NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1366, 17 February 1912, Page 6

NEWS AND NOTES.

DR. POMARE. ins PART? POSITION. Two or three of the Western District Maoris who are here just now havo stated that Dr. Pomare received their vofes on tho understanding that he would be a supporter of Sir James Carroll's. Dr. Pomare denies that ho was returned as a supporter of the present Native Minister, and it is plain that ho could not bo so seeing that both Sir James Carroll and the present Government opposed him in his olcction campaign. Ho 6ays ho was returned to look aftor the interests of tho Maori people, and when he had been proved false to his trust it would bo time enough for these Maoris to criticise him adversely. I

THE NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. A SIMPLE ISSUE. During the sitting of the Honse, immediately after tho delivery of tlie Governor's Speech, the event which overshadowed all othors in point of interest, was an intimation by Mr. Mftsscv of his intention to move tlio no-confidence motion _ upon which (ho fate of the Ward Administration will shortly bo decided. 'J'ho alTair passed off very quietly. At leu minutes past three Mr. V. 11. IViml (Bay of Islands) rose to give notice of the formal motion, "That a respectful Address be presented In his Excellency tlio Governor, in reply lo his Excellency's Speech."

Mr. t JfwsoT did not hurry, A couple of .auctions, (ui« » HJliw, liatinn

and tho other something- equally prosiie, were unloaded by members before tho Leader of the Opposition got up quietly to announce that ho desired to givo notice of "an amoiulinent in the shape of an addition" to the Address-in-Reply. Mr. Mnssey's notice of motion was afterwards circulated. It is as follows:—

Mr. Mnssoy to more, as on amendment to tho Addrcss-in-Roply to tho Speech of his Excellency tlie Governor, to add the following paragraph: "in conclusion, wo deem it our duty to represent to your Excellency that your Exccllency's Advisers do not possess the confidence of this House." The Address- in-Eepty will bo seconded by Mr. J. C. Thomson (Wallaco), and Mr. Alasse'y will speak immediately oftcrwa rd?. MR. WILFOFiD'S ABSENCE. A PAIR REFUSED. Application has been made by the Primo Minister to the Leader of the Opposition for a pair for Mr. Wilford, who is at present in England. Tho Opposition party, however, declined to ask any man to disfranchise his constituents by walking out on every division to pair with a member who happens to bo out of the Dominion, who has not yet taken the oath, and who has not tho opportunity of judging the merits of the case by listening to tho debate. s THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE. On this occasion it has been deemed advisable to depart from tlio usual custom of ..entrusting the opening of tho Address-in-Reply debate to juuior members of the. party, as neither Mr. R. M'Callum (Wairau), Mr. W. J. Dickio (Sclwyn), nor Afr. T. Parata (Southern Maori), tho only new members in the Government party, have been selected for the honour. It has always been the custom for the Leader of the Opposition to follow tho mover and tho secondor, and there is no reason why Mr. Massey should bo anticipated on this occasion. Tho debate may bo a protracted one. The members of tho Government party aro carefully concealing any anxiety they may feel to rush in with commendation of the new policy. The members of tho Reform Part}' will be guided by circumstances; already they have planned to meet in a most effective manner the Governor's Speech. It is expected by many that the four Labour members will participate in the debate, and some at least of tho "Independents" also.

