Political Notes.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXV, Issue 3829, 9 July 1908, Page 2

Political Notes.

Own Parliamentary Correspondent. Wellington, Last Night. THE ARBITRATION ACT Interviewed regarding the proposed Arbitration Bill, Mr, Massey, the Leader of the Opposition, said that while in some respects it is an improvement on the present Act, in others it is quite as objectionable as the present Act. It is evidently intended to retain the principle of compulsory arbitration, he said, | ‘•which, after the experience we have had, I believe to be absolutely impossible and unworkable. What we want is a form of conciliation that will be just and fair to both parties. There is no doubt that finally we must be satisfied with that. No doubt the Bill will be very much amended by the Labour Bills Committee.” RAGLAN MAIL SERVICE. The member for Waikato today received a telegram from Mr W. M. Bankart, a member of the Raglan County Council, and Mr W. H. Smith, Chairman of the Raglan Town Board, re the interruption of the mail service between Raglan and Hamilton in consequence of the floods. He at once saw the Postmaster-General on the subject, and received a promise that every possible consideration would be shown by the Department in assisting in the conveyance of the mails until the floods subsided. Mr Greenslade took advantage of the opportunity to impress upon the Government the necessity for a grant for the Whatawhata-Waitetuna deviation, and said if this work were carried out there would be no further stoppage of mails, even in times of flood. WAIKATO REQUIREMENTS, in the House this afternoon Mr Greenslade asked a number of questions of Waikato interest, the first being whether the Postmaster General will, as soon as possible, have telephonic communication effected between the bureau at Eureka and the railway station at that place, a distance of about three miles. At present the position is exceedingly inconvenient to settlers. Sir Joseph Ward replied that an office will bejopened at the railway station if a telephonist there can be found to act. Mr Greenslade next asked the Minister for Railways whether he will, without delay, have the erection of the goods shed at Eureka railway station proceeded with. The Hon. Hall Jones said instructions have been given for the erection of a small goods shed at Eureka, and the work will be put in hand as early as possible. Mr Greenslade asked the Minister for Public Works when it is intended to proceed with the erection of the post offices at Ngaruawahia and Huntly, the money for which was voted last session. Hon. Hall Jones replied that it is regretted that owing to the pressure of work, the Department has been unable so far, to get out the necessary plans and specifications for these buildings, but the matter will be attended to as early as possible. 8 Mr Greenslade, addressing the Minister in charge of roads, enquired whether when compiling the public works estimates he wil take into consideration the advisability of making provision for a grant of £3OOO for the Whatawhata-Waitetuna deviation, this being the main road connecting the railway and Hamilton with Raglan. He pointed out that the grade of the existing road is so bad, that it is impossible for the local body to do anything in the direction of improving the road. A deviation has been sur/eyed which will shorten the distance between Waitetuna and Whatawhata and give a road of a grade which would nowhere be steeper than one in nineteen to one in twenty five, in lieu of the present grade of one in four or five. The construction of the new road would be a great relief to the entire district, inasmuch as it would facilitate access to the railway, and it would moreover give access to a large area of native land. A mail coach runs over the present road every day one way or the other, and much as it recognises the necessity for improving the road, the local body regards the task as hopeless, seeing the unreasonableness of spending the large sums of money | which would be necessary to elfect such improvements, for it is obvious that sooner or later the present road will have to be abandoned in favour of the new one. ! Hon. Jas. McGowan replied that the construction of the WhatawhataWaitetuna deviation has been carefully considered, but while its importance is recognised he was unable to ' inform the hon. gentleman at present what amount would be placed on the ■ estimates for the purpose. I Mr Greenslade queried the Minister for Lands as to whether, in the j event of the Government acquiring j the Te Akau block, provision will be made for the setting apart of the homestead, with say 25 acres of land ! as a recreation reserve for the town ] of Raglan. ; Hon .R. McNab replied that up to the present the Government have acquired 15,669 acres in Te Akau, Nos. C and D blocks, but this land Is too far distant from the town of Raglan to enable any portion thereof I to be utilised by the residents for recreation purposes. 1 Mr Greenslade also asked the MinI ister of Lands whether he will, at as early a date as possible, take the I necessary steps to acquire an area of land in close proximity to the town of Huntly in order that it may be cut up into sections suitable for workmen’s homes, and also small areas for farming purposes. The Hon. R. McNab said if the hon. member will indicate any suitable properties, the application will be referred to the Land Purchase Board for a statutory report. THE OPPOSITION AND THE BUDGET. The Leader of the Opposition, interviewed regarding the Budget says it discloses a policy of plunge. The general opinion amongst Opposition members is that the statement has been worded very carefully for electioneering purposes, but that it indicates that the financial policy of the Government tends to recklessness rather than the caution necessary at critical time like the p resent.