POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 976, 17 November 1910, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

—4 DISRESPECT TO THE GOVERNOR., ■ Some' members of the House of Representatives—notwithstanding the recent remonstrance of the Opposition Whip, Mr. Hardy—still neglect to conform to the usual practice of. rising .when : a Message, is received from the King's Representative, On Tuesday the Sneaker noted that there were somo delinquents, ami rebuked the offenders. "I "call attention to the fact," ho said, "that when a Message is received from his Excellency I the Governor, it is the duty of every honourable member to stand uncovered. , I hope this' order will be obeyed." ■ THE UNIVERSITY DEPUTATION. . Opportunity was taken by the Hon. .1. T. Paul (Otago), when sneaking on the , third reading of the Otago Harbour Board ' Land Vesting Bill in the Legislative Council yesterday," to voice a protest against what he termed the flagrant waste of public money in members of local bodies coming to Wellington to press their claims in regard to disputes, such as had arisen over this Hill. Speaking generally, Mr. Paul said scores of deputations came to Wellington from various local bodies. The whole outlook of some of the local" bodies seemed to.be to ignore members of Parliament altogether, and to como to Wellington on the slightest pretext, and always at the expense of the public body. Members of local bodies in different parts, of the country wore wasting the funds of the local bodies in coming to Wellington for nothing. Many of the. deputations were wholly unnecessary, and the business could be better discharged by members of Parliament. In the case of the Bill under notice, three delegates from the , Drainage Board had arrived in Wellingt ton that morning, after matters in dist pnte between the Drainage Board and the Harbours Board had been satisfactorily settled, and the legitimate interest of both parties preserved. THE CASE OF CAPTAIN SIMONS. Further reference to the case of Captain Simons, who was fined .£3 on Monday for alleged sly. grog-selling, was again made in Parliament yesterday. In the Legislative Council the Hon. Mr. Jenkinson drew attention to tho matter. It might [ be, ho said, that tho accused was guilty i of a technical breach of the law. That > he had been intentionally guilty • hardly . anybody could believe.' Together with t most other people, he hoped that as a > result of tho conviction the man would 3 not lose his old age pension.' In reply, ' Dr. Findlay said that he was not yet in - a position to make a statement in regard > to the case. He had already called for - a. report on tho matter. He did not think that the man would lose his old age pension. It had to be remembered that 1 the fine was paid, and the man' did not 3 go to prison. Ho was not giving a considered opinion, but he thought that the l fact that the man did not go to prison - would prevent him from losing his pen--1 sion. Later lie would make a definite - statement on the matter. fc RESULTS OF WELLINGTON PETITIONS. Reporting on the petition of Robt. AVliiley, of Island Bay, for an inquiry 'regarding his bankruptcy, the Public Petitions Committee states that it lias no recommendation to make. A. petition was presented to tho House recently on behalf of Kathleen Clements, . of Lome Street, Wellington, asking for - substantial compassionate allowance owing . to lier husband's death, which resulted when he was carrying out the instructions of the Government Inspector of Machih- • cry. Reporting on the petition yester- ' day, the Public Petitions Committee recommended that the petition bo referred i to the Government for favourable consid- , oration, and that in its opinion a regulal tion should be passed providing that all buildings where machinery is placed should be examined, and passed by tho Inspector of Machinery.