POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1264, 20 October 1911, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

S THE LOAN BILL. Mr. Pcarco's amendment to strike out of the Loan Bill the item "Other Public Works, .fc'00,000," as a protest against cxeessivo borrowing, was still being discussed when The Dominion went to press yesterday, but did not securo much support from either side of the House. Finally llio amendment was rejected by 43 voles to 8. • The Bill was then passed and the House roso at 4.5 a.m. A WANGANUI PROTEST. A petition from the County Councils of Waitotara and Wanganui was presented in the legislative Council yesterday by tho Hon. 0. Samuel protesting against the Wanganui Harbour District and Empowering Bill. Amongst the grounds of objection it is stated that there is not sufficient trade at tho port of Wangauui to warrant such a scheme; that the counties will not derive any compensatory advantage from t'hc work; that tho result would mean tho collection of a rate of 3-Bd. in the <£; that former engineers have cast doubts on tho feasibility of tho scheme; that the boundaries laid down in the Bill nro grossly unfair; and that to proceed with Ike Bill is a breach of faith on tho part of the Wangauui Harbour Board with tho electors.

FREEHOLD WANTED. The Native Affairs Committee reported on Wednesday on several petitions praying for the right to purchase- tho freehold of certain sections of the Ohotn Block. Tiio Committee was of opinion that he petitions should l>e referred to the Government for favourable consideration. A number of Natives petitioned against Europeans l>cing given the right to purchase the Ohotu Block. The committee reported that their petition should be referred to tho Government for consideration. Tho evidence of Mr. C. L. Pombe-r----ton, one of tho settlers who was heard by the committee, went to show that the settlement was being held back for want of better titles. The settlers had been at the cost of making roads, and the result would be that when their leases fell the rents would be raised. Mr. C. L. Duigan, auctioneer, Wangauui, said applications for loans had l>epn refused by tho Advances to Settlers Office and by a leading hink nn account of tho unsatisfactory character of the leases. The report was adopted. INFECTED BUILDINGS. Tho House had before it on Wednesday a further report of the A to L Petitions Committee on tho petition of John E. Kelsall, of Onehunga, who asked for compensation for loss of shops at Onehunga, destroyed by order of the magistrate as being plague-infected. In its first report, which was presented on Wednesday of last week, the committeo stated that it had no recommendation to make. The opinion was strongly expressed by many members that compensation ought to bo payable in such cases, and tho report was accordingly referred back to the committee. In its last report the committeo recommended that the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. RATES ON NATIVE LANDS. Mr. Macdonald asked tbo Prime Minister whether ho would make provision in the Appropriation Bill to enable the Treasury to subsidise rates actually paid by Natives to local governing bodies. ' Ito explained that at present Native rates did not carry subsidy, like thoso paid by Europeans. This was anomalous and unfair, and he asked that provision should be made accordingly, and an cnabline- Bill introduced if liecessarv. Mr. Grecnslade supported the suggestion. The Prime Minister promised to look into the matter within the next day or two, with a view to seeing whether the subsidy could bo given. \ ============