PARS ON POLITICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 801, 13 July 1905, Page 26

PARS ON POLITICS.

At Wellington on Tuesday the Farmers’ Union ; went fully into the question of the action to be taken at the general elections. Mr Burgess, of Taranaki, who introduced the subject, said they should not be afraid to take a stand. Even to have lost was better than not to have fought at all, and unless they did something in politics they were simply drifting. He moved, “That the union, as a whole, shall take a strong political attitude, and strenuously oppose those candidates at the general election who are opposed to its platform, and support those candidates who will endorse it irrespective of parties.”; Mr Wily (Auckland) seconded the motion. The idea of the remit was that they should endeavour to be represented in the Bouse by ; men who were thoroughly in accord with the union; that the platform should be submitted to candidates; and that the branch committees should select candidates and support them. Unless they went into politics properly they would be just as helpless as the country party had always been. If the farmers got into the House the political opportunist would have no place at all.

The Sydney “Morning Herald,” ising Mr Seddon’s proposal to increase' old age pensions, says it is a direct appeal for the popular vote, and an at-, tempt to purchase another term of office. If it is rejected Mr Seddon will go to the country on a popular cry which, as the Ministry no doubt calculates, will insure another lease of office.

A petition [was . presented to the House on Tuesday (by Mr Moss, on behalf of sixty-two mihers in the Waitekauri district, asking I that a sum of money be placed upon the Estimates for the purpose of erecting a small battery in the Waitekauri riding. They express a belief that if the sum asked granted it will be repaid within two or three years.

Mr Kidd gave notice recently to ask the Postmaster-General if he will endeavour to arrange with the shipping companies to continue the daily service between Onehunga and New Plymouth. In a note to his question, he points out

that the mail train service from Wellington to New Plymouth loses much of its value to Auckland if the daily service of the steamers is not kept up.

The Premier has given notice of the introduction of the Australian and New Zealand Naval Defence Bill, This measure is a result of the proposal of the Admiralty to increase the strength of the Australasian squadron by providing vessels of heavier armament than those at present on the station. This will, .of course, require an alteration in the existing agreement. The amount of the annual contribution proposed to be paid under the new arrangement has not been announced.

The Opposition party have selected Mr Murdoch McLean, the well-known contractor, as thefr candidate .for the Parnell' electorate. • An influential committee has been vigorously canvassing for signatures to a requisition, asking Air McLean to publicly announce . himself as being in the field. The signatures already number over 2000, and the number is being steadily increased,

Let the Premier fulfil his obligations to the people of the roadless North,” said Mr Fisher, speaking on the Pre--niier’s -proposal to devote a portion Lof this year’s surplus to an. increase of tl|e old age pensions. The Premier, he : said, had travelled .throughout the length and breadth of the colony, makino- all sorts of profuse promises in regard to roads and bridged in the roadless North and other districts. It would be better, he urged, to expend the . surplus in fulfilling these pledges than in increasing the amount of the pensions. Mr Fisher’s pleas roused the wrath of Mr McLean, the member for. Ashburton, who characterised the statement of the junior member for Wellington City, as the utterance of a “guileless- youth. Mr Taylor: “He knows what he says. Mr McLachlan : “Yes, but he is sorry for it afterwards.” (Laughter.)

The Premier, on” Tuesday afternoon brouo-ht under the notice of the House a remark made by Mr Taylor in the course of his speech on the Imprest Supply Bill, on June 30. Mr Taylor, in referring to the visit paid to him by'the two .detectives in connection with a Christ-

church case, had made use of the following words : —“Just give my compliments to the Premier, and tell him that if he intended to trap me into a conversation to be used for political purposes, he has failed.” There . was, Mr Seddon said, only one inference to be drawn from this, viz., that he (the Premier) had been in communication with the police, ami that thev were acting under his instructions. He was in Central Otago at the time, and it was not until he returned to Christchurch that he knew anything of the case. Any action that was taken in the matter was taken without his knowledge. Mr Seddon was proce- oiag to refer to the previous Christchurch case, when Mr Taylor rose to a point of order. The Premier, he urged, was go’m; outside the paragraph he had re‘erred to. The Speaker said the Premier must confine his explanation to the paragraph referred to. The Premier said the previous case was the only one he had asked the inspector to report upon.. He had clone so while he was on his way to Dunedin. He did not know of this other case. Mr Taylor : I wish to. say this : 1 am going- to ask the House latei 0.i.t0 give me the opportunity of referring the matter to a Parliamentary Coinmittee: or some other tribunal, and 1 will then

undertake to satisfy the House and the country as to the Minister’s shameful complicity in the action of the police of J licers in Christchurch.

The Speaker said that the Premier having denied any knowledge of the case, his statement must be accepted by thehon. members.

Mr Seddon repeated his former assertion.

Mr Taylor (laughing): Gh, yes; you area model of innocence.

The totalisator was subjected to an outburst of criticism during the second, reading of the Gaming and LotteriesAct Amendment Bill. The senior member for Wellington, Mr. Aitken, calledupon the Pre.Mer, if he was in earnest in his desire to suppress gambling, to- “ knock the totalisator on the head.” This process of extinction evidently commended itself to a large section of the House, judging by the volume of approval with which the remark was received. Mr. Ell had a word to say about the licensed machine: “1 have always-

raised my voice against the totalisator,” he said. “ And barmaids,’’ suggested Mr. Rutherford, amidst roars of laughter. “ I leave the barmaids to the hon. member for Hurunui,” retorted Mr. Ell. * » < * The new contract between the Government and the Colonial Ammunition Company, a copy of which has been laid on the table of the House, stipulates for a five years’ supply of small arms ammunition. The company is not bound to maintain a monthly supply of more than 500.000 rounds of ball ammunition, and 75,000 rounds of blank ammunition. The price to be paid is to be equal to the current War Office cost at Woolwich, plus an additional 15 per cent, to cover freight and other charges, which would have to be paid on an imported supply. The Government agree to take a minimum quantitv in each year of 3,000,000 rounds of ball, and 500,000 rounds of blank ammunition. It is provided that, on giving six months’ notice, the Government may purchase the business of the company at a fair valuation, to be ascertained by arbitration. The contract, which dates from May 3 last, has been entered into in pursuance of the Act passed last year.