POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 289, 31 August 1908, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS. Clause 12 of tho Education Act Amendment Bill has been described by Mr. T. Mackenzie as "tho fighting clause." It proposes to place the appointment of teachers more completely in the hands of the Education Boards than heretofore. Already a supplementary order paper bearing tho name of Mr. Sidey, and containing now proposals under this head is in circulation. Tho effect of these amendments is to give the committees a considerable amount of power in the selection of teachers. The board is to submit to the committee a list of not more than six applicants who are deemed competent to fill the vacancy in question, with information as to their qualifications. Tho commjtteo may choose one of the names on tho list, and the board must appoint tio teacher so selected. This would virtually maintain the existing position.

DEFENCE ESTIMATES. Mr. J. Allen to Mr. Hogg: "Lot the hon. member for Masterton come out in the field and cook! How would he like that? Yet that's the position of tho volunteers." Mr. Hogg: " I have done it many times 1" Mr. Allen: "Oh! no doubt the hon. member is a good cook!" Later Mr. Hogg argued that each volunteer should be able to cook. What a pitiable spectacle if a man could not cook his food I Replying to Mr. Rhodes, tho Minister for Defenco said it was true that one of the military instructors was about to leave the service and that it was proposed to replace him with the very best officer available. If such an officer could not be procured in New Zealand they would go abroad for him.. "CAN'T HEAR."

While the House was in Committee on Saturday somo difficulty was experienced in hearing Mr. Herries. " Can't hear!" cried the members in front of the Press Gallery. Mr.. Herries, whose voico had been sufficiently high pitched were it not for the buzz of conversation, simply shouted his next few sentences. The chairman, Mr. R. M'Kenzie, raised a half-hearted protest against tho talking, but no notice was taken. Tho chairman's grip over the members would certainly stand a littlo tightening. A BANQUET. Mr. A. L. D. Fraser, M.P., has received a telegram from the chairman of a public meeting held at Wyndham informing him that a resolution had been carried unanimously to the effect that tho people of Wyndham,should i tender him a banquet in recognition of tho fearless stand he had taken against the Meiklo Acquittal Bill. It is probablo that Mr. Fraser will accept tho invitation. . •

COMING EVENTS. The end of the discussion on the Estimates now seems to bo in sight. Probably one more day will see thom finished. The general debate on the Education Bill, the first important Government measure to bo dealt with by the House this session, is unfinished, and the passage of tho Bill through Committee of the Whole will probably be rather protracted. The Arbitration Bill has not yet been reported from tho Labour Bills Committee. Owing to tho .time spent on the Estimates, the House ha-s not lately sent much business forward to the Council, and that body stands adjourned until Wednesday. : It. was claimed on.behalf of!the deputation of' Friendly Societies' representatives to tho Prime Minister on Friday that they could speak on behalf of about 40,000 of the 60,000 members in tho Dominion. ,