NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 643, 21 October 1909, Page 9

NEWS AND NOTES.

1 CHIEF JUSTICE AND NATIVE LANDS 0 .. COMMISSION. j. Was it a fait that. Sir Robert Stout, as 1 ohairman of \tho Native lands Commission, 1: had' received ij!1286 honorarium and «£SSO t. . , ysJjl'® expenses, in addition:to' his"salary J . 2.1 ,■£2ooo ; a year and travelling expenses as , Chief Jnstioo? ."... f . n „ r<! Pb' t<> this question (which was put ■ b y Mr. Okey), tho Prime Ministoi last night i stated that special rontons oxisted for. tho [. appointment of the Chief Justice as chairman I of tho Native lands. Commission,, and' any assumption i that tho work could have been done . as efficiently for a smaller sum is totally unfounded.' The Chief Justice could not be oplled .upon to do tho work, as it wa9 entirely outside of his official functions. The country-had tho advantage of his judicial-office nnd:vory special knowledge of Native customs and .Native leplation. . Further, , tho confidence whteh the people, both European and •Native, have always felt in Sir Robort Stout - pointed him'outos the most suitable for this olass of work. : Th« work was' dono'nndor peat pressure: and . with extraordinary industry,''and consequently-within, a. shorter time than any other.man, ovon probably. with tho qualifications! of the Chief Justice, could have • done. The arrangement mado. with'the Chief Justico.as TOgards remuneration was the best that could bo obtained, and an impartial sur- . vey of tho work done, its enormous'importance to Now Zealand, ,tho relations of harmony which have been left between the Native pe.o- - pie. and tho, Europeans, .has ; placed beyond question the'assumption .that the "work' done by . Sit Robert Stout could havo 'been done .more, efficiently, more expeditiously, or mote economically, than it,was done. / : ;.Referring, to the matter.in tho course of, Ms , sneoch, 'Mr, Baume. (Auckland East) expressed ,the;, opinion 'that no member of the Bench should be paid one sinelo penny above his sal•ary for 'any work he did on or off tho Bcncli: He went on to say that he. felt surehis comment , .would, not-be taken as a 1 reflection upon the Chief Justice, because Sir Robert was so absolutely free from suspicion that lie (the speaker) , Was'abl'e to speak,his.mind. "But," said Mr. Baume, "if such a thing bo continued, it must destroy tho,high position in which tho Benoh is held. There was anbther' judicial officer, Palmier, who did work in: connection with the commission. I don't know whether lie was.Tro.vi above His salary. . (Mr. Carroll:-"No.") Well, I am glad to hear that that is the case. It is in accordance with the ideals of our community that the reputaton of our judges , shonld be,, .like Caesar's.-wife, above/suspicion. :Onco a , judge is appointed,-his salary should be fixed and nothing fnrther should bq'exjiected b.v him.' A' judge. shottld :not be placed under . circum--thori is* possibility of him incurring hostility or friendship, favour or' ingratitude,,praise ;ofeontnmely.' at the hands of the Government,', Parliament,: or' the community generally 'in regard to his work." (Hear, hear.) i ■~, . CHAIRMAN OF, COMMITTEES IN , .; COUNCIL . '.'Th'oire is a',great difference in .the method of, electing, a' Chairman, of . Committees .in; the Legislatiw •' Counoil . as "'compared, with ,the method' of ( filling tho offico in the House of Ropreschtativos. .. When . the; appointment. is to be made; in . the,. Bouse speeohes take place, ind if -there be .a contest a division, is taken: On the'other hand,, the. election' is. hfeld in oamer'a in tho '.Council, and no; speeches ; aro mado prior .Jo . the vote, : which is' taken* by' ballot. -When the annual-election was about, to take ; place in the Council yesterday all strangers,, including: the press representatives, were exclnded from the Chamber. Even one or two- ftanncillers, who arrived'just as the ,doors were being locked,-'were .not-allowed .to enter. There were only two nominations—these of,the Hwi. R. ; H.'J.