MR. ISITT'S "INDEPENDENCE." Members of the Government party ar very reticent as to whether or not Mi Isitt attended tho rccent caucus. Severa when asked the question, refused to sa; "Yes" or "No." Others, however, malt no secret of tho fact that the so-callei "Independent" did attend tho meeting. THE LATE VOLUNTEERS. The Speaker announced in tho Hous of Representatives yesterday that he hai received a letter from Colonel Porter C.8., acknowledging tho resolution passei by tho House last session, in which thank: wero extended to the members of the nov disbanded Volunteer force, for tho service: they had rendered to Now Zealand. I was ordered that Colonel Porter's lettei should bo recorded in tho journals of thi House. ) LATE MR. HUGH POLLEN. The Honeo of Hepresontatives yesterdaj passed a motion expressing appreciatioi of the faithful semces rendered by th< late Mr. Hugh Pollen (Under-Secretary foi nternal Affairs), and extending sin can sympathy to his widow and family it their bereavement. In submitting the resolution, the. Prime Minister remarked that it was not usual to take this courst when tho permanent head of a Department died, but Mr. Pollen had been associated with Parliament for many years tis Clerk of the Writs. Mr. Massey, who seconded the motion, said that his acquaintance with the late Mr. Pollen had extended over a period of 18 years. Mr. Pollen, while ho lived, was one of the most courteous, obliging, and efficient officers ever employed by tho State. AN ELECTORAL BLUNDER. A resolution was passed yesterday _!n the House of Representatives authorising J tho Clerk of the House, together with , Messrs. W. Fraser (Wakatipu) a,nd V. 11. ,* Hood (Bay of Islands), to open a parcel containing the Grey Lynn rolls and other ' electoral papers used at the last general 3 election, for the purpose of obtaining - some marked rolls. The Prime Minister explained that tho rolls mentioned were office copies, which would bo required at a later date, nhcn roll-purging took place, and that they had been inadvertently " sealed up with other electoral papers and f forwarded to Wellington. > THE FOURTH ESTATE. ; The Fourth Estate receiTod official recognition in a very pleasant form yester- . day afternoon, when the Speaker of tho • House (Sir Arthur Guinness) invited mern- ; bers of the press gallery and the Hansard staff to meet him in the card-room. In proposing the health of the chairman : (Mr. C. E. Wheeler) and vice-chairma.n (Mr. Stanley Muir) of the gallery, and the chief of Hansard (Mr. Silas Spragg), the Speaker referred to tho unique and historical character of tho present session, which differentiated it from every other since tho grant of constitutional government in 1852. If the proceedings bccaino at times acrimonious, ne believed that the fair and accurate reports ia tho press would assist in preventing any such scenes as liad. sometimes dis.graced tho Parliaments of other countries. Tho health of the Speaker was proposed by Mr. W. H. Triggs (editor of tho Christchuroh 'Tress"), and spoken to by Mr. Mark Cohen (editor of the Dunedin "Star") and Mr. J. Oakley Browne (press gallery). THE UPPER HOUSE. Tho Address-in-Beply in the Legislative Council will bo moved by the Hon. J. B. Callan, and seconds! by tho Hon. J. lin rr. Tho debate will commence ■on Tuesday afternoon, but will bo suspended as soon as the amendment of no-confi-dence is moved in the Lower House by Mr. Massey. The Hon. J. M'Gowan has again taken the temporary leadership of the Council at the request of tho Government. The Standing Orders havo been suspended to allow the Chairman of Committees (Hon. W. C. P. Carncross) who was elected last year to continue in office until next session. WEST COAST LEASES. Tho member for Taranaki (Mr. H. ,T: H. Okoy) has intimated that ho will ask tho Government to appoint a commission to report on tho advisability of giving a number of holders of West "Coast Settlemont Reserve leases, under the Act of 1882, tho right to ewno under tho provisions of tho Act of 1832. Mr. Okey sugthat the tenants concerned should be given tho right to nominate at least two members of the commission, and sug> gests that, as a number of tho leases are about to espiro and legislation will be necessary, an inquiry should bo commenced as soon as possible. FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN. A novel proposal advanced in Parliament yesterday by Mr. G. Hunter was that on long-distance trains a carriage should be reserved exclusively for tho uso of mothers or other persona travelling with children in their care. Some laughter arose from members when Mr. Hunter made his proposal, in giving notice of a question to be put to tho Minister for Railways. Possibly those who laughed do not know that on some British lines carriages are reserved for women and children, exactly as Mr. Huntor suggests. QUESTIONS. On tho resumption of the House aftor the Governor's Speech, tho proceedings dropped suddenly from national affaire to local matters. A large number of mcmborti gave .notice of questions to be askod of Ministers, referring in meet instances to tho special interests of their canstitnen+s.

In a nuostion addressed to th« Minister for Railways, Mr. G. Hunter, the new member for Waipawa, called attention to the "old and ont-of-dato bnilding now used as a station at. Waipawa," and suggested that it should be replaced by "i new and better structure.

The Pastiiifctcr-Cieiieral is to be asked by Mr. O. IV. J?u.->~el! to consider tho desirability of gazetting refutations p<.rwitting the establishment of experimental wireless stations tor scientific. purposes. Mr. Rwsmll etitcfi th.at i utraikr ljc-rraii-•ioa ia tlraadr Mtmatod, a Jbu&nUa.

The addition of a dining-car on tho Wellington-Napier express is su(?g«sted by Hi - . G. Hunter in « (|iK';,tion which ho is to put to tho Minister fur Railways. Tho Minister for Railways is to bo asked by Mr. Jiuchiman to take into consideration tho advisability of a reasonable adherence to lime-table on tlio Welling ton - U'.'l irara pa rn i I way.

Mr. Wilson is to a?k the Government whether tlioy are aware that the Native Laud Hoards aro refusing to sanction the sale of township sections in tho townships of Tniumirumii, To Kuiti, and Otol'ohanga, although the price agreed to bo paid is equal or above the Government valuations; and will tho Government remove such conditions?

Mr. Campbell is to ask tho Minister for Public Worts whether lie is awaro that a quantity of iron and steel bridge material for a bridge over the Ruakihiri River, at Boo(hnia.n's Crossing, is at tho present time rusting away about a mile from Iho site of (he proposed bridge, and what lie proposes to do with tho cement lying at the bottom of tho river. llr. Witty is to ask the Government to purchase land in Canterbury for an experiment farm. Ho points out that Canterbury—"the homo of agriculture"— has no experiment farm. ?t[r. Glover is to ask the Government whether it is their intention to appoint a Crown defendor in criminal and other eases.

A Dying Appeal. "It is a dying kick," said one member, referring to tho Speoch, "a last dying appeal by loaders to whom ordinary methods of eliciting support have become impossible. Ido not take it seriously. Wo shall attack them on their past, and not on the very unlikely things they propose to do in tie future."