POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 872, 19 July 1910, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

OF INTEREST TO WORKERS. Under'tho existing law a worker can obtain an advance only upon a building which is being erected. An extension of the Act to, existing workers' dwellings is, however, proposed under a Bill which has been introduced by Mr. Fisher, M.P. for Wellington Central. The measure provides that a worker who, having purchased a dwellinghouse for himself and his family, desires to pay off any existing encumbrances thereon, or who desires to erect a dwellinghouse for himself and, his family on land on which tho superintendent might advance'.money, may npply to the superintendent for a loan for that purpose. Every application' must bo accompanied by a statutory declaration that tho applicant is a worker within tho meaning of this Act, and that ho desires the loan cither for tho sole purpose of erccting a home,for himself and his family or for_ tho purpose of paying ol£ any existing encumbrance thereon.

MR. ALUEN ON THE DEFENCE '' ' PROPOSALS.

According to Mr. Jas. Allen, M.P. for Bruce, it is very difficult to understand what is inlended by the provisions of the Defence Act Amendment ■ Bill. "As I understand it," said Mr. Allen, "it means that. in. tho general training section everyone, less tho necessary • exemptions, should be trained up to 25 years of age, but that alongside the general training section there is to exist a territorial force of 20,000 men, selected from the general training section. I can see no earthly use .in the , general territorial force if everyone is to be trained up to 25 years of age. In my opinion it would bo far better to have one simple system of . universal trailing up to 25 years of age. If, on the other hand, I misunderstand 1 tho Bill, and thi) only force that is to be trained is tho Territorial Force which is to bo selected from those liable for training up to 25 years of age,' then 1. conceive that selection to be ono of th" worst forms of conscription, in which a grave injustice will be done to men who are selected to serve, whilst perhaps their mates working in tho same establishment are left to carry on their civil ofnployment. I sincerely hope that no suclv thing will bo.done in New. Zealand. One must not lose sight of the fact that there is'one other object in view in universal training in addition to that. of the defence'of tho country, and that other object is ono .which should bo given very great; prominence in , tho discission of the subject. That -object is tho benefit that will be derived from a healthy training ■ of,-" our people - in /this process of preparing for national defence, which, I venture to say, will make for better citizens, better employers, and better workmen, and my opinion in this matter is' backed up by. any amount of evidence in countries that have tried a system of national training, for instance, Switzerland and. Norway."

PROPOSED MILITARY; APPEAL BOARD,

Thenew Military Appeal Board, which the. Government- is desirous .of establishing, continues to be- tho subject of a good, deal of discussion. From what can be gathered in the lobbies many members seem to , think that tho course followed at Home in this regard ought to be adopted. Exception .is. taken not only to the introduction of civil jurisdiction, but also to the proposed composition of tho board on tho military side, for it is felt by some that there is no necessity for both tho military members to be colonels. Tho objection is also raised that there are less than half a dozen colonels in tho Dominion. It was at first stated that those members who'are anxious to see that ex-Captain Itnyvett gets a ; rotrial would bo content with the board as it is proposed to be constituted. Such, however, does not appear to bo now tho case, for it is, reported that it will. be proposed that he be retried before a Royal Commission.

LOCAL BODIES' SINKING FUNDS. The . attempt to'regain for corporations' tho right to invest their sinking funds in other than Government securities has not yet ended. ,Mri Sidey, who has interested" himself greatly in\ the matter on behalf of the Dunedin Corporation, is, however, done with tho wholo thing. "I am satisfied," ho told a Dominion reporter -yesterday, "that only another set' party division could be. got on the question." During the coming session tho Government will, it is understood, bring down certain amendments to the Government Advances Act, and at the instance of other. members. the question mil (it is understood) be revived.

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Asked by Mr.,Okey whether.ho will consider the advisability of introducing a fungus that.is said to bo attacking, the blackberry in America, the Hon. T. Mackenzie states that tho Government' lias already written to the United States Department of Agriculture on this subject, and the result of tho inquiry , will be published when a reply is received. Tho officers of the Department of .Agriculture hero rtte, howevor, not sanguino in regard to,-the control of noxious weeds by ineans of pests.

Replying to Mr.' Hanan, the Prime Minister stated that the Judiciary Bill introduced.in 1908, .with some alterations, was under the consideration of the Government. ■■~ ; ! ' According to the . Hon. J. A. | Millar, who was asked a . question on the . point ' bj Mr. Hogg; an exploration 'survey for a railway between. Masterton and Danuevirke was made . some years ago.' Tho total distance' would be eighty-six miles and a. half; and the probable cost .about 4)630,000. So far, nn trial survey of the line between Masterton and Waipukurau has, been carried out. The railway ts a desirable'one, and would open up good country, and rail- doubtless bo constructed at some future date.. ' • Replying to Mr., Okey,.the' Minister for Agriculture staled that a request was forwarded in May. last to tho High Commissioner asking him to arrange to keep the Government informed as far as .is within hio power of all conditions concerning Argentine produce, and it is hoped that reliable information will be received periodically for publication in tho Dominion. Tho Trade Commissioner is in Buenos Ayres at the present, time, nud ho has also been instructed, to gather any. information, that mil be-of valuo to producers and traders in New Zealand, and transmit by cable fortnightly. The first of these cables lias now come to hand and been published. Ho will also endeavour ..to make satisfactory arrange-, ments for- information to be cabled to •New Zealand fortnightly after his departure.

It is stated that Mr. IV J. Johnston, of Waihi, intends to contest the Patea seat as a Government supporter at tho next 1 election.