POLITICAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 4, 21 August 1911, Page 6

POLITICAL.

NOTES BY THE WAY

Mr. Poland is to ask the Government to introduce legislation to restrict mining sharebrokers to the legitimate business of buying and selling scrip, and to prevent gambling now earned on by overselling shares. Mr. Massey is to ask the Government whether they intend this session to give effect to the recommendation of the committee on the allegations made by the honourable member for Stratford, as follows“ The committee is of opinion that legislation should bo passed making it illegal for a member of Parliament to act on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person in negotiating the sale of an estate to the Crown.”

Mr. Obey suggests, in a question ho is to ask the Minister in charge i of the Valuation Department, that - the finding of oil or minerals in a dis- , trict should not lie considered in valuing lands for rating. He states that ’ a large number-of farmers in the Taranaki district have, in order to encourage prospecting for oil, given the boring rights over their properties to syndicates for twenty-live years, at a peppercorn rent, with a right to 5 • per cent, of the crncro oil. The fact of oil being found in the district has had the effect of considerably raising the soiling value of these lands, which are only used for grazing and general farming purposes; therefore, it will be a hardship on the farmers if they have to pay rates en these increased values.