NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1479, 29 June 1912, Page 6

NEWS AND NOTES.

PUBLIC DEBT EXTINCTION. : STATEMENT MY THE AUDITOR- ■ : Tho followsiitr statement bjr the Con- : 'itrqiler-.arid',- Auditor-General, 1 in reference :to;-.thb'. ; Pub!ic; ; :Dcbt- Extinction Act, .was. yesterday: *. fW.As/directed-Jjy 1 Section 8;. of llio Public Debt.Extinction. Act, JTIJO, : 1 hereby ocr- '• Hfv..,■■.-■

■■ .l. : The ..imount of .the public debt of •Xinv.Zealand, as defined'in Section 2of ! s the:^sai(!rActr.^vas;:ou ; vMarch' 31j s-1912,'

;-'2;ißy Acty"; in j .making . tlio-. calculation- -' necessary for' sascertaiiiing ; bo: in;vcste(l,' nnin-iUly 'tn obtAin' a r capital' sum i debtiin seventy-five years,- the-, portion of. one miiUon pounds | ■'in'cxcess'of::.tho" last .whole million of the pubiio .dt'bt-'siuiU be .reckoned .< as one million. For ihe purpose of this certificate the-total" public debt' must,;' therefore, be coni-iderod ns ,i(i7,000,000. . v-": |);J..The)!suni .required ,to be invested each, year at . compound interest at X-t' per centunr per annum,- - .which . would in .•seventy-five': years:'; amount to .£67,000,000, is £141 hi '■■ SAi\other;.statemeiit, ;iu reference to the same Act, intin-ates that at. a' meeting i.ofr tho •BoardjHconstituted under the Act, .fwiiK-li' wasj'held in January last, it was ;'resolved(:.t hut i-'isnti Ifurther directed' by ;.'the , ■' : ]3nii^l^':t■h'6 iS Supcrilltendenf , : should infyestftili'ifunds'Teceived by ..him' under; tho provii-ions^of-.tho'.-,Atti., in.: 1 advances ■■ to on instalment mort-g:!--r.,' ioi'.. terms'of thirty- ? i.\ and a half, tliiriv, and twenty years, under the pro-vi-ion's •"('!' the; New;-, Zealand State«giiarauteed Advances Act, -. 1909,•. and its '.amendments. : . ' „ ' ft ros-olved that.- tho Super;iiitei\dcut;be:''appointed: to .act as Score. ,tary tn tho''Board, pending a- pcrmajieat , "appointmeiit;:rf'.>. ■■ 1 ,. ' i/rh'o : am6mit''of Imoneys paid over by-tho Trinsury.' to tho Board-during tho 'year ''wa.sVi.EltilSSovs-'.ij';.;*: ■ ■■ • Tile securities held by. the Board for tho smonevs l invested- on March 31, 1912, were: J . and -lease- :: ' isiiiold) securities,< .£61,410. - .* ;. invested-' in - settlers "^ranch^under'Section. 26 pending in- - ■ ■'.yestment'oil., mortgages, X81i,4(5. -: - The rate of interest was— " V.'.-; : -(1.) Oii iul.-llfl, invested on mortgages. > l■''.■■;^l.ios^:pelV'cent^V(s:^;^::.^:■';-:■■■..;Y■:; ; vv;■ ; "'l(!Sl)AOk'. ! ie^ l .-lnyestmeiit, V' :■■■■■<! ■> ■ '"'No--'• portion?of.■) tho '• pubjic' (Übt,. was. r6-; •p;..id.,during ■../eariVl'/fcy •. : -j : '4;h(jsexpcnso;i.pf..;adiniuistering-Hio:-Mt V ' TRAVELLING ALLOWANCES AND EXPENSES

