SESSIONAL NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6269, 24 July 1907, Page 6

SESSIONAL NOTES

One of the notices of motion opposed , by the Government yesterday, came from Mr Barber, the member for Newtown, who wished to move, "That there be laid before this House a return showing tho names of tho persons or firms who paid Customs duty on Monday, 15th inst., and Tuesday, l€th inst., the amount so paid by each person or firm, and fho article or articcs on which such duty was paid,” Tho Premier pointed out that the Commissioner for Customs had already intimated that it was unusual to disclose tho names of firms, and he agreed with him that the question could not bo answered. A similar difficulty presented itself to Mr Malcolm (Clutha), who wished to know the amount cf land tax paid by tho Bank of New Zealand in respect to its Wellington premises. Sir Joseph Ward said that if information was required by a member in regard to Mr Malcolm's private business, ho would refuse it, and • same thing would apply to tho motion.

The Hon. R. McNab, accompanied by Mr J. T. M. Hornsby (Wairarapa) visited the Tawaha estate, near Feathorston, on Monday to meet the Crown tenants. It was represented to the Minister that rents were too high, and there there was considerable difficulty in raising loans upon tho land. The estate had suffered from a severe flood, and the settlers hoped that further inconvenience from this cause would be somewhat lessened if the Government would construct a road enabling them to approach their sections from tho high road. The Minister’s solution of tho rent difficulty was for the conversion of the present leases into renewable leases with a tenure of thirty-three years. By this arrangement the Government, ho said, would sacrifice its high rental, while the tenant would sacrifice his long tenure. Consideration was being given to the proposal for a high-level road, and a scheme for protecting the banks of the Ruamahanga creak was receiving attention from the officers of the Lands Department. Dr G. L. Anson, of "Wellington, is petitioning Parliament for relief. He is tho holder of 2SOO acres at Tiriraukawa, i tho leas© of which expires in-1310. Improvements to tho value of .£BIOO have ; been effected. The Land Board has decided not to renew the lease, a decision the petitioner does not consider fair or considerate to him, who has borne all %’e great risk and expense of development. Ho submits that ho is now unable to continue his improvements because of his insecurity of tenure, and a asks that he may be granted eomo form of security of Tenure either by a lease with a right of renewal and peiiodical revaluation, or such other relief as may scorn just.

According to the annual report of the Registrar of Friendly Societies, the total Funds of societies and branches on December 31st, 1906, amounted to £1,037,821 7s 2d. Dividing the total funds by the number of members at the end of the year, it is found the average capital per member is now £l9 13s Cd. lie toal worth of the sick and funeral fund at tho end of tho yeaj was £886,531,