POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5030, 16 August 1894, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

, [FHOM OUR BPBCIAL CORRKBPONDKNT.J WELLINGTON, August 15. BANK OP NEW ZEALAND. A Wellington paper having stated that the Hon Walter Johnston had been appointed by the Government to the post of President of the Bank of New Zealand I eaw the Colonial Treasurer on the subject, and am assured that the statement is absolutely without foundation. Mr Johnston has not even been approached on the subject. THE LICENSING POLLS. A paper just laid on the table of the Houbo shows the gross results of the recent licensing polls throughout the colony. It will doubtless form the basis of arguments in the coming debate on the amending Bill to be introduced by the Premier, so that its official facts and figures are worth Btating. Ib abows that the total number of voters on the rolls was 248,194, and the polls resulted as follows:— For the continuance of publicans' licensee, 42,429; reduction, 16,096; no license, 48,993; for continuance of accommodation licenses, 31,342 ; reduction, 9823 ; no license, 35,412; for continuance of bottle licenses, 25,802; reduction, 8018; no license, 35,686. The total number of electors who voted waa 122.234, of whom 74,372 were men and 47,862 women. It ia further Bhown that in 33 districts the local option polls were void, in 12 a reduction was carried, in 12 it was declared that the present number of licenses should be continued, in 2 no proposal was carried, in 1 the poll was void as regards accommodation licenses and for the reduction of publicans' licenses ; and in 1 the reduction of publicans' and accommodation licenses, and the abolition of battle licenses, was carried. MIDLAND BAILWAT. The Midland Railway Committee had a long Bitting to-day, and mada considerable progress, though this cannot be said to have been in the direction of a settlement favourable to the company or to the active prosecution of the work. A resolution moved by Mr Graham, in the interests of the Nelson district, was rejected by five votes to four. This motion declared that the company had shown no sufficient reason why last year's resolutions of the Houae should be departed from, and carryirg it would have meant the complete rejection of the contract. The Committee unanimously agreed to tho following resolution proposed by Mr George Hutchison—" The Committee, being satisfied that the company cannot raise the capital necessary to complete the ! several railway works enumerated in the original contract, resolves that it is necessary to confine fnture negotiations to the railway between Springfield and Jackson's, and the Belgrove section being arranged to be completed to a point at the junction i of Norria's Gully and Motueka Valley." j A Bub-committee was then appointed to consider what alterations in the agreement were necessary, and to draw up a series of resolutions with a view to their being used as the basis of a new contract between the Government and the company. This sub-committee, which consists of Messrs Hutchison, Fraeer, Tanner, Graham and Seddon, is to report next week, and the committee will then report to the House. From the personnel of the committee and subcommittee, there is reason to fear that the recommendations will be of such a nature a3 the company will not accept, and that the settlement of the question will be thrown back. PETITIONS. The petition of the Standing Committee of the Synod of the diocese of Chriatohurch.prayingforexemption from taxation, was presented to-day by Mr Beeves. The petitioners ask either that a general law be passed exempting from taxation all property held for religious or educational purposes, or that the Land and Income Assessment Act be eo amended aa to exempt from liability under the graduated taxation, endowments held by them under the names of general eata'e, Juckson's trust eßtate, clergy stipend aid estate and local endowments. Mr Joyce presented the petition of F. J. Gilmore, late licensee of the Bailway Hotel, Lyttelton, praying for compensation for losb of license under the local option vote. The petitioner alleges that he has lost £500, and that his family of eight persons, along with two domestics, have been " cast adrift on the wide world penniless and hopeless." CHEAP MONEY 6CHSME. The notice given by Mr Ward of his intention to introduce a Government Agency for Advances Bill has led to a rumour being circulated to the effect that it was intended to abandon the idea of raising a Government loan and lending out money to farmers. lam told by the Colonial Treasurer, however, that there is ho intention to revert to tha scheme originally outlined by Mr Warburton and found among the late Mr Ballance's paper;. The legislation to be introduced will be on the lines laid down in the Financial Statement. There were, I believe, three separate schemes on the subject considered by the Cabinet, along with three Bills drafted to give effect to these proposals, but after full deliberation the straight-out borrowing scheme waa adopted as the beat and soundest. The Bill will be brought down shortly by a message from the Governor. . ,