NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 857, 1 July 1910, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

ANOTHER LOAN THIS YEAR. During the consideration of the Impost Supply Bill last night Mr. Massoy said tlmt it did not make any mention of any transfer from tlie Consolidated Fund to the Public Works Fund. Such au item .should appear on the first. Bill of tho kind this session, seeing that there was a surplus ior tho preceding twelve months, for it avoided the spending of any more borrowed money tiiaii was absolutely ucressary.

The Prime Minister, in the course of his- reply, said that the Government did not require'to make the transfer at that time. When tho Financial Statement eame down it would contain the amount which it would be necessary to 'borrow this year, also the information which Sir. Massoy was seeking;

MR. BOLLARD SCORES. Tho gonial member for Eden scored verv neatly yesterday oil tho Minister for Public Works. Mr. Bollard was discussing the vexed question of routes in connection with tho North of Auckland Main Trunk railway, and was urging the necessity for a Commission of Inquiry to determine which was the more desirable route. Tho Minister for Railways, ho pointed out, had stated that in his opinion the railway would not pay onehalf percent. whemcomploted, owing to the competition of water carriage. "Do you agree with him?" rapped out the Minister for Public Works, smiling grimly, no doubt at tho thought that lie had placcd the member for Eden in the awkward predicament of having either to disown Mr. Millar's opinion or condemn a railway whibh all Auckland is clamouring for. Mr. Bollard, however, turned the point of tho interjection with delightful sang-froid. "1 think," lie replied, in his quiet way, in answer to a repetition of the question'by tho Minister, "that the fact that the Minister for Railways holds that opinion against tho contrary opinion of the Minister for Public Works shows the necessity for a Commission of Inquiry as to the merits of tho two routes." Tho House laughed heartily at the ingenious manner in which the member for Eden had extricated himself from au awkward position, and at the same time turned tlio tables on the Minister, who is supposed to be at dif'fevenccs with his colleague concerning the prospects of this railway.

UNION FUNDS AND POLITICS. In tho course of conversation with a Dominium reporter yesterday, Mr. D. M'Laivn, M.l'., stated that lie intended to raise in the Houso the question as to whether industrial unions can lawfully apply any of their funds fur politico! purposes. It will be recalled that the Ke-gistrar of .Industrial Unions, after having consulted t.ho Crown 1.-aw Ollice, refused to allow certain provisions relating to the subject IVI lie-h appeared in the rules of flip .Ven' Zealand Shearers' Union. Previously. remarked Mr. .M'l.aren, several unions had rules passed in which provision was made fur allocating money for political work. The Crown l aw Oißce. hail'followed a decision in the Osborne, ease at" Home, but fjii.s judgmeat was given, wider tko Trades

Union.* Act, ami' it had ■lo be rumen 1bered that fln.' unions in New Zealand wo.ro registered under tlio Conciliation atid Arhifralion A (-(. As the last-men-tioned Act provided that rules might be made "for any purpose no 1! contrary fo statute law," it-was incumbent for t.lio registrar to allow rules oil tlio subject.

AN AUCKLAND RECEPTION. Speaking on llie third reading ftf the Imprej-t Supply Bill, tho Prime .Mini-'cor said the Executive were accused of gadding all over tlie country, As far as ho was concerned, and other Ministers wcie in 1 lie same position, lie had iuvil-aiinn.s lo go In many places that lie could not visit, but wherevea' they .went. .Mmisters were well received. Mr. .Massey: What about Auckland? Tlio Prime .Minister said that at Auckland an effort was made by one or two hoodlums to get up a deinoirstration, not against liim alone, but against Colonel J'lObin and himself. Tlia-t was not iho time to go info the Knyvett case, but he ivould place the position quite dispassionately before the House later, but if ho had had an unfavourable reception in Auckland, it would have been the case, finch treatment would have been unfair, and would not have been a thing for another man to boast about.

