PARS ON POLITICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 809, 7 September 1905, Page 26

PARS ON POLITICS.

The organising secretary of the Liberal and Labour Federation (Mr. G. F. Gray), who is at present in Auckland, has been advised by the General Executive at Wellington that they have decided to support the following as the recognised candidates of the Liberal party for the Auckland province at the coming elections:—Bay of Islands, Mr. R. M. Houston; Kaipara, Mr. J. Stallworthy; Marsien, Mr. R. Thompson; Grey Lynn, Mr. leorge Fowlds; Waitemata, Mr. Cecil Dlinkard; Parnell, Mr. F. Lawry; Frankin, Mr. W. W. McCardle; Thames, the El on. J. McGowan; Manukau, Mr. R. D. Stewart; Ohinemuri, Mr. H. Poland; tVaikato, Mr. H. J. Greenslade; Bay of ?lonty, Mr. J. Foster; Auckland East, dr. F. E. Baume; Auckland West, there s to be no selection here; Eden, no caniidate yet in the field; Mr. Gray states ;hat the candidate for Auckland Central will shortly be announced, while as regards Auckland West, a neutral attitude will be taken. As yet no candidate has >een selected for Eden. • • « * At a meeting of the presidents, secretaries, and other members of the Auckand, Whangarei, Parnell, Onehunga, Devonport, Northcote, and Birkenhead nanches of the Liberal and Laboux- Feieration, held in Mr. George Higgins’ •coms on Friday evening last, it was deeded to form an advisory board, consistng of the presidents and secretaries of the branches of the Federation throughnit the provincial district of Auckland. Chis was done for the purpose of pronoting and assisting the Liberal cause, btr Win J°h ns , °f Parnell, was elected hairman, " -- . . - • 4 * * TfaA following have been appointed registrars of electors in the city and suburban electorates for the forthcoming Parliamentary elections:—Auckland Central, Mr. E. H. Montgomery; Auckland East, Mr. Lyons; Auckland West, Mr. Ralfe (clerk of the Magistrate’s Court); G*rey Lynn, Mr. R. H. Irwin ; Waitemata, Mr. J. B. Webster; Eden, Mr. J. D. Culp an; Parnell, Mr. H. B. Massey. A conference was held on Friday after-

noon with Mr. Mansfield, who explained the new system of balloting. A house-to-house canvass of the city electorate is to be made.

Mr. Gray has received a telegram from the Premier intimating that Mr. Cecil Clinkard, who was recently selected, as the result of the poll of the various blanches of the Waitemata electorate as the Federation’s candidate to oppose Mr. E. W. Alison, M.H.R., has been definitely accepted as the Government candidate for the Waitemata seat.

Mr. Moss, in the course of his remarks on the land question last week, said that the Land Commission had dodged his district as if they were afraid of catching the plague. He denied the statement, which he said had been so often made, to the effect that he had stood in the way of the Paeroa leaseholders obtaining the freehold. First of all, he said, they were told that the Commission could not find time to go to Paeroa, but eventually they were told that the Commission would go to Te Aroha, and two oi' three . itnesses from Paeroa went there to give evidence. The Commission, in its report, stated that it was “ of opinion that the case was worthy of inquiry!” He had questioned the Government on the subject five times last session, and on each occasion had been told that the matter was under consideration, but nothing had been done. The people of Paeroa had to exist on the “humbug of hope.” He had repeatedly askea the Government to lay on the table the papers relating to the purchase of the land, but they had not done so. Mr. Moss also referred to the inaction <f the Government in regard to the failure to enforce the Act passed in 1903, providing for the distribution of the gold duty, notwithstanding the promise made by the Premier that he would see the Minister for Mines in regard to the holding of an inquiry. .The Te Aroha titles, he said, were also in a miserable condition, but as no one could tell what the Government policy was, no one could tell what was the best thing to be done.

