POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1232, 14 September 1911, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

MR. POOLE AND THE "NEW . PARTY." In his spDoch on the Budget last night, Mr. Poolo made a few remarks which arc of interest in view of recent political developments. A- reee;it. paragraph in The Dominion mentioned a prediction by ft Government supporter that Mr. Poolo would 1)0 a momljer of the new party which rumour declares may l>o formed by Mr. l'owlds. A portion of the passage in Mr. Poole's spocch to which reference has been made bears a striking similarity in its general tone to the address delivered by Mr. FowMs at the Central Mission Brotherhood meeting on tho Sunday prior to his resignation of his portfolios. Mr. Poolo's opening sentence, it will bo seen, indicates that he would l>o by no means unwilling to throw in his lot with tho new party should it appear above tho political horizon. "I hold no brief for the Government," declared .Air. Poolo "I am going to vote with the nust progressive people in tho Legislature, who arc trying to put on tho Statute Book tho most progressive legislation." It was absolutely impossible, h° continued, for any section of the Legislavuie to stand out :n defiance of the march of progress and hope to be successful.

PRIVATE STREETS. Tho Prime Minister yesterday promised that the Government would consider tho matter of-inducing local bodies to undertako tho maintenance and control of the thoroughfares known as "private streets" in some of our cities, but he did not think anything could bo done concerning it this session. Tho matter was brought to the Minister's notice by Mr. Herdman, who represented that in some cases people paying heavy rates to local bodies could get nothing done to repair tho neglected roadways bounding their properties.

THAT IMMIGRATION PARAGRAPH. Tho Prime Minister replied yesterday to Mr. Wright's question referring to the. paragraph in the "Westminster Gazette" purporting to bo published under authority of tho Iligh Commissioner for New Zealand. The paragraph related to New Zealand's need for immigrants, and stated that tho country required a million more people for the cities and two millions for the land. The Prime Minister's reply was as follows:—"This has already been replied to very Sully. I n.ay, however, slate that the paragraph in question was published in the 'Otago Witness,' in Dun-c-din, on May 10 last. It appeared in tho 'Westminster Gazette' of July 22, but its nublicaiion therein was not authorised by the High Commissioner for New Zealand, whoso reply to that effect I have already placed before the House. I.may add that the policy of the Government regarding assisted immigrants has not bssn departed from, in 1910 the total number was 2187,, and for the first six months of the present year 1105, the whole of which information was laid upon tho table of the Hoiieo prior to the publication of tho article in a local newspaper,"

THE FIVE-MILLION LOAN. In the House yesterday afternoon Mr. Buchanan moral:—"That there be laid before this Houso a return ehowing the cost of cabling to and from London the eight questions in regard to the fivemillion loan and the replies thereto, as recorded on pages xiv and xv of the Financial Statement." The Prime Minister; May I surest that the honourable gentleman ask for a return showing the cost of cabling in connection with loans for tho last 20 years, comparing the cost with that in-curred-in other countries? Mr. Buchanan merely shook his head. The Prime Minister: Now I offer you information that you don't want. Mr. Buchanan: I don't propose to extend my notice of motion.

ASKING TOO MUCH. Yesterday the Prime Minister answered tho question asked him by Mr. Poland last week:—"Whether ho will this session amend the Advances to Settlers Act so as to. enable those who take up land under the laud Settlement Finance Act-to'bor-row on the security of their permanent improvements?" The Minister replied as follows:—"Under the New Zealand State Guaranteed Advances Act, 1909, it is provided that nil advances shall bo made on tho security of first mortgage of lands, freo from all encumbrances, liens, and interests other than leasehold interest. To do what is now suggested would involve the advancing of money on second mortgage. This the Government is not prepared to do."

DOMINION MUSEUM. Tho Hon. D. Buddo, Minister for Internal Affairs, stated yesterday in answer to a question from Mr. Field, that be expected that tho work of erecting a Dominion Museum in Wellington, which had been delayed owing to tho construction of other public buildings which wero more urgently required, would ba undertaken at an early date.

AN UNREPEALED LAW. Probably most people do not know that ever sineo the Maori ware the Maorie have not been able to buy guns and ammunition as freely as Europeans. Dr. Te E,ingihiroa. recently brought this fact under tho notioa of the Native Minister, pointing out that tho conditions which might nave rendered such restrictions necessary had passed away for ever. The Maoris, as loyal British subjects, wero not only put to considerable inconvenitnco in obtaining ammunition during the shooting season, but they considered such restrictions a reflection upon their loyally. He.asked the Minister to remove the restrictions. Sir James Carroll promised yesterday to havo inquiries made as to whether there was any further necessity for the restriction.

THE BARE MAJORITY. Mr. Poole mado brief but pointed rcferenco to the No-License question in Parliament last evening. "It is necessary to pay souio attention to the democrats of this country," he stated. "I don't know what honourable gentlemen will havo to say to me,, but I don't approve of this Budget altogether. It departs in one particular from what should bo a rule of democratic operations—rule by the bare majority. I know of no interest except the brewing interest which would have received the consideration in this Parliament as it has received." People of this country were calling out for the settlement of referendum questions by thobaro majority, yet they found that they could not break down from tho three-fifths majority. Apart froin the liquor question, if any question had to bo referred to the people, or dealt with in tho House, the people would become rebellious, obstinate, and indignant, if they had to be treated .to the handicap of a three-fifths majority. If tho pepplo of this country wanted to continuo the liquor business, Ist them do it on 'the bare majority. The same privilege should be extended to the party of reform. (A voice: Clause 9.)