POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1370, 22 February 1912, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

AUTHORITIES FOR LOANS, The Prime Minister tabled yesterday afternoon the following statement of unexhausted authorities lor raising loans in i'oi-co at date:— £ Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1911 1,150,001) -Naval Defence Act, 1909 600,000 Aid to Water Power Works Act, 1010 500,000 Appropriation Act, 1911 (Section 17) 100,000 Wnihou and Ohinemuvi Rivers Improvement Act, 1910 50,000 Jlutt Knilwiiy and lloail Improvement Act, 1910 5.520 Government .Railways Amendment Act, 1910 6-5,010 Kwirav Preservation Act, 1908... 55,000 State Fire Insurance Act, 1908... 38,000 (.'out Mines Act, ISOB 10,000 X.Z. Stale (juarantced Advances Acts, 1908-10— Advances to Settlers 900,000 Advances to Workers 425,000 Land for Settlements 742,650 Native Land Settlement 245,500 Local Authorities 878,000 Guaranteed Mining 15,000 • 5,8*2,480 LEAVE OF ABSENCE. On the motion of Mr. A.: M. Myers (Auckland East), the House of Representatives yesterday granted leave of absence j for the remainder of tho session to Mr. T. M. Wilford (Hutt), who is absent in England on account of ill-health. THE RETIRING PRIME MINISTER, The. Prime Minister's declaration that he will retire from office if ho is successiw- in defeating the no-conlidence motion s-eems to have made but little difference to Uio political situation so far. The Government party aro still apparently hoping to defeat .Air. Massey's amendment, with tho aid of tho Shaker's casting vote. The Opposition, on tho other hand, still believe that they will win by a. majority of three ( cr four. The name of the lion. T. Mackenzie is the one most frequently mentioned in connection with the future leadership of the Liberal party, but it is probable that while he would be willing to accept the Prime Ministcrship, ho would regard the leadership of tho Opposition as not sufficiently attractive.- The impending lctircment of Sir Joseph Ward is regarded liy some as almost the only certainty in the immediate outlook, but there are others who fancy lhat if he is successful in defeating the no-confidenco motion \\° may possibly yield to the pressure of his friends and "continue to ihold the reins.