POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12101, 1 September 1917, Page 10

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Otjr Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, August 31. REPRESENTATION COMMISSION, The Prime Minister announced in the House to-day that the Government had appointed Mr John W. A. Marchant, of Wellington, former Surveyor-Gen-eral, to bo an unofficial member of the North Island Representation Commission in place of the Into Mr IT. S. Ward ell, and that Mr Harraan Reeves, aharebroker, Dunedin, had been similarly appointed to the South Island Commission, vice the late Mr CTiarfas S. Reeves. The North Island Commission thus comprises Messrs E. H. Wilmot (Surveyor-General), J. W. A. Marchanty G. H. Ballard (Crown Lands Commissioner, Taranaki) and H. M. Sheet (Auckland). Tho South Island Commission is Messrs 11. [Reeves, Thomas Brook (Crown Lands Commissioner, Wcstland), W. H. Skinner (Canterbury), and A. T. Sadd (Ota&o). Both Commissions, after concluding their inquiries, will sit as a joint body to fornmlate a report. BORROWING AND INVESTING. New clauses of the Finance Bill introduced by Governor's message yesterday authorise public and private companies to invest in tho War Loan, borrow money or raise uncalled capital for the purpose. Local authorities, public bodies, incorporated societies, superannuation hoards and commissioners cf sinking funds are also empowered to invest. Any local authority possessing rating powers may levy a special rate not exceeding a halfpenny in the £ on capital value as security for a loan to be invested in tho loan. RAILWAY FTRES. Tlie Selwyn Plantation Board has petitioned the House, through Mr Dickie, for compensation on account of the loss of timber by fires originating from railway engines. The Railway Department, the petitioners stated, omitted the usual practice of burning off dry herbage between the railway and the Dunsa.ndel and Ba.nk.sido reserves, thus causing the fires to spread to the reserves, destroying 10 acres of timber in the Dunsandel plantation, causing a net loss of £l3O, and twelve ru-res of mixed eucalypti in the Bauksido plantation, the net loss in this irstance being; £9l- - HARBOUR P.OARD. The Waimaka.riri Harbour District and Empowering Bill has been reported from the Local' Bills Committee. The clause proposing to delete: the borough of Rangiora, from the harbour area has been deleted and a new clause added constituting a Harbour Board of nine; members a-s follows: Two members appointed by the Governor-Genera!, two members each elected by Kaiapot borough, JOyreton road district and the combined Mandovilio and Rangiora ioad districts, on 0 member elected by the electors of .Rangiora borough.