j A KLTUIiN. j: During tho short session in February i Mr: Fbher', -M-.l'.i' wovoil for a. return yraTCiliag expenses'.and; nl:'r6«'auTOsi,oP;meinbers of the lato.Cabinet rduring'thc'provibus feoc-ss - and at the eiee•tion7neri6di The return was not furnished (during*'' the' short ' session;- but: yesterday -.jtr'-, IMfKefircriewcd-. his- notice ot.-wohon; beforei'ths' Hjmse'.of-Kepresentatives-'adiouvred last evening the Prime Minis- ■ ter laidithe returns' asked for on the table. '^:3jri'-i;Fi?her^.congratulated• the Primo "■MinisteriainoivitheroxiiC'dition-'Wi™ which : iio hadacctded ia the request for. niforma-. "tioii;" : 'V; , •: :.Tlifl .rrinf'e'-":stiriistcr ) yin', a. brief reply, indicated (hat this war. a simple ot what (tho;?Gqyernniont:.would do.it it were £iyen its 1 good qualities. ■■ - . OnnoMtioi) lm-mber*' roewvd Iho statement with gobd-iiaturcd laughter, and 'he. iwideiit-. ckiM'd witli 'a ; remark by ■ Jlr. J"i~hi'r th it lie hoped . the government : ou 1 rl- -iiot-ai'iiiV?dtf ■ the lines upon..which staUd that it wish'cd-Mo: nin.'l';> ' T'iillowi'ns:'aro' Ih o ref urns it-" 1 ; '.TraveUMiß.' expenses ".of. •Mini:tm:s froni: • tfe.clayjl'arliam.enadjbnrnrd (Ooi.obor .'iv IS) 1). to"Wwniujr^,; ;v / -;'' v Allow-. : ■ : v. n i!i*e=.- '-■"i.pen*os? ; , , <£Tptal.*j ■■\' .? (i. V*• • i'..-- 'i. Sir ,1. Wnn'i-:. ,3ie-0-;0.y:.:.«7;5J- n J' ,} J 'Sir J. Cnrivll «.:0 0; !?. 15..0-- « l.v 0 .1. .A. MiliiP- .. iv jSirric n ; ■ 1;'. ; M'Knn^k ; 1 10' \C~- 0, ; .11:::. 1 -"''. 7- ; -'6 11. HVuiclo !f' i; C !0 1.5 0 T. 'M;K'l'enx.it v 'i t' ".014'" 0 A. 'i'.. 1,1 ~/,-'.WO; ( !^:0;v.-3^,15^6,V 8 !o o ... 'I'liiiveliini; nl' of. Mini •iter-' oDpcenibvKiT-ilioj'Ocfember. lis mi!:-- :■ 1 Tl .:AUo"w.-: ; " .; i ..rnnt , c?.'.. , . , ' , ■ ■■ ?. (!. ::Sir ' : 3. : 0 ;0'; \r ii. 2v 5> "6 Sir Ji' iCn'rrolb.i ■ lO'lO. 0- J s:'-L r ilo 15'" 0 li. ... !« 10 C '19 IS.O '.35 6 0 ■iv; T._. &at - j.,' J 24 15 ' 0 ADDRESS IN-RCPLY Mr, ~T.. Viffor-lirow ii,."m?iu!-.rr "for'.-Xn-'? pie", is lo fct-ond liu .V<i(iro!.>-;n-l!eply in the HcKe of Representatives. ■

