POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10923, 12 November 1913, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Oira Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, October 11. PASTORAL LEASE RENEWALS. At Mr Dickie's request the Land Department has submitted to Parliament a return showing extensions of pastoral leases granted under Section 27 of the Land Act of last year. Three extensions have been granted in Marlborough and three in Canterbury, the last being :-W. 0. Logan and. O t Urquhart, 3 years from March 1, 1918; W. H., A. L. and F. Pratt, 3 years from March 1, 1917, and A._R. C. Kilian, 3 years from March 1, 917. DANGERS AT STUDHOLME JUNCTION.

Mr Buxton has asked the-Minister of Railways whether he will take steps to 'safeguard the public against accident at Studholme Junction, such aa the fatal accident that happened there recently, by which Mrs Cochrane met her death. The north and south express trains cross at this station, while the Waimato branch line train stands at the station at the same time as the two express trains. Mistakes are liable to be made and sometimes passengers board a wrong tram and in making the effort to get off accidents are liable to happen. If " Waimate were printed on the Waimate carriages it would materially assist. A separate platform put down for Waimate trains would be yet a greater safeguard, suggests the member for Temuka.

MINISTER OF FINANCE,

The Hon James Allen, after a fortnight's absence from Parliament, on account of illness, was able to return to the Chamber this afternoon. Mr Allen resumed his seat and looked well, although not perhaps quite so vigorous as before his illness.

SECOND BALLOT BILL.

TO FIND NEW MARKETS.

When the interrupted debate on the motion for leave to introduce the Second Ballot Repeal Bill was called upon to-day the Hon W. H. Hemes moved that the debate should be further adjourned. Mr Nosworthy seconded the motion and it was cirned. The proposal to introduce the Bill, it will be remembered, was "stonewalled" by the Opposition on Friday last, and it is probable that further blocking tactics will be pursued when the debate is again resumed. It is possible that this debate will be adjourned for a day or two, till nearer the end of the week.

A point touched upon by Mr W. Nosworthy this evening, speaking on the second reading of the Board of Agriculture Bill, was the necessity that would devolve upon the Board, when it was in operation, to open up and develop new markets for the producers of Now Zealand. A market specially mentioned by Mr Nosworthy was the South American market for stud sheep. Because of the comparative rarity of shipments of stock there, he said, the rates which obtained were excessive. It the Board would concentrate attention upon this market it could be considerably developed and cheaper rates established. That would materially benefit the country producers as a whole. Mr Nosworthy hailed the establishment of the Board' as a desirable step, but in passing made some condemnatory remarks upon undue State interference in realms which could be developed amply by private enterprise. He did not' see that it was part of a Government's duty to import stud animals. Private enterprise had shown itself fully able to _ improve its stock bv proper importations, and in this connection be instanced the introduction of tho Holstein breed by Mr John Grigg, of Lonrbeach. MANURE BETTER THAN SCIENCE.

"I would rather have cheap manures than all the scionce in the world," said Mr Okey this evening in discussing the Board of Agriculture'* uill. He attributed a great deal of the prosperity of Taranaki to the introduction of basilf slaa on the small dairy farms.