POLITICAL NOTES

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 876, 23 July 1910, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES

GOVERNMENT CAUCUS. CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEES. PRESENTATION TO MR. LAURENSON. A caucus of tho Government party was held yesterday. The Primo Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), in an official report given to the. press, stated that' 37 members were present, and that all tho remaining members of the party were accounted for. He intimated to tho party what, the course of business should bo in connection with some important legislation upon the conclusion of the Financial Debate. How long the debate would last it was not possible for him to state. "I informed the party," ho said, "that I would introduce in--the House to-day the Extinction of Debts Sinking Fund Bill. I explained that I would do this in order that the measure might bo considered by members during the discussion on the Financial Statement. I also asked members of the party their view as to tho position of two members who are desirous of being. nominated for tho position of Chairman of Committees. Aa a result of their consideration of the matter they favoured Mr. Davey" (the other member referred to was Sir William Steward). Sir Joseph also stated that on behalf of Ministers he had presented Mr. George Laurenson,' member for Lytteltqn, with a gold bracelet for his wife. Sir Joseph expressed his appreciation of the services Mr. Laurenson had rendered tho party as Whip, and regret that through ill-health he had been obliged to resign his position. On behalf of the party,' Sir Joseph wished Mr. Laurenson and Iris wife and family all happiness and good fortune. Mr. Laurenson i briefly and feelingly responded, and thanked all the members of the party for the help and consideration they had extended to him during the time he acted as Whip. Mr. Myers (Auckland East) did not attend the caucus, arid he states that he has no intention of attending future caucuses. ■ . .;■■'•■

In the House yesterday, Mr. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, gave notice of his intention to ijiove that Mr. W. Fraser, M.P. for Wakatipu, be appointed Chairman of Committees.

THE DOMINION ATTACKED.

BITTER SPEECH BY MR. >LAURENSON/ Speaking in the House last night on the'debate with reference to the- JPublic Service, Mr. .Laurenson,. M.P. for Lyttolton, made a- violent and bitter attack on Tun Dominion. * Ho prefaced Ms remarks by declaring that it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to get bettor residents outside the Legislature than those who at present, occupied seats in it; and he strongly resented the criticisms of The Dominion—a paperi started, he said,.by a lot of old, disappointed, soured, wealthy men— men who had no following- generation behind them—who wanted, to gratify their political spleen. Amongst the accomplishments: which he attributed to the paper was cursing the Government, sneering at . the Legislature, abusing taxation; saying there- was no confidence in the country, and that capital was leaving the country. He read a list of some of the principal shareholders in The Dominion, with the values of the properties owned by them. In referring to ono gentleman by name, ho stated .that he. was a member of a very wealthy.family, and a large shareholder in Thk Dominion, and added:. "But he's dead, and wo know that ho contributed so much for public purposes." These were the men, ho continued, who were clamouring for a Public Service Board on behalf of tho young boys and girls of this country. It was too foolish: too. silly. Tho Leader of the Opposition, if ho told the truth, mus£ have as big a contempt for the paper as any man. It was all stuff and rubbish that appeared in that paper —tho paper that ■ sneered all tho House and blackened its institutions. Mr. Herdraan: It has tickled you up occasionally. (Laughter.) Mr._ Fisher .(Wellington Central), speaking later, said that Mr. Laurenson had sneered at certain men because they had. acquired capital. Mr. Laurenson reminded him of some verses about a Socialist who behaved the same way. Mr. Fisher read the verses, which concluded aa follows:— "Ho stormed, ho fumed, he ranted, Ho made the rich men wince, But his , uncle left him,money:— And he hasn't shouted since. —(Laughter.) Mr.. Guthrie (Oroua), speaking ■ later, said that if Mr. Laurenson. had known as much as'he know he would not have made references to tho family of which the deceased gentleman was a member in the way that lie had done.

A MISUNDERSTANDING

' PRIME MINISTER'S ANGRY RETORT. ■"Seventeen years is a long.while to go back to lind a Haw in my record," remarked iUr. Alassey in the House yesterday alter the J'rime Minister had been referring to some remarks which ho (Mr. Maswy) had made in an address before he entered I'arliament. Mr. Massey added that he did, not think that lie would have to go back that long to find u Haw in tho i'rinie Minister's record. "I have lieard a few innuendoes and statements that have k-en circulated about me more than once iu this country," rejoined Sir: Joseph Ward, who wont on to say.that at tJie. proper time he would deal with them. "I am obliged to Mr. Massey," he concluded, "for his insinuation against me today." .■-,.■ Mr. Massoy: "You seem to imply that I have ever made any such, innuendoes. If you. have.l invite you to tell the House what they are about, and I am prepared to meet them. I have attacked the Prime Minister politically, but I have nevor struck any man below the belt." . . .■ , ■ ' ..: Sir Joseph: "You. referred.to my record. To what did you refer?" he went on, as Mr. Massey shook his head and said, "Oh, rubbish." Mr. Massey: "Your political record, of course." . "Well, you did not say so," the Prime Minister said in a mollified tone as he sat down. . - .

THE MOKAU-MOHAKATINI BLOCK.

In tho House- yesterday Mr. Okoy gave notice to ask the Prime Minister whether ho is awaro that—(l) in tho fa-co of the recommendation, of tho Select Committee of' tho Legislative Council, in 1908, that the Government should order inquiry iflto tho circumstances connected with tho MokauMohakatini Block, and that pending such inquiry steps should ho taken to prevent further dealings with tho property—the Attorney-General refused to give effect to the recommendation, and such inquiry has not been held, nor tho property protected from further dealings ; (£) whether, at the suggestion of the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court, tho District Land Registrar of Taranaki did lodge a caveat against dealings with tho property, and whether tho Eogistrar-Gcnoral on May 2, 1910, proceeded to New Plymouth, and, without judicial authority, ordered tho removal of such caveat; nottvitlisfcindiity; that a protest had been lodged against such intended removal, upon tlio grounds that thero had been fraud in the dealings that,wore not allowed to bo investigated; ' (3) wliethor, on the data of such removal of caveat by, tie

Registrar-General, Herman Lewis registered to the legal firm of Findlay, Dalzioll, and Co., a mortgage over half the estate, an area of 26,705 acres, for £1000, and Mr. T. G. M'Carthy a mortgage over 54,205 acres for £25,271 Bs. 2d., thereby raising an alleged liability on tho property of £14,000 to £40,271 Bs. 2<1.; and (4) whether ho will causo inquiry- to bo made into the foregoing alleged transactions,, and all transactions in connection with this property, sinco January 17, 1893, as recommended by the Select Committee above referred to.