-,Reeves (Nelson) and'tho Hon. W. C. E. Carncross (Taranaki). When the Cenncil resumed it was announced that Mr. Reoves had been reappointed. Mr. 'Reeves briefly, acknowledged'tho compliment..i SUPPORT! LOCAL INDUSTRIES. In. the legislative Coundil' yesterday, the Hon.-J;.E.- Jenkinson gave notice of his intotion to ask the Government if it bo true thdt the, specification in .connection ■ with the' ne\V post, office does not specifically state; that 411 manufactured steel work' : shotild bo manufactured- in - the'; Dominion, and if. there- bo ally trnlh in. tho report 'that 'it may .be - imported. 'Referring'to "the. subject-matter of" the -nutej.tion' during. his speech. in-, tho' Address-i'n-Re-ply/the Hon.'.C. M. Luke stated that'tho Iron's ■ trade was; slacker : in' Wellington. during, the past '6ix . months 'hi£' Jory' of the 'country..' '"1"- hold,"' ho lidded, that all'the material required,for any public work that can 'be manufactured lin New Zealand.- shodld be;; .manufactured;; hers: ■ ;:.(Hea'rV' -hoar.)" If we;aro to. maintain our high social • posihon. 'rndMtrial . enterprise must, receive greater assistance by. means .of tho tariff.! I was ;Vory 'sorry* to . learn that' the Minister for Customs recently'stated, in Duccdin that, thero: .shonld'be'interfere'nce in the'tariff only once in ohe's'life time. ' It .should,-. I think;, bo re-' vised ,\»honev<rf. an alteration o'f conditions warranty it. being done.". (Hear, hear.);: .: '~. Mr. Luko Quoted several instances yesterday of tenders being-accepted for; oil lauiichcs, in •regard to which he : thought proper, regard, had •not been shown to colonial manufacturers. ;The colonial; offors. wero -not quite in, accordance with the; terms of tender ( but, according to Mr. Luke, represented' better valuo. Ho asked that the Prime-Minister.shonld look,into the mattor. \ Sir, Joseph Ward s replied that the Government did all it could, to assist colonial industries. Lator on''he .would put on record what'was being done in that respect. He had received'' no intimation that this matter would bo brought forward by Mr. Lnke, and' could not, on tho sjrar of the moment, deal with the special cases h(6 had mentioned.' The particulars, afforded by z Mr.'Luke''were'not sufficient data on which to judge between' the tenders The .Prime Minister added that he would look into tho matter.- •' > V > LAND FOR CIVIL SERVANTS. Mr., Jelimngs, member for. Tanmarunui, ex- • pressed the opinion', yesterday that'riot s""percent.'of, tho' retrenched 'Civil 'Sob-ants would make a succcss.pf, the bush land 'which is bo-' ing offered them by tho Government. Mr. W. :C. Buchanan, member for. Wairara'pa. sfiid that it' was a; parody. on our supposed: practical character as'eettlers of a'new.country'lhat'tlie • training of a'certain section of tho community shoald.be with l a gnill t bohind their ear b6fore they wore ousted irom thoir employment and sent-on ito . the land.'; If 'that was . n good method 6f colonisilif; he had spent fifty.years in the colony for nothing. HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID BILL. Okey (Taranaki) askett yesterday if the Governmeut ■ would refer,; tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Hill. to a special committee. The Hon. G. Fowlds.replied tnat ho did not think it nfceeitsary, as the Bill had been considered by a coniorcnco of the .bodies administering hospitals- and;charitablo aid' during .recent years. Mr. W. l' : raser (Wakatipu): It was not the same Bill. Mr. I'owlds: It iti practically the same.