POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 673, 25 November 1909, Page 8

POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES.

;'w\'.^--v:..^SI.R: , GEORGE-:m;LEAN; ;: :/:',' In; tbelegislative. Council; ypstewlay the' Hoii.' Dr. ''Findlay.-.'-expressed the good wishes and congratulations of tho Council on the'.honour JJffBW bestowed by' the! King upon Sir Geprgo M mm; ■ Every member recognised, said Dr. Findlay, that-the honour was well won, after thirty- years of-public service, marked by a ,vory. high standard, of public-devotion, a re•'Corfl, private and public,-ujstained;' and a devotion to the principles of; true/progress, ilt was also;.indirectly at least, an- honour, to. the" :C6u'noil;--.-He;'-wishea, Sir George M'Lcan long 1ue,..f,0r, tho. enjoyment of the. honour. - Sir. George , M'Lcan suitably, replied. . .. -;■■:. :C- i ,-XOAl; MINES' AMENDMENT. ' Tinder thoCoal'-'Mines' Act Amendment Bill* which was circulated last night, it is provided that it .shall not. be lawful for the owner' or manager, of. any > mine or.- for any person, in' charge of a miue-.tb.requjreany person over .'the""age":6f 18' years who : is employed in themine, :-or applying to be .so. employed, to be' medically/examined or to'produce a medicalcertificate that' he.is ;in- a good/or sound' state .of. health. r Every,person.'Who conimit.sabreach, 'of-this section is liable,-for .a. first .offence to a fine of JJSO, and for the second or any sub-sequent,,offence-to a fine of iClOO." Section 52 of the principal Act shall not apply, in any mine in .which -the number of persons employed does notexceed six. -On and after the first day of July, 1910, no -person shall bs. employed in the. -position, .of: underviewer. or fireman antl [deputy in a/minVunless 'he has had at"'-least" I five years, experience .in underground : workings, m a coal mine, and,is. the holder either, of'a. certificate that, he has'. passed an examination ■ in' gases,. ventilation; and timbering:,by..pne ..or.;..more,,m.embers of 'tho board',of .examiners and an inspector of mines, or of, a oertificato, of service as 'hereinafter, provided. The. from 1im0,,.t0 tin-.0, by gaM.trcd;' make reflations ; prescribing the;iiaturD..'of.',the examination-and the-'niethdd of conducting the same. -All perwho; for'a' period.of twelve months im-' .mediately-.' preceding'. December '',31, 1910. /have held the position of underyiewer or fire,mah/ and deputy, may,'-, on,.application to tho Board; of Examiners, before .March 31, 1(110. and on' the , recommendation of an inspectov of mines', be'granted.'.-a .-certificate'of service as .underviewer or,vas.fireman .'and. deputy;. as"the : .case."may.-be'.:,!.';.':"■■■■'"?';.■'-;.'.',-..' ■■ ■; ■- !■'■"-.■•••.

u ■.;,■;■;;; ; / : '^,t,he.;land.;bill.; :■ : :;■';■:/ ;'>.>' ; ; ; : ; j;THE;;BpGUS;'"FREEHOLD/'";'; ,': In.The Doiiinion yesterday there' was given i:, B W ma . r y, : . o t-' tn e proposals in' the new Land 'Bill.'-.'Mention', was made of the : various relictions,with.; which; the, "freehold" offered by : ,the Government is'-'hedged' about—such■ as the ./recurring-charges," and the'requirement that no lessee of an encumbered holding shall have the • right :'.of -purchase unless the 'person "■' entitled' to'.'SUph-.enfiumbrance agrees, in writing .that: the :'.''requrring charges" .shall , have > priority- ovet; his:jnterest.: >: -'''■■s■■'{'■■ •".' ■ '•''.'"■ : ■••.'-■.'■''.■ ■; : There is another important restriction-'which is,carriedifrom'the'.'l'Jo7.'Act; ■:.Clause:!),-'Sub-' 'Bection v 2,,proyidos ; that; tho'-'freehpld" shall-;be granted ''subjectyt'o 'tho ■festrictions'of ' the Act' relating' to. nqn-ag'grcgatipri. VTho' , reference is to Clause ; 36 'of :tbe'l9O7 Act'(Clause 97 of the ISQB ConsolidationV, and Clauses' 93-97 of. the:;i9o7;.Act :<Clauses :340,-,t0'.3«: of the.:. 1908 Consolidation). These, clauses -provide 1 that rio less«. of -tlieCrown^ ma^,'acquire land, .whichtogether; witb ,; any ■ land in .'which 'he' has' any interest will-esceed:666 2-3 rd.acres of,. fii-st-■class,.'2ooo acres of'second-class, 0r.5000 acres of third-class' .lan(L ; ': ; :J:,;''■■..-'-.. ;.':.•. : . •■■■/■■*: ",'-■.■■' '>'. Moreover/' any,; land acquired,! even'.after .'it passes out.',of:.the.hands of'.the, Crowji,' will be tapu, : and/ cansriever'. be sold, or , ''leased, or in any s way made of' interest to any other, person .if that person- has any. interest (of ownership; holdingy.'or- occupation).' in ,-atiy, land /which, added--to ithetapu. section,- • would -V exceed 068:'Mrdj,acres.",.•,.■;..',>;. ■ : : V ; ■■:' , ',:':■; ■'KThisi,restriction".is-'retained;'as. a,'burden',on. cho "freehold"-'that ; is offered,', witli/■tljis "varia r . tidri:. that the permissible area is reduced fToni :6CG-2^4"acres, of.' firstcl'ass'and 5000 acres of .third-class land," to' M l'- acres of -first-class , or .2500 '-'acres M third-class-land. ;„•. ' V.'/^V';/'.,:' ;: