POLITICAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1199, 7 August 1911, Page 2

POLITICAL ITEMS.

MEMBERS' QUESTIONS, Mr. Russell is seeking information as to a pnymcut of (is. Gd. to Messrs. Adams Biolliers, solicitors, Duneciin, l'or services in uraiting tno Licei'sing liill, as per tho unauthorised expenditure account. Mr. Herdnian is to ask the Acting-Prime Minister whether tho Government intends to remove the Government offices from tlio present Lambton Quay site and to includo tlieiii in tho new parliamentary buildings, and, if to, whether the Government, Iteforo coming to a filial decision, will g/vo tho llouso an opportunity of expressing an opinion upon the matter. Mr. lloniuiau remarks that the present situation of the Government Buildings is convenient and suitable. Mr. M'Laren is to ask the Minister for Labour to introduce this session an amendment to tho Bankruptcy Act making wages a first claim upon a bankrupt estate. Mr. llerdninn nsks tho Government to state their reasons for refusing to compensate Mr. Hugh M'Lean, as twico rocommended by tho Lands Committee (on September 13, 190", and on December 22, 1909). The committee twice reported that Mr. M'Lean had suffered severe loss owing to the non-reduction of his rent, as recommended by the Otflgo School Commissioners in 1897, and sliould bo adequately compensated.

Mr. Okoy is to ask tho Minister for Public Works when tho sum of JCOOOO' voted by Parliament last session for public buildings in New Plymouth is to bo expended. , PRICE OF BUTTER. Tho introduction of Australian buttar into Now Zealand in tlio form of a small shipment, which wis placed on tlio nitfvket recently, has been followed by a proposal that the duty should bo removed. Mr. E. A. Wright, tho member for Wellington South, is advocating this remission on tho ground that tlio nrico of tho Now Zealand articlo is much higher than the prices quoted" ill Australia. If tho duty was removed, he states, tho choicest Australian butter could lie landed in tho Dominion at 12Jd. Pr lb. At the present time New Zealand butter costs at tlio factories from Hd. to 15d. per lb. Mr. Wright's proposal is l>eing supported by Mr. D. M'Laren, membey for Wellington East.

CONSULSHIPS. Execution was taken bv tho Hon. J. E. Jenkinson, M.L.C., on Friday to members of the House or the Council lidding or accepting consulships "for foreign nations. He had looked into tho matter and ho believed, nlt'houglr thcro wero doubts about it, that holding a consulship really debarred a member. At anyrate he thought it was wrong from a common-senso point of view. Ho hoped to see the practice stopped.