POLITICAL

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 5972, 24 August 1912, Page 1

POLITICAL

BANKING I/IDGLSJLYTION. During the recess the (loyi nijnent will consider the advisability of aim nding (he banking lawi.so as to allow other than present institutions to operate in New'Zealaiid, says -the il on •lames Allen. RAILWAY ELKCTRI VI CATION.

In view oi the linancial posit urn the Government do not propose to make any provision for the clectrilicalion oi the (.'hristchurch-Lyttelton line during the current year. " The matter oi electrification is, however, under consideration, and u final decision will be arrived at as eat ly us possible," says the Hon. Mr llerries. OPOSSUMS LOS'K I'HMT.rnON. The Minister 0 f inlerual Affairs has decided, on the representation of South Island agriculturists, to withdraw the protection of opossums and the restrictions hitherto prevailing in regard to the sale oi their skins'. This

action will enable farmers * and fruitgrowers to deal effectively with an animal which has thrived well at their expense, and they can make lx prolit out oi the opossum in turn, the skin of this animal, when p,-o;.n treated for use being worth (Is. SLACKENING THE I'ACE.

Inquiries go to chow that there is something, in tho nature 01 mutation in connection with the Pub lie .Works authorities. It is ascertained from a reliable source that authorities for works of £10,1)0!) and over are being hung up in ihc maintinie, whilst the indications point to a stringency. It cannot be dclinitoU said that such exists, but the iael remains that Cabinet is adopting thin policy until it is ascertained what amount of money will be aMailable. The state of the Public Works Fund, it will bo readily understood, is ltovraiod to a great extent by r-ie mo toy market, and if .London is unfavorable, it must react to no small di ■ groe upon the amount of money th :■ Minister of Finance will be ü bie to place at the disposal of his colleague administering tho Public Works Department.

TUB FINANCIAL* DEBATE.. The financial dobate which is dragging somewhat was enlivened, on Tuesday afternoon by Mr Cranio (member for Timaru) who referred at some length to tho Gr vernment's land po - icy. Ho expressed his opposition ti any further alienation of X'row.i land and concluded by moving the following amendment : That, in the opinion of this lions,-, the time has arrived when the national estate in land (should he rigidly conserved, and that hereafter no lard of the Crown shall be alienated otherwise than 4iv imv o' renewable lease, with periodical revaluation of rent.

In reply to tliu Prime Minister, Mi Craigic said he had not consul it 1 with the Liberal Party as ,to the amendment which he was mo.-i-ng re tiroly, on his| ( >wn account and ill con formity ,with his convictions on the subject of land tenure. The amendlmenl was spoken to bv Messrs J. Robertson (Olaki), Wilford, Laureuson, Jl''arse, Russell, Davev, JC'll, and Bollard (Raglan). On being put tho amendment was lost by 1-1 to 52.

INCOME TAX 'RETURN. An ititerestiiUJt return of the payment of income was presented to tho House of Representatives on Thursday. It shows that during the last financial year 12,2)0(7 persons paid income tax, 'JOSS of themi on income's under' £,,00. There wen- 'lO5 incoiu.es exceeding £IO,OOO on whicW tax was paid. The amounts thntiiwei'e paid by tho various taxpayers were as follows :—399 persons, 2s Gd' to ss; 629, 5s to JOs ; 1030, 10s to .£1 ; 1624, £1 to £2 • 1441, £2 to .£3 ; 870 £3 to -U- 742; £4 to £5- 1077, £5 to £7; 1023, £7 to £10; 1099, £li> to £2O; 547. £2ll to £3O • 481, £3O to £SO; 1242 over £SO.

UNWISE OFFICIALS. The Budget proposal to purchase land ahead of railway construction was -warmly commended by Mr iMaltder in tho House of 'Representatives on Thursday. He said that recently a block of 20,000 acres just ahead of the railway works at Kaiv'oho was secured by a syndicate, and another

block behind tlio Tuiifruhiia Ranges was also privately purchased last year. The Ooverumont. spent onlv CI'SO.OUO out oi W>IM,OtM authorised for the purchase of land, 1 111.-i it- .-x----planation was that prices were too high, lie diii not Maine I lie C.overn meal, but, its otlicers, who hail (river., very bud advice. The land was bought bv a company at Cii per a ere, after it had lieni oliVrcd to the CloVernment at CI, an i the other (lav he heard that a see'ion had been' sold for Wl .per ane. The settlors were handicapped lis paying such high prices to svndicnU ■-. whieii were making large- profits. THE DEFENCE AIT.

Till tins proposed defence ;•';;!■ la' ion is passed the law as it stands, I lie Minister of Defence states, must b,. complied with, but it i> hoped to make provision that anyone convicted who makes default in the payment oi any lino may be committed m i.iilil ury custody. ■AMERICAN ISEEE TKI'ST. The attention of the I'rime Minister having tan oallod by Mr Young to a report that the American I'lvi'Tne-t has established itself in l<ucruslaiiii. and the possibility oi an extension ui its operations to New /.in.and. Mr Massi-y states that the connection be tween the American firm at l'risbane and the Meat Trust is mere;. , t niai tor of inference. The position is being carefully watched, and any development likely to prejudice the interests of the dominion will be promptly dealt with.