POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10871, 11 September 1913, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Ouh CoiHtr.sro-'nv-.NT."] WELLINGTON, So pi cm ber 10. I) A.MAG K TO HIDES.

T.a.sl week .Mr Olcoy asked the Prime .Minister i' 1 the Government, would institute inquiries with the idea of finding .i substitute for live branding entile, o\ving to the damage occasioned to the hides. To-day the Hon W. F- Massoy replied that the Government is at pioscnL making experiments with a branding fluid, which is said to cause less damage than fire branding does and to bo equally effective. Similar experiments in Australia, however, resulted in favour of fire branding. ARMY MEAT CONTRACTS. Notice has in the past been frequently received by the New Zealand Government in togard to the calling of tenders for tinned meat by the War Offico, states the Prime Minister, and in every case the information has been sent to the newspapers and to the moat export companies, but in no case has any New Zealanu firm tendered in recent years. It is understood that the quantities required arc larger than our exporters liiul it convenient to supply. HATCHWAY PROTECTION.

It is not proposed to take action to bring into effect a suggestion by Mr Liiurenson to compel all vessels to have a, net underneath their hatchways, except when cargo is being worked, so a* to prevent the numerous accidents which at present take place through men falling through tho hatchways. PUBLIC TRUST LEGAL WORK. An inquiry by Mr Forbes of tho Minister of Justice whether any report has- been submitted to him of a conference between the Hon F. H. I). Hell when president of the New Zealand Law Society and tho Public Trustee on the question of curtailing the, legal work of the Public Trust Office, has elicited a, statement by the Hon A. L. Herdman, who says the Public Trustee informed the Government of the fact that a conference had taken place between the members of tho Law Society and himself, the result of which ho states was satisfactory to both sides. Since he. became a member of the Government Mr Bell has bad no interview with, the Public Trustee. COAL-DUST TROUBLE.

Everything practicable is being done to keep down the coal-dust nuisance ;is far as possible under existing circumstances, and it is intended to remove the depot as soon as possible, stales the Minister of Railways 111 reply to Mr Davey's question as to what has been done to abate the coaldust nuisance experienced by residents near the railway at Falsgravo Street, Sydenham. The Minister adds, 1 robably the greater part of the coal stock will be removed within the next twelve, months, after which the only coal that will bo kept in the vicinity of Falsgravo Street will bo a small quantity for the use of shunting engines. Valuation reports have been received and negotiations have already been entered into with the owner of one property, and the owner of the second property will be communicated with in due course. ASYLUM ENGINEERS. Mr Witty, who asked the Minister in charge of mental hospitals 'whether he will give instructions that enginedrivers and other mechanics employed in the mental hospitals shall receive pay equal to those employed in similar trades outside the Department, has been informed that the matters referred to come within the province of the Public Service Commissioner, against whose decision in anj' caso there is statutory provision for appeal. TIMAR U RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS.

A further Ministerial statement has been secured by Mr Craigie in connection with improved railway facilities at Timaru. The Hon W. H. Herries states that improvements are contemplated at Timaru and will ultimately be put in hand, and involve tho expenditure of a large- amount of money. *' It is not practicable to undertake any part of the schemo at the present moment, as funds not available, and it is ■ undesirable in view of what is proposed to incur expenditure in malting alterations to the existing arrangements that may be valueless when the rearrangement is undertaken. As already indicated in reply to a previous question, it is estimated that the alterations to the Timaru station and yard will involve an expenditure of £40.000. This. I think, may be taken a.s a fair indication that the limitations of the present railway station at Timaru are recognised and improvements are intended when favourable circumstances arise." A TARIFF MATTER.

Wicker hampers containing goods do not come into New Zealand free or dutv, states fhe Minister of Customs. The' dutv is '2O per cent on British goods and 30 per cent on foreign goods Even champagne hampers aro charged with duty, although the wine therein has also to pay 9s per gallonBACKBLOCKS TEACHERS.

Replying to a question from Mr Poland relating to backblocks teachers the Hon J. Allen declares that the Government is fully impressed with the need for the improvement of the condition of teachers of backhlock.s schools, both as to salaries and residences. The Minister adds. "Over £BOOO was spent in 1910 and 1911 in adding rooms, bathrooms and washhouses, and in some cases an additional room to teachers houses in 200 of the most urgent cases, and very shortly I hopo to he aijlfi to consider a number of other similar applications from the various .Boards. DEFENCE CLOTHING CONTRACTS. The lioi\ J. Allen lias informed Mr Pavne that no officers of the paid permanent staff of the Defence, Department are members of contracting Jiims interested in contracts for clothing. " I am not aware of the occupations followed bv Territorial officers,"' says the Minister, " and could not say whether auy of them may be interested in the direction stated. Assuming that a Territorial officer is so interested, it would be impossible for him under the present arrangement adopted by the Government for dealing tendeis for contracts to exercise influence in an improper way, even if he wished to as the duty of considering tenders for the supply of clothing or other supplies on a largo scale to the Dermico Department and of deciding upon the tender to be accepted rests not with nilY officer or officers of the Department but with an independent Government Tenders Board, in the deliberation of which the Defence Department has no voice or representation. The most it can do is to submit its recommendations where required, which ixiy or may not bo acted upon. THE DISAPPEARING TUATARA. Referring to a, statement that the visitors to the mutton bird islands, most especially Natives, are m the habit of thoughtlessly killing tuatara lizards in considerable numbers, and to a suggestion that effective steps should be taken to prevent such killing, tho Prime Minister states that the expense of attempting to protect the tuatara on islands frequented by mutton birds would bo prohibitive. Jt is an offence to take or destroy the tuatarn, but it is practically impossible to prove offences by those who visit the islands to take mutton birds. The Government is informed, however, that, so far as the Maoris are concerned there is little danger of interference with these reptiles. DISTRESSED DEVON MEN.

Tlio Minister of Marino this afternoon stated he had this morning received a. letter from the secretary oi the. Waterside "Workers' Union, pomtii'E out tho distressing circumstances in'" which the officers and men of the wrecked steamer Devon found themselves after the wreck. The Minister explained that as soon a.-> he 111 receipt of definite information ue proposed to put the matter before ( abir.et. There was a vote on the Fstiniates to

provide for distressed seamen in London and it should bo equally applicable to distressed seamen in New Zealand. NEW RAILWAY .STATIONS. Replying to-night to ail inquiry about llio expenditure of money in erecting now station buildings at Auckland. Wellington, Christehnroh, Timaru and ot.lior places, the Hon W. 11. I lorries declared that it' anything was to be done at, all they must have a loan of at least a, million pounds. The present time was inopportune to go on the market for sueli money, said the Minister, and he went, on to leinark that I,ho. Minister of Finance would have to go to London for £3,000,000 next year.

Mr Myers: Yes, but a large portion of that is for redemptions. Mr 1 lorries: Yes, that is one. of the unfortunate results of the short-dated loans. (Government laughter.) The Minister proceeded to say that as fioon as the money market was favourable ho proposed to ask the House to grant, the Minister a loan in order to complete these railway works, a. course which he believed his predecessor (Mr Myers) had in view. The Railway Department recognised that they were absolutely necessary for the better administration of railway work, but at present the money market was hardly favourable for the project.