POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9008, 15 August 1907, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

Flatman regarding the overcrowding of th<} Arbitration Court in amstchurch during the hearing of the farm labourers' dispute^' the Minister of Laboar stated that the -matter of citing parties to an industrial dispute rests with the Union concerned. No unnecessary inconvenience or expense to those interested should he incurred, and every effort would he made to prevent this. The matter of fixing the place and sittings rested with the Court itself. If there was likely to he such a large attendance of farmers when the case again came before the Court, adequate accommodation would be provided. BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. Mr Ell asked the Premier whether the Government would take steps to introduce a Bill this session to amend the Bank of New Zealand Act in the direction of placing the public shareholders on the same footing as private shareholders as regards the amount of dividend paid on share capital. The Premier replied that the proposal involved legislation dealing with tho whole status, of the Bank ot New Zealand, and the Government had no intention of introducing any such legislation. The Bank waa doing well, and it was in the general interest of the colony that it should continue to do 80. MISCELLANEOUS. The Government is inquiring whether statistics can be secured bearing on the duration of life of coal miners. The question of extending the charter of the trawler Nora Niven is under consideration. The Government has not yet arrived at any decision regarding the establishment of research scholarships and travelling scholarships. It is not proposed to assist the smaller agricultural and pastoral associations by granting special prizes. The Lands Department is inquiring j into the suitability of the North Auckland district (for the growth of the rubber tree. i i

■ ♦ (From otib0 tib Cobbespondbnt.] WELLINGTON, August 14. CRIMINAL INSANE. The subject of tlie "criminal insane" is referred to by the InspectorGeneral of Mental Hospitals in his annual .report. This contradictory term, as he describes it, loosely comprises persons whose insanity has declared itself in some- act or omission which, had they been in their right mind, would . have been a crime, and is also intended «• to include the insane criminal, that is the oriminal sane at the time of his offei-C©, who subsequently becomes maiui. ."' Generally speaking, he remarks, the first lot, probably the second lot, Obviously are dangerous or undesirable : persons to have associated with " ordinary persons of tinsound mind. Their rnaife keeping is impossible without ex- < eeptional and expensive supervision, and tends to limit the freedom of patients ill the ward in which they i happen to be placed. In order to jegregate them the property known a 6 ''The Camp," on the Otago Peninsula is being adapted, and will be enclosed by a fence 15ft high. The expenses to IJ-cember 31 were £1260. . THE TOTALISATOR. The member for Auckland West asked- the Premier whether he would; insert in the promised Gaming Bill a clause providing that no totalisator . permit shall be issued to' any racing club which advertises for or allows outside Investments to be made on the totalisation and providing that a penalty for a breach of the foregoing regulation shall _»c the ah-olute v cancellation of all permits to use the totalisator by suoh •tub. • The Premier replied that what was proposed in connection with the totalisator wonld b_ seen on the circulation of tHe Gaming Bill, under which the machinery for' the working of the totalizator will be confined entirely to race©ourses. INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES. In answer to a-, question from Mr