POLITICAL NOTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12796, 30 September 1905, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

Per Press .Association. .. „ ' CHItISTCHURCH, September 29. : The Premier arrived to-d;i y on his way south. by- a representative deputation concerning the continuance of the South African direct steam service, he said that no interest had been displayed in the-continuance.of the service until now. He. was very- loth to let it drop, and if representations were made to the Government on the lines suggested by the deputation he would be only too glad to approach the company v with a view to securing- either, a renewal of the service or a "fresh"contract on a new.basis. . .Sir■■Scddon Ins received a cable message from, the High Commissioner, stating thai tlie Crystal - I'-vtce Kxhibition closed --.on fcvityrdry-. ; The ■ total r.umbcr of visitors during the,lime it opered was 1,219.000. The Agent-General is now fitting up a permtrn?ntrcofirT.~ To-day is the twenty-sixth anniversary of the Premier's return to the New Zealand Parliament. He was elected, first in September, 1879. He is llie only mem-ber--iff tlip'-present Parliament who has sat continuously' during that period and re-presented-the one constituency. He has numerous congratu'atory messages.'7 7 • . DUXEDIX, September.29. ; Mr"Mac]jherson, who opened his election Campaign at Hyde, last night, declared for the leasehold..; .Her,said there was no need to alter Sir-Joh'nMcKenzie's policy at the present time. The Crown tuiants were not asking fQr a change. He favoured giv-

ing the Crown tenants tlie right, to pay off the capital value to a nominal sum. He urged the starting of a more vigorous policy of land settlement on second-class lands and grazing country. Local applicants shou'd have preference at the ballots. He gave a general support to the Ministerial policy, and received a vote confidence.