something being done to arrest the’ decay of population in that fine region which is disclosed by the recent census returns. Postage on Newspapers. <'A city member, Mvd George Fowlda, made a suggestion in - the House a few days ago that as a postal concession to country settlers the Post Office Department should in future carry newspapers free. The idea was scouted by one country member, but it has a good deal to recommend it. Postage on newspapers partakes of the character of a tax upon knowledge, and this is practically recognised in New South Wales, where newspapers are delivered free by the post office. The entire abolition of newspaper postage in this country might entail too great a loss of revenue • but a modified form of concession might very well be made in- the interests of country people who would-patro-nise newspapers much more liberally were it not for the postage. The Post-master-General should be requested to make a reduction on the postage of parcels of newspapers carried to agents in country districts not directly reached by rail. Settlers along the railway lines can usually get their ’ papers inexpensively delivered, but those in. remote regions have to pay three halfpence for every penny paper they receive. It will be* objected that the bulky weekly papers could not well be carried for less than a halfpenny, and there may bo force in the contention; but it would be equitable to make the charge for daily papers by weight, s o that a dozen might be carried for a penny or twopence and delivered by post to the agents in outying places. Sir Joseph Ward will, is is hoped, give this matter his attention, and will deal with it in his wonted spirit of enlightened enter* prise. Industrial Arbitration and Conciliation. It used to be the fate of every measure introduced for the amendment of the industrial arbitration law, to unchain the Conservative dogs of war. The House was wont to expect a general attack along the whole line of Labour legislation, and would have been content if it escaped with several days of discussion. But the progress of event* has prepared us for something better in the way of criticism. Hence the wild attacks on Friday last from a seep tion of the Opposition benches were a disappointment. It is, of course, true, as the Premier pointed out in his reply, that men who will neither read, learn, mark nor inwardly digest, will never profit by the progress of events. But this political stagnation in preventable darkness is .nevertheless deplorable. The main feature of the debate was that all the ghosts that have been laid in the last decade were treated a s real and terrifying. They were so treated by a minority whose attenuated proportions go a long way towards

plaining the Liberal success at the last general election. The Premier laid dieso ghosts once again with vigour and jicarnoas, and offered the superstitious ineniy some of the elements of modern liislory, which we can only hope will ;aim these fears and open their minds, t’or the Bill itself, it certainly offers to improve the Act; not to the extent or jn the direction so freely prophesied of late; nevertheless substantially- r l he worst the enlightened critics of tlie law Eay of it is that it is still on its trial, an d that is an encouragement to amendment, because the bettor the law is made, the more likely is it to some through the ordeal Micccssfu Uy. It is nu undoubted amendment to enable foreign companies to participate in the law's '"benefit, and a still greater reform to bring the trades unions under the Act, without eomnolling them to register as industrial unions. The unions have an objection to such registration, hut must not be allowed to narrow the (.capo of the .'aw for that reason. Moreover, the amendment recognises their status, and that is a logical conse* iiuenc-. of {he events of recent years._ To cancel registration of industrial unions that have ceased to exist is only to clear np f.be position, winch is obviously an advantage. A four was expressed lost thp consequences might include facilities for escaping awards by running aivav. The Premier contended that the principal act, is effective enough to prevent; any such thing. Tim point is rrrpvn ononcrh to r n n ,^re attention from the Tif hen r Bid- Committee. We believe tho Premier's contention to ho right, biu it v/ns challenged, and it ougnt to he ‘placed beyond dispute.