NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 923, 16 September 1910, Page 7

NEWS AND NOTES.

LAND BILL DOOMED. The Laiid Bill - is; alreadydoomed. It is .stated pretty freely in .the' lobbies that the Government leaseholders will stone-, wall the it is before the Land Committee to such .an extent that it will be too late for it to be given serious consideratioii .this session. The dangerous principle of'compulsory,, leasehold acquisition is. now generally recognised, and even Government supporters admit that Cabinet has made a serious blunder in introducing such; a measure.

tlio petitioners have gathered, tlicy are of opinion that not less than >£20,000 worth of orders aro obtained every year by tho pirates. Petitioners ask that an Act should bo'passed'granting to the author or producer of any photograph the copyright during his lifetime and for thirty years after his death. ' .

MONEYS FRITTERED AWAY. Speaking in-tho House of Representatives' yesterday, Mr. Han'an, M.P.- ■ for InVercargill, was anything hut sparing in his condemnation of the way in. which money is expended by education' boards. He ueolared that if a, Committee, were set up consisting.'of . two members' of .the "Government party,'two members 6f the. Opposition, aiid himself, to- expend the moneys appropriated by Parliament, .they would find that 'up to the present time large. t sums had been simply" ' frittered away'for purposes: for which the: country, did. not get' real' value. , .When"an increased appropriation was made by Parliament, said Mr. Harinn, much of' it found, its way. to ; increase the. administrative office expenses, and the salaries of board officials.. \He added that he was firmly, conrliicdd that substantial sums could bo' saved if the matter'were inquired iiito. •' * . , :.'■-. ...

: PRISONS CLASSIFICATION. ' i]Under'4he r prisons classificatioiii.Bysteitiwhich the Minister for Justice (Hon. Dr. - Pindlay) intends to - introduce . / the. Auckland Gaol will be the.. chief criminal penitentiary' in the Dominion../ : There will be ..a "classification; scheme .'there {is in other"; gaols,'-but tlio longer sentence prisoners,' and .'consequently 'those, convicted of/. the graver offences, . will 1 be lodged' at. Mount Eden.•.•-As' far J the buildings ' and ' .other conditions will, perreformative methods will be brought into operation,' and tho' employment" of the .prisoners will'' be as varied as possible...'Dr. Pindlay says that : as his sohemo is brought into- full operation it' will,'be 'necessary to: make further additions to tho building, because when the ;Napier, v . Dnnedin, And portion' of' the Wellington Gwl aro closed,; the .number of prisoners at Auckland will be increased. Prom;time to tihie men who show themselves. fit .will be drafted from the. Auck- ■ land -.'Gaol.,-for further treatment in the .tree-planting or reformatory farms. :

. DAYLIGHT SAVING; :" Daylight saying .is agitating 'Mr. -Sanan who is asking: the Prime Minister whe-; ther ,he will cause regulations to be framed whereby some of the Government Departments, particularly the clerical and | administrative. Departments, . may be allowed; if the employees so desire, to work an hour earlier, in: summer, as is done ih certain Government and other offiops, in England..: Mf.-.Hanan' states that in England .;the daylight-saviiij! scheme .is now in operation and generally appreciated m [ the/Home- Office,' the General Post' Office; and tho Local Government Board. In; every instance:'the early attendance :is optional, and .tho daylight, regulation I hours are offered to tho clerical staffs .at. .the- beginning- of summer,' and obtain for a ;period of -font months.!:,' ' '• 10TTINGS. "Por the most part, we should iie completely . ruined i if-' the ancient sport; of racing were' seriously curtailed,":.,is the burden of ; a'petition- -theiicensed trainers Of- -raceliorses all". oyOr;,:the .Doniinion, who' claim that their position should be-,' considered when :gaming legislation is before , the House. ■■; An; amendment ,-of. the .'railwaysuperannuatiori" scheme ,50; that the ' Wife: and family of a railway, servant who .is retired as .physically unlit shall."-receive tlie.samo allowance ; .as those, of a man ■ wlio .is. , seriously.: injured . . and dies from thoeffects' of- the injury within hyelve; months -^4••.b^ingfaslEedjfoi••V.M'.v?^»''' m •W^ l'or Patea: : . ;, v" ■ ■■■' ';■' , Ail up-to-date 'catalogue of all .publications/issued every year-by.: the :Gqvern- . merit- Printing": Office,.; and...the. price.'for which they can be procured, is -being asked for. by Mr. Mander. . .', ......■