POLITICAL NEWS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XII, Issue 2465, 17 September 1906, Page 4

POLITICAL NEWS.

LAST YEAR’S LOANS.

The loans raised during the financial year ended March 31st were as follows: Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement. 4 per cent.. £1.000.900 (charges £8564): Hutt Railway and Road Improvement. 4 per cent., £25.000. 31 per c lit. £35.000 (charges £125); Railways Improvement Authorisation Act 1904, 4 per cent.. £92.500 (.charges £949 18s 6d): Consolidates! Stock Act 1884 . 31 per cent.. £65.000; Land for Settlements Consolidation Act 1900. 4 per cent.. £491.225. 31 per cent. £20.000 (charges £2474): Maori Land Settlement Act 1905. 4 per cent. £134.025 (charges £536); Loans to Local Bodies Act 1901, 3} per cent. £IOI,OOO. 4 per cent., £50,000; Government Advances to Settlers Act 1894 . 31 per cent., £310.000. The total amount raised was £2.343,750; the charges totalled £12.650 and the premiums received £11.229

The premiums wore £9229 on the half million raised in Australia at 4 per cent, and £2OOO on £IOO.OOO of the 4 per cent. Maori Land Settlement Loan, also raised in Australia. Of the total amount raised £1.383.100 was found in Australia and £960,650 in this State. All the 3} per cents. were raised here, through the Post Office.

Tlie loans and debentures falling due next year amount to £2.168. 766. Tlie rate of interest at present being paid is 31 and 4 per cent.

Another return shows the loans and (lehenturos matured in 1905-6 giving particulars of conversions, renewals and redemptions: £408.700 was eonverted. £217.500 renewed, and £824.500 redeemed, the total Iwing £l.450.700. The total charges and expenses amounted to £21.240

TOTAUSATOR PERMITS LIMITA TION BILL.

The Totnlisator Permits Limitation Bill, introduced by Air Tanner, provides that it shall not be lawful for the Colonial Secretary to grant in any one year after the passing of this Act. more than two-thirds of tbo number of licenses authorising the

use of the totalizator that were issued in the twelve months ending July 31st, 1906. No permit for the use of the totalisator is to be issued by which the totalisator can be used for more than one day, and separate permits shall be required for any second, third or other day. No permit is to be issued which allows the use of the totalisator on any one of the thirteen days set forth in the Bank Holidays Act 1902. IMPORT OF POTATOES. The total quantity of potatoes imported during the two years ended July 31st, 1905, was 8089 tons. The duty amounted to £10,058. DISEASED CATTLE. There were condemned under the Stock Act last year 2941 cattle, 49 swine, and 1 sheep. The total amount paid in respect of compensation was £5383. JOTTINGS. Mr Hogan wants the regulations for co-operative labourers altered to allow batches of less than ten men to proceed to co-operative works, so as to avoid the necessity for men hanging about the towns. The downpour of petitions from all parts of Auckland province, urging the completion of the railway be- j tween Auckland and the East Coast, disturbed the peace of mind of Mr H. G. Ell. and he is going to ask the : Government to apply the betterment j principle to the work.

The Inember for Masterton (Mr A. IV. Hogg) is crying “enough!” Speaking on the Saturday Universal Half-holiday Bill, in the House of Representatives on Thursday, he said his impression was that the people behind the bill were going too far. Restrictions were getting so numerous that attempts presently would be made to regulate everything in the universe, including the sunshine. It reminded him that he knew a man in Mount View whose fixed idea was that the world was wrong because it went round too fast by two hours in every revolution. He denounced those attempts at restrictions as exceedingly selfish and drastic. Sir William Steward has given notice that when the Land Bill is in Committee, he will move an addition to subsection 4 of clause 8, which provides that when payments equal to 50 per cent of the capital value of a renewable lease have been made, the lessee shall, for the residue of the term of his lease, have possession of the land freed from all conditions, other than the covenant to pay rent. The member for Waimate will move to add: “Or when substantial improvements of a permanent nature equal to or exceeding in value thsaid 50 per centum have been effected by the lessee, or when the value of such improvements, together with the sum of the payments (if any) made as aforesaid, amounts to a total of .50 per centum of the capital value of tire land, then, in any such case.”