POLITICAL NOTES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13430, 11 July 1914, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

(From our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The second reading of Mr Hunter's Gaming Act Amendment Bill has been postponed unlil the sth August. PUBLIC BUSINESS. Tli© Public Trust Office report presented to Parliament yesterday states that the net profits for the year were £29,222. The annual profits have steadily risen m the last six years, the net profits m 1909 having been £10,850. In the same period the number of receipts has risen from 23,414 to 45,362, payments from 43,359 to 68,406, estates from 5019 to 9223, the value of estates from £6,399,567 to £12,282,883, number of wills deposited, from 718 to 1047, and capital funds from £2,850,111 to £6,366,---707. Salaries have increased m the six years from £15,772 to £32,837. The report points out that the increase m the common fund rate of interest which came into operation on April 1 last amounted approximately to £3000 a year. MANY BEATING HEARTS. The leader of the Opposition tried to extract information yesterday .Regarding the forthcoming- Legislative Council appointments. He had tabled a written question, which drew a very non-com-mittal official answer. The Prime Minister, he remarked', was carrying out a big constitutional change, and the representative Chamber was surely entitled to know who were the men who were goinp to put it through. "In good time," replied the Prime Minister, with a smile. "A lot of men are very anxious to know," continued Sir Joseph Ward. "Those men's- hearts are beating m uncertainty. It will ruffle the feelings of a few who are looking forward to that happy place of contentment and peace, and if they will be disappointed, the sooner the better. I want to see who will be appointed. I know of 350 men who are looking, forward to being there." The Prime Minister : I know of more than that, a good number being' your friends. (Laughter.) : It was suggested by Mr Jas. Craigie (Timaru) that the Council Bill, according to lobby gossip, would be carried without the need for fresh appointments. FINANCIAL 'STATEMENT. The leader of the Opposition asked the Prime Minister yesterday afternoon if he could say about what date the Financial Statement would be brought down. The Prime Minister : lam not at present prepared to give any date, but if the hon. gentleman will ask his question next week I will be prepared to answer him. RAILWAYS REPORT. In answer to another question by Sir Joseph Ward, the Minister of Railways stated that the report of the general manager of railways would be presented this month. In reply to Mr Myers, the Premier said he had no objection to the House having a day on which to discuss the report, but he could not promise to fix the time for the disoussion on the same day as that upon which the report was brought down. BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT. New bill's introduced yesterday by Mr Payne comprise the Workers Right to Work Bill and Mortgage and Chattels Security Foreclosure Prevention Bill. Ministerial answers to questions were discussed, and the sessional committees up, the latter being quite a formality, though, some amount of diversion was caused t now and then, Mr Isitt, the most vigorous and earnest prohibitionist m the House, being placed on the committee wthich. among other things has to see that the quality of whisky m. the Parliamentary restaurant (Bellamy's) is up to the best standard. The Victoria College Amendment Bill was read a second time. The Bill, i wihich alters the constitution of the College Council, and provide^ for professional representation 'on the Board, as well as for one representative from Wellington City Council. Mr McCallum (Wairau) voiced the opinion that although t'he Wellington body is no doubt the most important local authority m the middle district, it did not seem quite fair that towns like Nelson, Wanganud, and Palmerston. North, with an interest m the college, should be practically devoid of representation. Otago members praised the system of constituting Otago University College, and thought the Bill would prove beneficial on the whole to Victoria College. Seventeen petitions weire presenbed praying that the Bible-in-Schools Referendum Bill be not passed. The Christchurch District Drainage Amendment Bill was introduced by Mr Davy and read a first time. Mr Hindmarsh introduced the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, which was read a first time. Mr Russell pointed to the fact that Cabinet, without consulting Parliament, had increased the pay of every man m the police service by £18 5s per year. He did not object to the increase, but it was done m a most unconstitutional and improper way. Mr Herdman said ' apparently Mr Russell opposed justice to the men. In 1911 a previous Government had increased the pay of the police by sixpence per day. If the Liberal party did this, why did he complain? He had found, since taking office, that if they were to get the best men into the ranks of the force, an increase m pay was advisable. Nothing unconstitutional had been done. On the proposal to set up *a Public Accounts Committee, Mr Russell desired to discuss the; financial position of the public service under the Commissioner, but was prevented as the result of a point of order raised by the Minister for Marine. Mr Russell retorted that the Government was evidently afraid of criticism. \ Mr Allen said that so far from being afraid, they had given more facilities for discussing the financial position than any previous Government. Mr Russell could have had his opportunity upon the debate on itheAddress-in-Reply. Air Russell : I was waiting for you! Prime Minister. In reply to Mr Sidey, Mr Allen said the Education Bill would be brought down within a fortnight, and would be referred to the Education Committee. The House rose shortly after 11 p.m.