VENTILATION OF THE COUNCIL. Tho sulphurous atmosphere in the Legislative Council Chamber yesterday was tho subject of comment on all sides. The Attorney-General said the matter had been brought under his notice, and although he did not notice the atmosphere particularly, be understood that it was almost unbearable in the press gallery. Jlo assured members that ho would have tho complaint looked into and remedied before the next sitting. When this matter was mentioned the Hon. J. E. Jenkinsou thought' a house committeo 6hould be formed, and tiiat, for instance, a smoking-room should bo provided. There was only one retiring room at present. Dr. Findlay replied that a programme in regard to Parliament Buildings was under way, and any extensive additions to the present building might mean unnecessary waste of money, -iu view of what might bo proposed.

INDUCEMENTS TO MARR7. Tho proposal to givo State aid in maternity cases where the head of the family is only earning a small salary was com mended yesterday by this Hon. W. Ueehan. Mr. Beelian thought'tho State could go further and encourage people to get married anil go in tor largo families. The wives-in New Zpaland were not taking to maternity to any great extent, ami the birth-rate hero was only half what it should be. It was time ministers of religion, Ministers of the Crown, and high personages set all example.

TO SAVE' TIME IN TAKING DIVISIONS. i An amendment of the Standing Orders so as to uite.r the present tardy mode of taking tho divisions is suggested by Mr. Jennings, M.P. far Taumarunui. Ho stated in t.he House yesterday that the Clerk of the House should have an alphabetical list of members, and should call out each' name and receive the answer

"Aye" or ".Nay." Two tellers should lx> appointed, as at present. Mr. Jennings pointed out that there were 177 divisions last session, which occupied between live and six days. Under his proposed ystem there would be less possibility of mistakes, and a division would oily take ten minutes at most.

THE NORTH ISLAND "COMBINE.", Recently an agitation was started with a view to getting other North Island members to combine with the Auckland members in the formation of a league or party to push North Island interests in the matter of railway construction. It appears, however, that tho other North Island members are not keen to combine with tho Aucklaiulers, as fliey do not wish to raise tho-cry of North versus South. Accordingly tho meeting callcd for to-morrow will he attended only by Auckland members.

GOVERNMENT WHIPS. As was geue.ra.llly expected,- ;Miv EU, M.P. for Chri&tchnreh East, arid Mr. Macdonald, M.P. for Bay of Plenty, rat appointed Government Whips yesterday, air. Laurenson, M.l', for Lyttclton, having resigned the ifosition of senior Govcrnmwvt Whip. ] JOTTINGS. Speaking to a Dominion reporter yesterday, .Mr. ilassej-. Leader of thb Opposition, sa-id that his party would give a solid support to any mem her introducing a Bill to abolish bookmaking. •

Arrangements wero made yesterday for a deputation comprising members of tlio House, the Wellington Trades and Labour Council, and representatives of the Tramway" Union, to meet tho Minister for Public Works at 8 o'clock on Monday livening for tho purpose of discussing matters in connection with the Tramway Bill.

The necessity for the establishment of « State coal mine in Auckland was urged ia tho Council, yesterday by the '.Hon. \V. Beehau, who argued that tho price of coal in the north, 325. per ton, was too high. The State depot had brought the price down in Wellington, and it would do the same in Auckland.

'J 1 lis Hon. 0. Samuel took his sent in fhu Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, and signed the oath of allegiance to lving George. There are still a lew members who have not yet arrived.

The election of the Speaker of the Legislative Council will talco placo on Monday next, and o.n Wednesday the Council will elect its Chairman of Committees.

In reply to Mr. Massey last night, the Frime Minister slated that, tho Financial Statement would be brought d'own at ail early date. Sir. Massey: "This month?" Sir Joseph: "If we get along as wellns I would like I would like to bring it down next Friday."

Replying to Mr. Massoy, who stated that local bodies were extremely dissafc Tied at tho small proportion of grants which had been expended last year, the Hon. I\. M'Keiv/.ie (Minister for Public Works), stated that it would be found that practically the whole of tho amount voted in the estimates liad been expended.