POLITICAL NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11250, 30 June 1922, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES

PRESS GALLERY NEWS QUESTION OF THE RESTORATION OF THE BOOKMAKERS. A FLOOD OF PETITIONS. Yesterday afternoon about forty members of the House presented petitions concerning the restoration of bookmakers. The petitions presented contained about 30,000 signatures. Among the members to present them were the Hon. E. P. Lee, who, from his Ministerial position, has instituted prosecutions of alleged bookmakers, and Mr L. M. Isitt, whose anti-book-maker leanings are well known. Mr Isitt, in presenting the petition entrusted to him, told the House that it contained signatures of persons whose addresses ranged front Dunedin to Kketahuna, and that thero were pages of it which did not contain a signature which he could recognise as that of a member of his electorate. Mr G. Witty (Riecnrton) asked if, in view of the fact that the petitions contained 30,000 signatures, a Special Committee would be set up to consider them. The Prime Minister replied that he could only say that the matter would be taken into consideration. It was a matter on which he would consult his colleagues. SWORN IN. NEW MEMBER FOR DUNEDIN NORTH. Mr James Wright Munro, the newest member of the House, who has been elected to fill the vacancy caused in Dunedin North by the death of Mr E. Kellett, was sworn in yesterday afternoon.. He occupies a seat on the back Labour benches next to Mr E. J. Howard. FROZEN MEAT FREIGHTS. QUESTION OF REDUCTION. “Is there any prospect of an immediate reduction in freights on frozen meat?” Mr E. Dixon. (Patea) asked in the House yesterday. The Hon. W. Nosworthy replied that the Meat Control Board was negotiating with the shipping companies at present, and when he was in a position to do so he would furnish the hon. member with the information. THE TAUPO ’QUAKES. LATEST REPORT ASKED FOR. The earth tremors in the Taupo district were referred to in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, Mr F. F. Hockly (Rotorua) asking the Minister for Internal Affairs if the latest report from Professor Marsden on these disturbances could be laid on the table. The Cron. W. Downie Stewart replied that he had no objection to such a course; but he doubted the value of the report, as the conditions were changing from day to day. TAXATION COMMITTEE. NO REPORT? BUT MAY BE SEVERAL. Agreement with regard to matters of taxation is notoriously difficult; and this seems to be the experience of the Taxation Committee of business men and others. The sub-committee sub. mitted its draft report on Tuesday last, and the main committee has been engaged since then on th task of drawing up its report for presentation to the Prime Mmiieter as Minister for Finance. But, so far, without success. It is, indeed, anticipated that the Prime Minister many eventually receive, not cue report, but several — a majority report and one or two minority reports from the committee. NO GOVERNMENT LOAN. FOR ANTECEDENT LLABILITIES. Would the Government undertake In the near future the flotation of a loan for the payment of the antecedent liabilities of the local bodies of the Dominion ? asked Mr Clutha Mackenzie in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. The Prime Minister replied that the Government could not underbake the responsibility. As a matter of fact, there were so many urgent purposes for which money was required that it was quite impossible to add to them under present circumstances. LIBERAL-LABOUR CAUCUS. COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY. The members of the United LiberalLabour Progressive Party met in caucus yesterday morning, Mr T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) presiding. “Collective responsibility, it is understood was declartd to be the watchword of the party. The attitude to bo adopted by the party towards the proposed affiliation of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association with the Alliance of Labour was the chief subject under consideration, but the decision arrived at will not. bo made known until Mr Wilford sneaks to-dav on the Imprest Supply Bill. It is stated that other policy matters will be similarly discussed by round-table conferences of the party, and that the loader will make no binding pronouncement without the full concurrence of hi 3 followers. Members of the party claim that a counting of heads removes any danger that success may attend the efforts of the Official Labour Party to become the Official Opposition. GENERAL. Mr W. E. Parry, M.P. for Auck land Central, desires a Parliamentary return showing the total assessable incomes for each year from and including the year 1914 to the year ended March 31st, 1922. Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon) has given notice to move for a Parliamentary return showing the Imperial honours conferred upon citizens of New Zealand from the year 1911 to the present time. The House of Representatives yesterday granted five days’ leave of absence to Mr W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) and three days’ leave to the Hon. J. A. Hanan /Invercargill), on account of urgent public business. Sir G. Hunter, -M.P. for Waipawa, has presented to Parliament a petition signed by E. K. Richardson and 220 others, praying that the Government should set up a cormnittco to inquire into the aggregation of lands in New Zealand, and especially into the traffic in native lands in tho Waipawa electorate. Mr G. R. Sykes, M.P. for Masterton, has presented to Parliament a petition from Miss Catherine Gray, praying for inquiry into the circumstances of her discharge from the Wellington Education Board’s employ.