POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14347, 27 October 1910, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

SCENERY PRESERVATION. (By Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 26. The Scenery Preservation Amendment Bill, brought down by the Hon. T. Mackenzie, is chiefly of a machinery nature. Among other things, it validates certain reservations already made under various public works Acts, and gives the Government power to _ exchange Crown land for land required lor scenery preservation purposes. MAORI LAND PURCHASE. Maori land purchase operations during the past financial year are the subject of a report submitted to Parliament. The area actually acquired and titles to the Crown completed amounts to 15,538 acres, and the area still on baud awaiting completion of title amounts to 22,476 acres, to which be added 20,000 acres of the Moerangi Block, giving a total of 42,476 acres under negotiation. Practically the whole of these lands are in the Auckland Land District. The items of expenditure were, on purchases completed during the year £21,952, on purchases incomplete £9471, surveys administration and general expenses £465, total £31,890. PETITIONS CONSIDERED. The Lands Committee of the House has referred to the Government the petition of Hugh MTCay, of Stratford, who asked for a return of a deposit paid by him on a flax reserve in the Hauraki swamp. The Lands Committee has referred to the Government for favourable consideration the petition of Harry Voght, of Omata, New Plymouth, praying for compensation for loss sustained through being unable to obtain possession of a section of land at Huutiy. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. The Prime Minister, has promised to inquire during the recess into a question raised by Mr. T. E. Taylor as to whether he will introduce legislation to insist upon the various banks doing business in New Zealand placing their various guarantee and provident funds upon a more equitable basis. THE TIMBER COMMISSION. “It is not possible to say,” is Sir Joseph Ward’s answer to a question by Mr. Glover as to the time when the Government proposes to give the House the opportunity to adopt or otherwise the recommendations of the Timber Commission. PROMOTION FOE CONSTABLES. Tho Minister of Justice has been asked by Mr. Wilford whether he will institute a senior grade for _ constables of good record who have service extending over thirty years. The Minister has replied that tliis matter will be considered in connection with the proposals concerning the pay of the force which are now engaging the attention of the department. HARBOUR BOARDS AND LOCAL INDUSTRIES. Mr. J. P. Luke desires that the Minister of Marine should put himself in communication with the several harbour boards of the Dominion that have Government representation, urging them to have regard to tho desirability of encouraging local industries in connection with the requirements of their boards. “This matter,” states the Hon. J. A. Millar, “is solely under tho control of harbour boards. Any representations on the lines indicated should ho made by the manufacturers’ associations to j the respective harbour boards.” YOUNG MEN FOR THE LAND. Answering Mr. Pearce, tho Hon. T. Mackenzie savs that it is not considered desirable to undertake the training of young men at Moumahaki until further experience lias been acquired in connection with similar work at Ruakura Experimental Farm. RAILWAY MOTOR OARS. The Hon. J. A. Millar has made arrangements to obtain some motor cars for the purpose of making experiments to test their suitability for railway requirements. MINISTER AND MEMBER. “I don’t object to criticism from the Opposition,” said the Prime Minister late last night, “but I do object to members on our own side helping them in that direction.” Tho remark wus apropos of Mr. .0. W. Russell. The latter advised tho Prime Minister to keep cool; for bis own part, he was going to speak whenever he thought a. mistake was being made.. Sir Joseph Ward did not pursue the argument.