A petition was presented recently from Messrs. Pullan, Armitage and Co. and a large number of other residents of Auckland setting forth that the license fees for vehicles enforced by the local bodies and othex- authorities in the immediate vicinity of Auckland are inequitable. The petitioners ask that an inquiry be made into the matter with a view of passing an Act codifying the various powers now possessed by county and borough councils and road boards, placing the license fees on an equitable basis, and making one nayment extend over a distance of at least ten miles.

“When are you going to resign?” was a question bearing on the voucher incident which was asked of Mr. Fisher in the course of his remarks at the meeting held by the New Liberals at Petone last Friday night. Mr. Fisher’s reply was as follows: —“There is as much a prospect of my resigning as there is of the sun not coming up in the morning.” (Cheers.) The Voice: “Stick to your word and resign.” Mr. Fishex-: “ The people of this colony have been under the impression that there was only one man in the country who could fight, but we are going to let you know there are half-a-dozen. We are not going to let things slide.” (Interjectors, “ Let you slide,” “ Go and resign,” and boo-hoo-ing.) “ There has been a fair amount of interjection about the voucher. I did not come here to discuss the voucher tonight, but to discuss politics. No public man in the House with the evidence in his possession that I had could have failed to take up the attitude that I took up. (Cheers.) Under the same circum-

stances I„ would do exactly the same again.” (Renewed cheering, and a voice, “And get beat every time.”) * * * * Air. Massey recently presented a petition from a large number of residents of Ngaruawahia and surrounding districts asking fox’ the construction of a traffic bridge over the Waikato River at Ngaruawahia. It is stated that the frequency of the passage of trains over the ailway bridge renders the construction of a traffic bridge desirable. • • • « The Tasmanian Budget contains the remark, “ Economise as we may, we shall be debarred from attaining a more satisfactory financial position through the un-Federal spirit which has been displayed, and the incapacity for work shown by the majority of the members of the Commonwealth Parliament. The remedy rests with the States themselves, who should choose representatives who study their interests.” The Leader of the Opposition (Air. Nicholls) has tabled a motion to the effect that the i-eflections oxx the capacity of Federal members in the Budget Statement are improper, and should be withdrawn. * * * # Mr. Coleman Phillips, a political candidate, at Carterton : “If the clergy would interfere in politics then they must expect to be roughly handled, and they would be sorry they ever left their pulpits.”

The Public Works Amendment Bill (Mr. Feld wick) was recommitted in the Legislative Council last Tuesday, and the following new clause inserted on the voices:—On the petition of the majority of the owners owning not less than twothirds of the frontage of any unformed road of not less than 66ft in width, which had for five years or upwards prior to the year 1900 been used as a public road, the local authority may form the same and apportion the cost thereof amongst the whole of the owners in proportion to the frontage held by them respectively, and may recover the amount apportioned as if the same were a rate. The Bill was reported as amended.

The Auckland Cemetery Bridge and City Borrowing Bill, the Auckland Hospital Accounts Amendment Bill, and the Paeroa Domain Loan Validating Bill, passed through the Local Bills Committee last week. In the Hospital Bill the measure, as reported by the committee, contains the substitution of 63 for 21 years, as the maximum period for which the reserves may be leased. The Auckland Waterworks Loan Sinking Fund and Borrowing Act Amendment Bill, and the Auckland Harbour Board and Devonport Empowering Bill, have passed through the Local Bills Committee of the Legislative Council. *

Mr. Harding is asking whether the Government will this session bring clown a Bill to clearly define the position of the local body carrying out the elections under the Licensing Act. He points out that the Hobson County paid all the expenses at the last election. They apportioned the expense amongst the local bodies interested. The Waitemata County resisted the claim. The stipendiary magistrate decided in favour of the Hobson County, but the Waitemata County Council appealed to the Supreme Court, and that Court reversed the decision of the stipendiary magistrate. The Hobson County have therefore now no means of collecting the amounts owed them by the various local bodies.