PARS ON POLITICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 815, 19 October 1905, Page 26

PARS ON POLITICS.

It seems to be a recognised fact now in political circles that at the coming elections some of the Government candidates will not have it all their own way. Mr. Duncan appears to have a good chance of defeating the Hon. C. H. Mills for Wairau. At Timaru Mr. Frank Rolleston will have to be reckoned with against the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, and it also seems likely that the Hon. J. Carroll will have to work hard to retain his seat for Waiapu. Altogether the fight at the elections should prove a very keen one, and some changes are to be expected when the numbers go up.

The visit of Sir Joseph Ward to Auckland was looked upon as a certain sign that the Penrose tunnel duplication would be agreed to. This, however, has proved not the case, and Aucklanders have to be content once more with promises. Just why the deputation that waited on Sir Joseph should have backed down so ignominiously is not known, but the fact remains that they not only agreed to, but applauded his suggestion that the duplication should be allowed to stand over for a couple of years. Auckland deserves to have to wait when chances like this are allowed to slip. Tf the deputation had held out for the second tunnel or nothing, no doubt the request would have been granted, but they were bluffed as usual, and so the matter drops. * * * * Members are now beginning to show unmistakable symptoms of the “ home

fever,” and the session, which entered upoil its 17th week on Monday night, is fast drawing to a close. The Premier and the Leader of the Opposition had a conference in the afternoon regarding the items remaining on the Order Paper, and, from the good progress made with Monday night’s business, it is evident that a satisfactory arrangement was arrived at. The Premier has given notice to move for morning sittings on and after Wednesday, and the greater portion of the remaining business will probably be disposed of this week. It is understood that the Premier will leave for Nelson on Friday, in order to attend the Trafalgar centenary demonstration there on Saturday, and in such case it is hardly possible for the session to close this week.

The sessional Loan Bill was introduced by Governor’s message on Monday night. It makes provision for the raising of £1,000,000. Of this sum, £425,000 is to be devoted to railways, and £75,000 for addition to rolling stock for open lines; for land settlement, and the construction of roads, bridges, etc., £400,000 is set down; £25,000 for the development of goldfields; and £75,000 for telegraph extension.

Sir Joseph Ward, who visited Auckland at the beginning of the week in connection with the duplication of the Auckland-Penrose section of the railway line, said in the course of some remarks about the Main Trunk line, that he was glad to be able to state, that before, or at least by the time, the Christchurch Exhibition was opened, through connection between Auckland and Wellington by land would be established, matters now being well in train for the inauguration of an efficient coach service between the two ends of the Main Trunk line, so far as they would be completed, for passenger traffic. Passengers would then be able to travel between Wellington and Auckland without undertaking a water journey. The Christchurch Exhibition, he said, was going to be a very important undertaking, not only for Christchurch, but for the whole colony, and the matter was being taken up most warmly in the South island. The exhibition was likely to attract a very large number of

tourists to New Zealand from all parts of the world, and they would, of course, see all there was to be seen of our unique natural features.

On another page will be found an announcement by Mr. Alfred Kidd, M.H.R., in which he notifies that he offers his services as a candidate in the Liberal interest for Auckland Central at the coming elections. Mr. Kidd’s efforts in this direction are sure to meet with hearty support.

Speaking last Saturday at a luncheon given by the marine engineers at Wellington to welcome Mr. J. M. Corby, the general secretary of the Australasian Marine Engineers’ Institute, the Premier, who presided, had something to say about the present steamship services with Africa and Canada. Referring to the South African steam service, which there was a danger of losing, the Premier said that he fiever cared to go back, and cnce having the established connection it should not be severed, if anything in reason could be done to prevent it. Some years ago the New Zealand Government had offered a yearly subsidy of £lO,OOO for the establishment of a cargo steamship connection with Canada. That offer still held good, but the steamship company had wanted £29,000. Now, however, the Canadian Government had agreed to find £lO,OOO, and New Zealand would perform her share of the agreement, but only for one year. There was, therefore, a possibility of the s. rvice between this country and Canada being an accomplished fact. The Premier stated that the date of the proposed Labour Parliament had been postponed by the Government, owing to opinions voiced that the early close of the session was, therefore, a possibility of the sering that no new legislation could follow the deliberations of the conference until next session. It had not yet been determined when the conference should be held.

The Government, it is stated, have arranged for the purchase of 17 acres of freehold land at Ellerslie for the purpose of cutting it up for workmen’s hemes. The area in question was originally ac-

quired by the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, with a view to utilising it as a showground, but finding it unsuitable for that purpose the association has arranged with the Government to exchange it for 63 acres of the Fairburn Estate, alongside the Otahuhu railway station. The members of Tie executive of the association visited Otahuhu on Saturday to choose an area on the north side of the railway line, and an equal one upon the south side. The site at Ellerslie should in every way provie suitable for workmen’s homes. It is understood, however, that the residents of Ellerslie intend to try and secure the portion of the 17 acres of land now used by the local youths as a football ground, as a reserve for a park in the future.

In the Legislative Council last week, Mr. Reeves moved the second reading of the Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill, which proposes to legalise any lottery or sweepstake conducted and determined in public, provided that it has been licensed by the Colonial Secretary, the fee being £25. Mr. Reeves said his Bill was ntroduced in the interests of public morality and in order to keep in the country money that was at present sent to Tasmania to Tattersail’s sweeps. Colonel Pitt opposed the Bill, and said that it proposed an additional taxation in the shape of stamp fees on lottery tickets, and so should have been introduced by Governor’s message in the House. There had been no public demand for the Bill. In the course of his speech, he said the majority of the people were in favour of the abolition of the totalisator. Mr. MacDonald approved of the Bill, and said it had been introduced at an opportune time, so that the question should be in the minds of electors during the election campaign. He dissented from Colonel Pitt’s opinion about the totalisator, and said the people regarded it as a great mprovement on bookmakers. The public demand for gambling could never be stopped. A protest against gambling did not come well from a Government which bad the greatest gamble in the colony in the shape of the land ballot. In Auckland £2500 was naid to the racing club in bookmakers’ fees, and the chairman of the club had the courage to oppose the bookmaker. The Wellington Racing Club was spend-

ing £30,000 for a new course in order to get rid of the bookmaker. He complained that no adequate steps were taken to. prevent betting on totalisator odds. Mr. Carncross defended the ballot system as a system designed to give a chance to the poor man, who formerly could not compete against men with more money. Mr. Jones said if the Bill were passed it would be the first step to rampant Bohemianisni in the colony, as it would be impossible to check gambling if the Government licensed sweeps. He denied that life insurance, land balloting, and similar systems were gambling. Mr. Beehan said something should be clone to prevent money being sent away to Australia. Mr. Louisson endorsed this view. On a division a tie resulted, 12 for and 12 against. The Speaker gave his easiing vote in favour of the second reading to give the Council another chance of dealing with the Bill.

During the discussion on the Lands for Settlement Act Extension Bill, Mr. Massey urged the Government to b? cautious in regard to the way in which it spent money in the purchase of rural land. He stated that the prices of our produce were bound to go down as a natural sequence of recent events in the outside world. He said he was in favour of the Bill, but the powers asked for were much too large, and. moreover, there were tremendous areas of native land which might first of all be brought into profitable occupation. The Government, too, might do something to bring the Piako swamp( opposite the Thames) into settlement. Replying to Mr. Massey, Mr. Seddon said he hoped to bring down proposals before the end of the session to enable the Government to acquire about half-a-million acres of native land in the North Island. As to the Piako swamp, the Government was now negotiating for the purchase of a portion of that property.