-' There is very' little '.difference. ;v, ; A NOT UNPROFITABLE DEBATE; Mr. Masscy, Leader of tho Opposition, does not agree witn thß opinion sometimes expressed, that the long debate which has taken pfaco on the Address-ln-lleply has been a waste of time. -."When members come up to Wellington', especially for a first session of Parliament" (hoi said- to', a. Dominion representative yesterday morning) "they always have, a certain number of grievances to ventilate, and if they do not get: the' opportunity; on-' the Address-in-Reply they will ventilate them later'on,. on the'financial , Statement, or some" other: occasion. they speak now they .will have'.l^ss, to 'say on the Financial Statamentj.and perhaps on the monthly imprest. I think up to. the present the debate-has been a good one,'and for the reasons I have stated I; don't ;:think there has boon any• waste'of time." Mr. Massoy added: • that he would riot be surprised now if the debate on the ,• Financial Statement . was. disposed''of, in'tiro-or three days. > . . 'NOXIOUS WEEDS.. •' Nearly a hundred sottlers. in the Masterto'n, and' Akitio counties, chicfly resident at Alfredton, Wnihokl Valley, Rakanui, and Pongaroa, liavo addressed a petition to tho Minis-, tor for, Lands asking that tauhinu and goreo be included in the schedule attached to the Noxious Weeds Act, so that landowners may be compelled to dear their lands of these weeds. The petitioners suggest that tho law be 60 amended that in case of negligence . labour should bo employed and the cost of clcarinr oharged against the property dealt with. It is pointed ont that of all known weeds in New ■Zealand tauhinn, and gorse 'constitute the groatest pest. It seems, that some of the: aggrieved wttlers haro appoaled to the Masterten County Council, but that body considers any drastic acti«» within the oonnty would be fuulo unless the weeds . complained .of aro eradicated all ovor tho country. GOVERNMENT AND THE SETTLERS, Sottlers' interests wero 'poorly represented on tho Government, s;do of •- tho Houso, said Mr.. Buchanan (Wairarapa) yesterday.. .Out of 25 settlers who had been returned' as members of tho 1 House, only 6even wore on (U- > Government sido.' "And loek.:.'atithe'i rsaka: ot- the

Government! How are they to cxpect prac- . ;tical dealings .with land at the";, hands: of the Government? The only - practical settler •among them is, excluded from anything to do with land." : . .. . Tto Hon, D. Buddo, speaking later, claimed s that twelyo of. the. Government members wcro ■ farmers by calling. That was.including, two 0 Nativo members, Messrs.-Ngata :hnd Parata.-; j Mr. Masscy: Mr.Ngata is a lawyer. 5 Mr.,-Buddo:. Oh, nonsense. He's a., farmer. You might as well make it a cause for cxe'ept tion that he is a graduate of the university, t -Chore were threo other members on the Gnv--5 ornn ent side, and Mr. Bnddo,, who- added 1 farming to their other calling, so .that. alt->- . gethor,there were only two less, farmers on. the' , Government sido than on the Opposition. I FIRE BOARDS' FINANCES. . i : There was presented yesterday in the. Legislative Council a return showing the income ; and expenditure-of the various firo boards for . the year ended June, SO, 1909. Tho totals were [ as under Auckland: Receipts, ,£8235; expendi- ; tare, J37881.! Christchurch: Receipts, jE76iOl j i expenditure, ,16234,- Dunedin: Receipts,- ,£5861; • oxpohditure, .£5773. Maori Hill -. Receipts,. .6355 . 25,; : expenditure.. .$716. Oaniaru: Receipts, expenditure, .£678. ■ Palmerston North: t iieceipts, .£978; expenditure, j£9Sl. BANKING REFORM COMMITTEE. A meeting of the New Zealand Banking Rci form Committee, which- consists ,of mombers of both Houses, who wish to increase tho State's control over the.lßank of New Zealand, was held yesterday morning.' No information was 'given to the press,,but it is understood -that members of .the coiqmitteu . will urge their representations in a private- interview with the Prime Minister,, as was done last session. MAORI WAR RECALLED; .. Among the petitions -presented to the. House .was Ono by Walter Delaney, of -Wellin?