POLITICAL NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7870, 4 August 1911, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES

ABOLITION OF FOOD DUTIES. If a shout Bill introduced by the member for Mastortoa is carried all import duties on Hour, bran, pollard, oatmeal, rolled oats, groats, potatoes, stall'll, farina, butter, and cheese will bo abolished. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. . AMENDMENT OF THE ACT. A number of amendments to tho Fricmdly .Societies Act are proposed, iu a Bill introduced by-the Hon. J, A. Miliar yesterday. One proposal is that in future a society or branch -shall not be registered until tho rates of contributions for sickness, death, superannuation, and annuity benefits, as set out in tho rules submitted with the application for registration, are certified by the Actuary of Friendly Societies or by some other actuary who is approved by the Governor and who lias exercised the profession of an actuary for at least five years. Tho Registrar m to bo given discretionary power to exempt ‘wholly or in part from the requirements of the section any society pr branch transacting business in respect of which he deems those requirements to be inapplicable. It is further proposed that a society or branch shall not bo disentitled to registration by reason of any practice of providing for a benefit, by means of an assessment or equal levy, but no society or branch shall be registered with rules providing for any such practice unless the Registrar Is satisfied that adequate provision is made .for tho benefit so offered by the society or branch. NOT A VANISHING RACE. The result of tho recent census among Maoris was referred Fo with satisfaction by Dr Buck (Northern Maori member) in tho. House last night. Scone years ago. the native popiilation was placed as low as 39,0C0, so that tho latest return of 4(7,000 represented a considerable advance. Since 1906 there had been an advance of 2000, so that tho many pessimistic statements made about tho native race gradually vanishing were belied by tho later returns. This, added Dr Buck, was a matter for extreme congratulation-among the members of the Maori race. JOTTINGS. Complaint of wrongful dismissal is made by Thomas P. Willa Son, sometime a gardener at Goyemmcnt House, who bias asked Parliament for an inquiry. Ho says ho was dismissed after making a complaint “‘about over payment for overtime worked.” The purpose of the Auckland University College Site Bill, introduced by the Hon. G. Fowlds, is to permit tho transfer of certain land in tho city of Auckland to tho Auckland University College Council as a site for a college. Mr McLaren desires the Minister of Education to ‘say whether, in pursuance of tho Government j>olicy of upholding democratic representation, an amendment to tho Eduoalion Act will be brought down this session to provide for the election of all members of Education Boards by direct vote of the people?

Tho Nativo Minister has "boon asked hy Mr Field Tfhen be purposes setting up the promised court or other tribunal of inquiry, in conformity "with the report of tho Native Lands Committee of la-st year, to investigate tho claims of the Ngatitera and Ngntihauaria hapus of the Ngatitoa tribe in respect of lands in the Pahautanui and Faekakarikl districts?