NEWS AND NOTES

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 684, 8 December 1909, Page 5

NEWS AND NOTES

'-' COMMENTS BY AN OFFICIAL/ .'■ ' KESENTED BY MR. MASSEY. ■. , During'the debate on• the • Lands for Settlement Administration Bill .on. Monday; Sir. Massey.; complained.. of ~the; omission .by the Government": for, the first -time V-of :a: return showing details'in regard to lands acquired for settlement. The Prime Minister- replied that the return had been abolished three years ago, but 1 Mr.; Massey said it appeared in the Lands Department report :last:year... .''. ■ Yesterday,..in the course of a'ipersonal explanation, the Prime Minister read a letter from Mr. YV. C. Kensington, .Under-Secretary ,for Crown Lands, supporting the Prime Minister's statement in the ;rdatter. . Mr. Kensington stated that a similar rotmrn'was published in the Lands Department's report last year, and Mr. Massey had probably confused the .two. The letter concluded with a reference to Mr. Massey "hastily assuming' that tho information.asked for had not been supplied for three years." ; . ''■ :/ '(" ' ■" . ".'

Mr. Massey said he did not think it was competent for anjr Government official' to, reflect on any statement made, by any member of tho House. Ho thought that the statement was an impertinence, and that the .Prime Minister, .should hot have allowed himself to be made use of by reading.it. Mi - . Massey read'from: his Hansard proof, and stated that all the information he- had- asked for- was contained in the return published ?last year, but not this year, in the report of the Lands Department. Mr. James Allen (Bruce) raised a point of order as .to whether. any official' outside. • of House had a .right to say-that any member had "hastily assumed" something, and caused the House to come to a wrong conclusion thereon. - " ' ■ ■■':, V

The Prime. Minister said Mr/- Massey had suggested that he should inquire into the matter, He had, accordingly, asked Mr. Kensington for a. report, and he did not think that there was anything offensive in his reply. 1 Ho was perfectly sure that nothing of the sort was intended, and thero was nothing in the letter which he regarded as offensive. . Mr. James Allen:. Well, I do.

' Mr. Massey: He is : absolutely wrong. ','■. The '• Speaker said the document contained passages which, under the Standing Orders, had uo; right to bo there. (Hear, hear.) It was not proper for any person outside the 'House to comment, whether favourably or unfavourably, on the speech or conduct.of any member. Tho statements in the letter were out of order in doing so. If the matter had been brought under the Prime Minister's attention before he read the'letter, no doubt he would have had,the.statements excised. After further discussion, tho Prime Minis-, ter said he agreed that no reflection should be made by anyone outside the House upon a member, and he; felt sure that Mi. Kensington would be the last to wish to make such a reflection. : . ■'-;'. ' i ' /•

LICENSES IN THE KING COUNTRY. In answer to a question by Mr. T. E.Taylor (Christchurch North), the Prime Minister stated yesterday that ho proposed to ask the House to put through legislation this session dealing with licenses in the .King Country.

OLD SOLDIERS' CLAIMS; N The petition of Major Hair, of Auckland, for compensation in connection with his.long record of public service was reported on favourably 'yesterday by the Public Petitions Committee; Mr. Phillipps (Waitemata) : said he hoped that the Government would afford Major Mair some recompense _ for his invaluable services. Had ho remained in the service 16 months longer his pension would have been i£3ooa year, instead of only ,£l3l. Mr.,lterrie3 spoko.toa similar effect; and'said that' as magistrato and as a judge of the Native Land Court, as well as a soldier, Major Mair had rendered signal service .to the country. . The Prime Minister said the Government recognised the value of Major Mair's services, and the petition-'.would receive- careful consideration. -He also stated that it,was.proposed to have the claims of old soldiers generally inquired into by the magistrates in the various centres, and that the instructions .would be sent out/ to.tie magistrates early in the new year. '• . '

REPORTS ON PETITIONS. On the petition of John Ward, of Lower Hutt, praving that tenants should bo protected from liabilities for rates in certain cases, the committee recommended that the question, of introducing legislation to ■ secure redress 'in this and similar, cases should be referred to the Government for' favourable consideration. The report was.agreed to.

. The Native Affairs Committee reported yestcidav that in their opinion tho petition :of Henrv Cook, of.: Karon, praying that the Validation Court might bo empowered.to hoar and determine an application for validation of a transfer of Native'land known as Opai should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. :■-.- The report'was agreed to.