POLITICAL NOTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 5289, 24 August 1905, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

From the Lyttelton Times wo gather that nl a general meeting of settlers held at the Whangamomona Town Hall, which is in the New Plymouth district, lust Tuesday evening, representing all shades of political opinion, the following resolution was unanimously carried—“ That this meeting views with disgust the methods employed by Ulossrs Taylor, Fisher, and parly in their recent attack on the Premier. Differences of opinion can always he met by means that are constitutional, British, and fair, and their present attack on Mr Seddon and his family is, in the opinion of this mooting, conducted more out of personal spile than for the good of the community; and this meeting further expresses sympathy with and regret that the Premier should bo exposed to such gron mil ess calumny / ’

The foil owing sentiments, expressed by Mr Duthie, M.H.R., at the Yorkshire dinner in Wellington last Tuesday night, have excited much comment on the. side of politics to which he does oot belong : —“We had rather much local industries, perhaps, but are in a healthy condition. Perhaps wo had less strife between employer and employee than any other commercial community in the world. /He had not been a supporter of the Arbitration Bill, but it seemed that it had: suited tho community. He could not deny that it had been ■rather an advance to the country. 'Whatever was done, in tlie future in regard to industrigl conditions of work, he hoped it would suit as well as that which as present exists.” Those who condemn the labor laws of the Government ought to reflect on this. Is it not n testimonial to the work of the Ministry.

A writer in the Lyttelton Times practically calls our members of Parliament pigs. Ho is in a specially good position to judge because he is that journal’s special correspondent in the Speakers’ gallery. This rather unseemly epithet appears to be limited to the discussions on the charges against the Government, It is rather a commentary on the aspirations to purity of polities that this should bo so.

There is a very strong fence in front of the Government, and it must be (alien before long. Wo mean, of course the land question, or rather leasehold versus freehold. They have been able to shelve it for a couple of sessions, but now that the Land Cominission has reported the question must be faced. It is true that the Land Commission reported in favor of the present system, They urged that- contracts should lie held inviolable, but will members of .Parliament be guided by that report V Wo believe not, but will be guided by their election pledges instead. A very large number of the Government supporters are pledged to the freehold, and if these vote with the Opposition defeat may be expected. Within a week or two wo may witness some changes, but if the Government play their cards properly they ought to puli through it. It they gave the tenants the right to pay off the capital value, that would satisfy those who demand the freehold. Since the above was in type news which will be found in another column came-do hand There is no fear of tiie Government now..

The Public Petitions Committee report that payment of interest on debentures fell duo on the Ist of April, 1901: that the banks were" closed until April 5, and payment could hot be made ; that the debenture holders claimed interest on the delayed payment ; that the Treasurer paid this, but that the Auditor-General refused to certify to it. The Committee recommend an alteration in the law to meet such cases. So it is found that the Public Revenues Act is not elastic even yet to suit the Auditor-General. It was altered before at the recommendation of the Public Petitions Com mittee, and it has been thp bone of con ton lion over since. IE it is further altered we shall have a new sin added to the wickedness of the Government.

The. nuieh-abused Government Firo Insurance has already done a lot of good in reducing rates, and Mr T. McKenzie says that where it is not competing the following is typical of what occurs “Dear Sir, —Your premium, which falls duo on August —, has been increased from £1 4/9 to £i 15/-. or from £75 to £IOO, an increase of £31.” These examples, ho submits, slunv that w'hercvcr the State regulations admit of taking the insurance, tne insurance companies have reduced their rates to meet the Government concessions, but where ■insurers’ risks cannot bo taken by the State insurance olficc, the insurance trust, hav incr the unfortunate insurers wholly at their mercy, are levying rates far in excess of those formerly charged prior to the opening of the State firo insurance office. This will find its own level They could not play into the hand’s of 'the Government insurance better than this, for it will result in o-el(ing the people so firmly at the bade of the department, that the other insurance offices will have to K lve in. This is a blessing which the present Govcsnment gave us.