NOTES ON VARIOUS THINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12594, 7 September 1905, Page 8

NOTES ON VARIOUS THINGS

(By Telegraph)

(From Our Special Parliamentary Reporter).

WELLINGTON, September 6

In ro tho difficulty of counties recovering from local bodies the expenses ot licensing elections, the Government said to-day that it is not tho intention ot tho Government to bring down a Licensing Act Amendment Bill this, session, and that for reasons which the honourable gentleman well understood and appreciated. . „ "That voucher" flashed up again ntfully in tho answer to Mr. Taylors Question about his constituents and the inquiry they ask for, and the question of their fate. The answer is as follows: It is undesirablo to anticipate by question a matter that is now before the iriouso on « motion, and -the report of tho Controller and Auditor-General not having yet been dealt with by the House, tho Premier does not see his way to mako any statement in respect to the first part of the question. In respect to the second part of the question, a premature and unsupported presumption has been arrived at. When tho House has come to a decision on tho Controller and Auditor General's report, the Postmaster-General will no doubt deal with tho officers in question a3 provided by Act and regulations, and what ho deems to be in the best interest of the public service." Mr. Herdman asked tho Minister of Mines when he proposes to furnish the House with tho report of the Commission appointed to investigate and report upon tho working of the State coal mines? That Minister briefly replied that r. departmental board, not a commission, was set up for the purpose stated in tho Honourable gentleman's ouestion, and ah exhaustive report upon tho whole matter has been received, but tho . members of the Government havo not yet had an oportunity of considering the recommendations contained therein. As tho inquiry was chiefly of r. departmental character, it is not proposed to lay the report upon the table oi tho House.