POLITICAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 57, 21 October 1911, Page 6

POLITICAL.

NOTES BY THE . WAY

Mr. Macdonald asked tho Prime Minister whether he would make provision in the Appropriation Bill to .enable.*, the ,■■ Treasury • rto-- subsidiserates actually ■ paid by natives to local governing bodies. Ho explained that at present native rates did not carry subsidy, like those paid by Europeans. This was anomalous and unfair, and lie asked that provision should be made accordingly, and an enabling Bill introduced if necessary. Mr. Grecnslado supported tho suggestion. The Prime Minister promised to look into the matter within j the next day or two, with a view to seeing whether the subsidy could be given.

The Native Affairs Committee reported on Wednesday on several petitions praying for tno right to ourchase the freehold of certain sections of tlie Ohotu Block. The Committee was of opinion that the petitions should he referred • to the Government for favourable consideration. A number of natives petitioned against Europeans being given tho right to purchase the Ohotu Block. The Committee reported that their petition should lie referred to the Government for consideration, j The evidence of Mr. O. L. Pemberton, one of tlie settlers who was heard by.the Committoe, wont to show that tlie settlement was _ being held back for want of better titles. The settlers had been at the cost of making roads, and the result would he that when their leases fell the rents would ho raised. Mr. C. L. Duigan, auctioneer, Wanganui, said applications for loans had been refused by the Advances to Settlors’ Office and by a leading hank on account of tho unsatisfactory character of the leases. The report was adopted.

Tho House had before it on Wednesday a further report of the A to L Petitions Committee on tlie petition of John E. Kelsall, of Onehunga, who asked for compensation for loss, of shops at Onehunga, destroyed by order of tlie Magistrate as being plague-infected. In its - first .report," which was presented on Wednesday of last week, the committee stated that it had no recommendation to make. The opinion was strongly expressed by many members that compensation ought to he payable in such cases, and the report was accordingly referred hack to the committee. In its last report tho committee recommended that the petition he referred to the Government for consideration.—“ Dominion.”