POLITICAL NOTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13372, 23 August 1907, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

Special Hy Telegraph. Till-: STATK AXT) Till'. HANK. WKHUNCTOX, August '/&. What transpired in tin-. House mi Wednesday in regard to Hie Hank of Xew Zealand is only the' prelude to an active campaign in favor of tlio State taking over Hint, institution. -Mi' V.l\ who ha, been keeping banking qui'sMcms before t lie House for several weeks intends following up bis action bv arranging ;l deputation to Hi,' Premier." Mr Mil stale:-; that. liu aims lirst at. putting the public shareholders of the Hank on the same footing as private :Jia.reholders in regard to dividend, public shareholders" dividends being limited to 10 per cent, whik' private shareholders may reeeive 25 per cent. On the last occasion the private dividend was 1.0 per cent, and that, payable upon the public shares 7£ per cent. Mr Kits next proposal is to fix a maximum dividend in similar fashion to that provided in the case of public lighting cmnpames. Ho- hopes eventually to s.ee the State take the Hank of Xcw Zealand under its control. The member for Christchurcli South is he stated supported i" his proposals in regard to the status shareholders by the following members of the House- -the Hon. 'l'. Duncan, Messrs Hogan, Hogg. Hornsby, Poland. K. U. Allen, Hanan, Toole. Laurenson, Barclay, Dillon, Flatmau, P.emiington, Arnold. 'Howry, Macl.'herson, Thomson, Wt all worthy, Seddon, Jennings, Huddo, Witty, Dav'ey. Symes, Wood, Tanner, Uoss. Nsrata. and' Field. COAL MKIICHANTS AND THK STAII-,. The Coal Merchants and Coal Dealers are petitioning Parliament for relief. They poinf out that they are in competition, with the State Coal Mines Department in Christehuroh. Wellington and Wanganui, but the Department declines to supply Sfata coal to the merchants and dealers, thus endeavouring either, to gain a monopoly of the retail trade or to divert- trade in the direction of the -State coal depots to the detriment and serious injury of thy merchants and dealers. The petitioners eliim that they have reason to believe thai, in its etforfs to cheapen coal and undersell its competitors, the Slate Department- is making a, loss and further tliev have reason to believe that unless some steps are taken to compel the Department to alter its policy and permit reasonable anil legitimate competition the whole of the cash dealing industry in Wellington. Chris l church, and Wanganui will b» imperilled: wherefore they ask that an inquiry be lwld into tba uniri.'genv>nt of the State Coal Mines Department and the coal depots.