POLITICAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 33, 23 September 1911, Page 5

POLITICAL.

THE TAUMARANUI SEAT. (Per Press Association i Waitara, Septombor 23. W. Forbes, who announced himself as an Opposition candidate for Taumarunui, delivered the opening address of his campaign last evening. He practically adopted the Opposition platform. On tho liquor ouestion Ire favoured a Dominion poll rather than local option, and a bare majority vote. ITo is against the Defence -vet as it stands, contending there should bo a conscience clause. Ho received a vote of “thanks.

NOTES BY THE WAY. Tho Hon. Sir Maurice O’Rorko is enquiring from the Government whether it is intended to comply with the request of the New Zealand !Tiiivorsity Senate to grant degrees of Divinity. Assisted immigrants who came to New Zealand during the year ended March 31st comprised 49G farmers, 734 domestic servants, 5 miners, 317 wives nominated by husbands in the Dominion, 1 dressmaker, I'liort© col-lar-maker, and 1 fisherman. In the Legislative Council the Hon. T. D. Ormond moved that satisfaction be expressed with the land proposals in the Financial Statement, especially tho proposal that in addition to the present system of tho disposal of Crown lands there shall bo settlement by associations of intending settlors in conjunction with the construction of public works. Tho member for Patea read a newspaper paragraph in the House on Thursday stating that a levy of 2d per cent, was about to be levied on >ll Government employees to make up a defalcation of £27B* by an qfficer of ihe Agricultural Department, and he asked whether it was tho practice to penalise honest men for the failings of dishonest men. The Minister of Agriculture said that tho member apparently was not aware that a guarantee fund existed among officers of the department, who were- prepared to pay in that way rather than give ’ndividual guarantees. The Prime Minister said the matter vas one that the Govornmont had ro control over, whoever the defaulter ■night- bo. He knew nothing of the rase, but under an Act the Civil servants were bound to make up the defalcation of one of their number by a levy over the whole service. The altcr•atiyo was a system of guarantees that would bo bad for tho individual •mployees, as it would come to a /reat * deal more, than they paid at present. The existing system was tho best one. It was an incentive to vatchfulness against anything that might lead to a defalcation. It had icon in operation for the last thirtyfive years, and there was no intention to change it.—.“N.Z. Times.” Mr. Joseph McCluggago is announced to speak in the Public Hall, Ngairo, on Tuesday evening next. ; A Ratapiko correspondent writes:— “Mr. McCluggage, the Liberal candilate, addressed tho electors in the School ,on Wednesday night. He got i very good reception, Mr. J. Stackirslri occupying tho chair. His ( address, which doalt with the political lituation in an interesting manner, vas attentively listened to and applauded. At the close a hearty vote >f thanks was accorded the.candidate, m the motion of Mr. F. Anderson, •.nconded by Mr. A. Fraser. A sugges.ion that those present who cared to "orm a committee to assist Mr. Mc.vhiggage’s candidature resulted in everyone present remaining..’.’