POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1238, 21 September 1911, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

REFORM OF THE UPPER HOUSE. Tho resumption of the debate on Mr. Massey's motion in favour of an elective Upper House is being looked forward to villi interest. It is stated lllat u the llouso had divided on the question on Tuesday night, the motion would have been carried, notwithstanding the efforts that: were made by the - Government Whips. A division on the motion to report progress was not called for, as it appeared that it could not be inly opposed. It is understood that strenuous efforts aro now being made to bring tjovernment supporters into line, so that Mr. Masscy's motion may lie dcioated when it comes on again, as it should do to-mor-row. ADMIRALTY WELL INFORMED. Mr. lius-sell asked.the Prime Minister whether the Government had considered the desirability of inviting the Imperial Government to send a leading naval olhccr t'o the Dominion to report on its naval defences. Sir Joseph Ward replied thai the suggested action was not contemplated. New Zealand being under the control of the British Navy the Admiralty , was familiar with t'ho whole position in this country. SOUTH AFRICAN WAR. Mr. Okey asked the Prime Minister to draw the attention of Ills Home authorities to the fact t'hat a number of New Zeaianders were permanently injured while serving in South Africa so that they could not make a living; and asi: them to make some provision for such persons by way of pension or grant'. The Minister for Dclenee (Sir Joseph Ward) took it' that the question referred tj New Zealanders who sencd in irregular corps raised in 'South Africa during the war. The matter of making representations on behalf of these persons would bo carefully considered. PETITIONS. Reporting on a petition by Alfred E. Schultz, of Wellington, praying i'or an inquiry into the matter of the loss of his wholesale licence the Public Petitions (Jcmmittce reported that the petitioner had not' exhausted his legal remedy. The committee had therefore no recommendation to make. The same Committee reported on the petition of A. i\ Wimsett, of Nelson, praying for relief in connection with expenses incurred in defending a prosecution for burglary. The Committee recommended that the petition bo referred t'o Ihe Government for favourable consideration. Mr. J. Graham (Nelson) and other members supported the petition. Mr. Graham urged that eil'ect' should be given to the recommendation. This was tho third occasion on which Mr. Wimsetfs application had been unanimously recommended to the favourable consideration of tho Government. ANNUITIES. Mr. Newman suggests in a question to the Prime Minister that provision might bo made under the National Annuities Act so that a man could obtain a joint annuity for himself and his wife. QUITE DEAD. Tho abandonment of the Town Planning Bill by the Hon. G. Fowlds was confirmed by a statement of the Prime Minister last evening. Mr. Ma£sey asked whether the Government proposed" to give tho House an opportunity for further consideration of the Bill. Ho expressed a desire that the Bill should bo proceeded with, and that the Prime Minister would give nil assurance that lie would place tho Bill 011 the Statute Book before the'end of the session. Sir Joseph Ward replied that in view of the decision of the House that the control under the Bill should lie taken away from the Executive, he did not intend to proceed with the Bill. STATE COAL HISTORY. . Margaret Macdougall, wife of Alexander Macdougall, of Wellington, formerly manager of the State Coal Departflifnit,, ad;, dresses Parliament iii a petition which was presented 011 Xmsday by Ml-. For many .years Mr. Macdougall was engaged in prospecting for coal near Greymouth and in floating and managing a mining company to work certain coaibearing areas in that district. Largo sums of money were expended, says the petitioner, in connection with these matters, and Mr. Macdougall paid two long and costly visits to England for the purpose of raising capital. His efforts wero partially successful, but eventually tho business of the company was destroyed by reason of tho fact that certain leases of coal-bearing areas which he liad acquired wero cancelled by the Crown, and :.io New Zealand Coal Mine v;as'established on the property concerned, Mr. Macdougall being appointed manager. He retained that position until compulsorily retired on account of having reached tho age-limit. . Ho has since been unable to obtain remunerative employment, and is now an invalid. Tho petitioner advanced money to him for the purposes mentioned above, and she claims that tho country reaped the benefit of her husband's labours and of the expenditure of the moneys supplied by him and her. She, therefore, asks that her losses may bo recouped to her, IN BRIEF. Replying to a question by Mr. Poolo, the Minister for Lands stated that no more can at present be done to prevent undue aggregation of land by private sale than is done under Part XIII of the Land Act, I'JOB.

The Prime Minister replied to Mr. Fisher's question as I'o whether tho capital outlay invested in the Government Office destroyed by iiro last week was classed in the Budget as interest-produc-ing that ho had already dealt with the general principles oi the question in his speech on the Financial Debate.

Mr. Ilogan suggested in the House yesterday that it would be n good thing to set up a special committeo to consider many of the claims that aro made for compassionate allowances. Many cases of great hardship with which select committees ' could not well deal could then be dealt with and relieved.

Mr. Newman will movo for a return showing the capital value and rateable value of all pastoral lands and small grazing-ruus held from tho Crown for tho year 11109-10.

Mr. Buchanan suggests that tlio Government should appoint additional stations from which telegraphic weather reports should be issued, thereby giving' tho public more accurate and reliable knowledge of weather conditions throughout tho Dominion.

. Mr. Herdman suggests that having regard to tho extra work imposed upon Judges of the Supreme Court by the abolition of District Courts and the creation of circuit sittings, another Judge should be appointed. He states that there has been delay and inconvenieuco to litigants in Wellington.