SOME ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE, CORONATION TRIPS. ;f : ,Somc items'of .Vinconimon interest. ar*'.:i; contaiucd in-.the. Unauthorised' Expondir..!'? Huro Account, which was presented to Parliament 'yesterday.'-""lncreases, of pay toA -'.'/ railway servants accounts, for a triiio less fthan*'.2lo,ooo. Allowances establishing ay';:■minimum wage of 9s. per clay to members Vof:;-tho. second:-'division and .casual.' cm■ployocs. of tho Department 'in"thcmsclvci';.i« 'absorb-,£8185. ■'•■ . v ■•■.'■ ; ii 'The sum of: ,£250 appears as ; to . the Solicitor-General .as eupor»4»l? .visor of tho Crown Law Drafting and fot'S'-H ■.'special: advocacy from April 1, 1911. expenses of the Bcv. J. knyll, on a. visit U> Australia in coneo ; v' : I turn ■ with prison service,' absorb ,£44. -vj yjOther items.are:—'■. . ■ifi W'ljrant to' cover expenses'of trip to Eng- 'i.iSs .land/of the'Minisuer for Justice and pri-■ |f, ■ v 4'? {Wbuy, in connection with tlvo Im])cnal. Conierenco, arid ■■■■Webster claim, "■ andstho/Io Akau.Kativo laud caso:— -■ V. M 0 0 0:^ Ju. iN. C 7. l'oulton ;. 50110 0 ?■■ Special allowances to Ministers' private ' socrfltariM during tho . Primo ,■ Min. ' istor'a; absonco from tho Dominion:- 'S. W. T. Gordon, H. D. Grocott, I'. D. ■ 'J homsoii, J. H. MacAlister, "J. W. Black. i,L. Johnson,. W. Crow, and H. R. n. Bat ; .ncavis, .£2O each. ■ .' '■% I Cost of passago and other expenses of . ' Messrs. J. Hislop and F. G. Matthews, no-',- 5! companyinz the Primo'Minister to tlio 'SS Imperial Conference and tho Coronation ■ '~"■ "■ "'■■"■ r..:'',''. ..■;-■'■ '■£ s, d, J. Hislop 2® 10 0 ■-. 1-.. l>. Matthews ' 190 0 0 .. Travelling allowancos and expenses of ■■■¥ ■E. G. Butcher, Inspector of visiting Australia, .£3O. > Travelling expenses and allowances oi' ' Dr. Valintino, Insjwctor-General of Hosuitals, whilo attending Internationa] . Aiedical Congr«ss in Sydney, ,Sl7 12s. Bd, ~ Amount paid to Lieulonaht-Colonol H, 0. Knox, n-8 refund of passngo of nurso M. accompanying his family from London to . ■ . Wellington, Travelling expenses and allowanocs of Mr. D. C. Bates whilo inspecting mctooro--1 logical stations .in Australia, J5lO 18s. Compensation granted for military and ,': other services rendered by Major J. Large, MrJ. . , :

" "ADVERSE COMMENT." ~\i

DEFINITE PARTICULARS ' " DEMANDED. . -/ Mr.' Buchanan has given the. Prims' > Minister an opportunity of substantiating 'fk ■. s. some allegations that he made rcccntlv. '0, Ho intimated yesterday that ho. would ;S move !—"That there-be laid befor© this : .h. fHouso a return giving tho namo of the nowspaQcr or newspapers and tho date or dates on which tho adverse comments on *: tho financial position of.tho Dominion ot Now Zealand were published, and which he recently alleged from the public plat- • ferm were forwarded or communicated by a member' or members ■ of tho Reform .. NEGLECTED MOTIONS. Miv Fisher inquired in. tho'Houso yos« terday whether tho Primo Minister in- . "/£ tended to take any notion in regard to ' notices of motion tabled during tho short ... session.' • Tho member "for Wellington Central was informed, however, that tho question was out of.order, and.tho Prima' Minister made no remark on tho subject,..... 1 V». ,Mr, Fisher then proceeded to give 'notice,: ono by one, of , the motions of which ho 'v-; : ;iv gavo notice during the short session. Tho , -;/../ i .v first motion recalled in this way wns one ':*"&} calling for a return giving particulars '■ s J-;;; of all travelling expenses and allowances v '-;d-; : paid to tho lato Frimo Minister (Sir - Joseph.. Ward) and Sir J. Findlay, in con* : ■noction witii their visit, to England last year. Mr. Fisher,sat down after naming each motion, in order to givo other mem-. bars ft turn, and it seemed likely that he would toko a long time to work his programme. Tho Speaker presently.. . intimated gently that Mr. Fisher • , •rood tho wholo list without breaks, but ''£■£& that member was apparently satisfied, forigvy; ho replied that the motions ho had orated would suffice for that day.

NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE. ■:' Mr. Massoy asked the Primo Minister, Inst evening when bo proposed (o commence tho-- no-coiifidcßce • debate. ■ Mr. .«■■■■:.. Mackeaie said ho was quite- willing-' to'i.meot the convenience of members in the ■'mutter, ond accepted a suggestion by ...til® .. Leader of the Opposition that the debate should commenco on Tuesday at 7.30 p.m. "VANCOUVER SERVICE, - * In a puestion addressed to,, the Govern-/:* w' meat, Mr. Okey suggests that if the Goveminent subsidy on the Vancouror steam-'g.;; ship sorvice is to be continued, provision, ■s'. j; should bo made to reserve ft proportion-' ato amount. of space for New Zealand;^. ■ shippers. ■ ; v ; CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEES. ' Tho position of Chairmanship of Committeos is apparently going a-beggiu,g. It was offered -to Messrs. T. H. Dnvei nnd George Witty, both Canterbury members, .*; ■ but they declined to hold the offico under the' present Ministry. Yesterday som©- v> bodv had'to act for the Imprest Bill, and 4 tho'Government; got out of their difficulty :■. about making a permanent appointment ■. •■■■: by nominating Mr. J. C. Thompson OVa.l-' lace), to net . lor the day only, NOTICE-OF DILLS. ;■ Notice was given of tb,9 following ■■'■ Bills Lights on Vehicles Bill (Mr. ■''; Buddo), Waikalo Eher Board Bill (Mr. ■ Massey), Betterment Bill (Mr. M'Gillum), Sunday Labour Bill (Mr. Fisher), . ■ ' A SEAT FORFEITED. '/ f 1 ■ Technically .tho Hon. W, Per© lias lost his seat in tho Legislative Council. . Statuto law directs that when a member' , luis been absent for more than one session without leave of tho Governor his seat shalL ljo forfeited. Tho Hon. W. l'ere ' was absent, during the whole' of tho short ' session, and also from Thursday's sit-. ting.- It is stated, however, that similar cases have occurred before, and that tho Hon.' W. Pore's seat is in no real dan- ■ ger. Ho arrived in Wellington on Thisrs- -i, day just too late to attend the sitting of . the .Council on that day. " A REPORT ON TELEPHONES : Mr. Herdman gave notice yesterday that " he would move to have Mr. Buckley's report'.'- ' upon his investigations into telephone;* ■systems in different parte of the world ■;■■■ laid upon tho table. ■'■ ■ •- ''.'PENSIONS. Mr. W. C. Kensington, lite Under- .■ Secretary for Lands, has retired on ass?; pension of .£SOB per annum. Mr. 15. v Martin, of the Postal Department, retires .- on a pension of .£316, and Mr. J. D. Bush, ■-!. of tho samo Department, on a pension of.' • L .... ANTICIPATIONS. "Ton aro anticipating," interjected tho .Hour'A. M. Myers yesterday, .as Mr. Fisher , was emphasising, the unwisdom ni u policy oi' raising Short-dated loans. "If-' there had been a little anticipation on ■'■>■ your part, in connection with these shortdated' debentures," retorted the member for Wellington Central, "yon would never ;* hare beeu in the position that you are in now." , ;p ' A MOTION LAPSED. iv A-motion of' which notice had beetf .' .- ,'- ■ pivcu by . Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, jrjj "That there b? laid before this House a copy of. the legal opinion given by tho 1W advisers of the Labour Department ■on ■ .-■ the present, labour trouble at Boefton and " ; ...Wainta," was called upon iu the House of: Representatives yesterday. The member for "Westland was not in his place, 1 v ■and/his motion therefore lapsed. FIRST READINGS.', " ' 7 The; following Bills rere read, a firs'l'.j.# - time: yesterday Land Agents , ;!ion Bill (Mr.: Witty). Workers' Miuiunim AVage Bill (Mr. Tayiie), Public Service Re. form Bill (Mr. Herdman). Workers' Bight. 'n Work.and Wages Bill (Mr. Paynel, ... "Marriage Act Amendment Bill (Mr. ' ij'isher), Prevention of • Acquirement of .'. • Unearned Increments Bill (Mr. Payne), ■Arbitration Art Amendment Bill '(Mr., , Paynrt. legislature Act. 190$;-Amendment ■' Hi'iUMr. llimlmarsh), Limitation of Distress for "Rent Bill (Mr. Hindmarsh).