- : ton.-. The. petitioner stated that in December. 1808, while serving as aitm'gler. inthe.Waikato' Militia at Opotiki, he was taken, by Captain Gundry to. serve as bugler in the expedition against Te Kooti at Poverty Bay,,.without , the consent of his parents. ,As' he was' only .13,. owing to the hardships which he had to :en-' dure, his' constitution was undermined.' v-Now, at tlie age of .54, he was quite unable;to earn sufficient to provide-for his wife and family.. He asked that, he should be compensatedJOTTINGS. "It' is. a disgraco,' remarked the Hon; C; M. Luke, yesterday, ' that any coal should be ' imported into New Zealand. '. Why, • instead of having 2000 to SOOO. workers in the .'coal industry, we 6hould have at least 30,000 .coal workers.": ■ >. •, "It is "my ■ opinion tiat Mr. Justice Sim is the firmest ; and fairest president, that has ever held office in connection with the Court of Arbitration.,. He goes as far as'he can to help the. workers, but he never, goes so'far as to injure an industry.'Vßemark by Hon. W. Beehan in the . Legislative Council yesterday. - • - ', There' is every probability that the debate on the Address-in-Reply will conclude in tho .Legislative' Council oil Friday.': After the Hon. J. E. Jenkinson hasi spoken this afternoon,'tho' debate will be adjourned until to-morrow, when tho Attorney-General will, it is expected, be among the speakers. - • One of the petitions presented to tho House yesterday was from ;a. large .number.:of'residents of Omata ;Riding, who'prayed that it should be severed from the Taranaki County ■and, constituted a new county,. , . Thirty ■ residents of Darraville havo petitioni'd; itho Minister'for Public Works urging him to adhere, to tho decision already mad? in f&vour df tho western. route for the North Auckland Main' Trunk Railway, and 'to have tho speedy construction of; the line-undertaken,' , ; r •t Mr. Wright has : given ' notice to ask : the Prime Minister whether ho will this session reintroduce .the. Bill of --.last - session granting | compensation to-Mr.' J. J. Meikle for wrongful, imprisonment . ■ ■ ■ Tho Minister for Railways is: to be asked by Mr. Field whether, ho is" aware that no mail trains now; stop at Manakau as heretofore, thus causing . much inconvenienco to the residents of this important township and the surrounding, district; and whether he will givo directions that mail trains will stop. .at., the station in: question on .somo' days, if, not every, day, in.the week. , .. -.' ... -V ■ Mr. Glover;.one of the Auckland members of who has been in ill-health of late, came down, to Wellington yesterday. , His 'health, howover, is such as'to prevent* him from taking an active part in Parliamentary work for somo days'at least. ; ... -. , . . •i According to,,the Hon...J. T, Paul, 'the.' mere. :prosence. of .unemployment, shews'.'eitHer- a';laclc of appreciation; of the position, or a lack of ability .oil ..'the.--part-.of parliament .-V .• "If there/is not some ' radical .'change' in -the method of ventilating the'Legislative Counoil Chamber, _ some, of its members: will ; be. very serioiisly ill-before;tho arid of tho session, and tho-'oohsciousness of having saorifioed ourselves to, the public igood; will not bo'hiuch congelation."—Hon.'fijßrCallah. i A. returli as to Hie expenscs of the candidates at the Thames: by-election in! February "shows that,the: second ballot; cost the successful.-can-, didate,, Mr. Taylor,'iJ4s Is., and tho unsuccessful candidate, Mr. Lucas, .£49 ss. 3d. '. ...-: ; •: "I firmly : believe that the English-speaking people . will some day rise up ' and put an end to'tho barbarism of war,'and the sooner that this 'is done the bitter;' Human nature' is,' 111 my opinion, not: incapable of improvement along these lines."—Hon. J. Ti'Paul, yesterday. V.; : - - -,'Y