A MINISTER INTERVIEWED.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6450, 22 February 1908, Page 7

A MINISTER INTERVIEWED.

THE ATTOKNET-GENERAL. PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, February 21. In tho course of an interview today, the Hon. Dr. Findlay said. "I have just received a report concerning the Waimarama case and it has been sent on to the Governor. This report was specially made regarding the laud Miss Mcinortzhagen is eiuitled to under the special provision of the Native Lands Act of la-! session. This Act provided that she was to get a lease of 5000 acres, the area to bo settled by the Native Land Commission. This is now being done. The Chief Justice leaves on Monday to continue the work of the. Commission, and he seems to be satisfied that a very large area of good land will bo obtained for settlement in the King Country. This land will be set aside by the Commission and dealt with under the Native Land Settlement Act. The area which will ultimately bo available for European settlement will approximate nearly double the whole area acquired by the 'Crown from European owners under the Lauds for Settlement Act from 1894 up to the present. The surveys are proceeding and no doubt before Parliament meets a largo area will be available for application. APPOINTMENT OF FIRE INSPECTOR.

Tho Government, said Dr. Findlay, was advertising for applications for tho position of a fi.ro inspector, whos<? duty it would be to inspect the fire prevention appliances of all the Firo ! Boards in the Dominion, act as advisor to the Boards as to tho best and most up-to-date methods, of fire prevention, and report to the Government as to the operation of the Act generally. The position was being advertised in Australia as well as in New Zealand. STATE FIRE INSURANCE. This brought up the ;uestion of firo insurance, and the reporter in ouired whether thero was any disposition on the part of the Government to increase the State Firo Insurance ■premiums as a result of ihe ncc-nt severe losses? “That is a very difficult question to deal with,'’ said Dr. Findlay. “Tho State Fire Insurance up to the end of the last business year had made a profit, but in tho past it had been fortunate in escaping serious losses. This year it has already suffered some considerable losses, but the question of dealing with the rates will have to be held over until wo see how the present year opens out. I recognise that the insurance companies, who have to pay probably about ££9,000 as contributions under the Fire Brigade Act of last vear, and who have had severe losses through lire.?, may find it absolutely necessary to increase their rates.” THE GAMING ACT.

“X believe that points of acute difforono© between the bookmakers and the clubs are, disappearing,” said the Minister, when questioned regarding the operation of the Gaming Act of last session. “The bookmakers have just sent mo from Auckland a list of their objections to '’the regulations drawn up by the recent Conference, but as they only reached me last night I have not yet had time to consider them. As far as I can see, the chief clubs are frankly endeavouring to carry out the spirit of the Act. and where any . unreasonable hardship is found pressing on the bookmakers the clubs have shown a willingness to make concessions. As to the general operation of tho Act, there is no doubt at all from the police reports we have received, that street betting, tot© betting, betting at sports, and ail the other more objectionable forms of betting have been enormously reduced.” KING'S COUNSEL,

The Minister was asked whether it was intended to appoint any more King’s J-ounsel in the near future or to fill the vacancy in Christchurch caused by the death of Air T. I. Joynt.

“I here have been several applications' since tho last K.U.'s wore appointed/’ said Dr Findlay in repiy, ■‘but the Chief Justice has espresaoa tho opinion, without reflecting on the suitability of the applicants, that no further appointments should be inuae for some time. To create fresh iv. C.’s so soon after the original appointments had been made was in the Chief Justice’s opinion neither expedient nor in accordance with practice.”