PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Waikato Times, Volume 101, Issue 16896, 9 September 1926, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

STATE COAL MINES. BALANCE-SHEET “TAGGED.” A MATTER OF INTEREST. (By Telegraph.—Special to Times.) WEI,UNGTOX, Wednesday. A tabulated return in connection with the audited balance-sheets of the various Stale Departments was laid on the table of llic House. The Auditor-General has ‘attached a “tag” to the balance-sheet of the State coalmines, slating that Llic correct position of the undertaking is correctly set out, excepting that in the opinion of the audit office interest on the unopened MacDonald Colliery should be charged to the general profit and loss account instead of being capitalised, as development was sufficiently completed several years ago. BIT OF ANCIENT HISTORY. MAORI WAR OF ISGO. (By Telegraph.—Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Amongst llic papers laid before the House to-day was an interesting document dealing with the question ol tiie allocation of the public debt, with an explanatory memorandum by the Secretary to the Treasury, in which a bit of ancient history in reference lo the Maori war is unearthed. In the paper mention is made of the fact that the war started in 1860 and in 18G1 a loan of £150,000 .was raised at G per cent, through the Union Bank of Australia, and that, all told, the war appeared to have cost the country about £2,750,000. DR. MARSDEN’S SUCCESSOR. NOT YET SELECTED. APPLICATIONS TO BE CALLED FOR. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Minister of Education (Hon. R. A. Wright) states that lie is not yet in a position lo name anyone to succeed Dr. E. Marsden as Assistant Director of Education. The appointment rests with the Public Service Commissioner, and, in accordance with the requirements of the Act, it will lie necessary to advertise for applicants. This will he done immediately, as the work at the head office of the Education Department is commencing to pile up. PETITIONS TO THE HOUSE. NO RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAKE. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Recently Air John L. Coutts, of Wellington, and others petitioned Parliament for compensation for time and monetary losses they alleged they had incurred in voluntarily manning a steamer during the shipping strike. The petition went before the Committee of the House, which reported to-day that it had no recommendations to make. A Mother’s Plea. Giadvs Martha Dowse, of Wellington, has failed in her attempt to move the machinery of Parliament to bring about ttic restoration of one of her ctiildren. Recently she asked the House to amend section 22 of the Infants Act. 1908, so that her child, Eiivra, which has been adopted by Charles and Lucy Bethel!, could tic returned to tier, but llic committee which dealt with the petition recommended to-day that as the child had been legally adoplcd it had no rccommendato make. , , r In this case it was alleged that Mrs Dowse, who was in ail impaired stale of health, was induced lo sign the adoption papers, the purport of which slic did not fully realise. FINAL STAGES. SEVERAL BILLS PASSED. MOTOR ’BUS TRAFFIC DEBATE. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. What may be described as tlie final stages of the present session of Parliament were entered upon to-day. Pride of place was given to the Motor Omnibus Traffic Bill, which was not put through its final stages, although the debate, a feature of which was a number of amendments moved bv Mr’A. Harris (Waitemata), went on to a late hour. The Bill's third reading will take place to-day. The Local Legislation and Waslnngup Bills were passed. SWAMP DRAINAGE BILL. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Swamp Drainage Amendment Bill was passed by the Legislative Council to-day. The Council then adjourned until to-morrow.