NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1482, 3 July 1912, Page 8

NEWS AND NOTES.

A PAIR ASKED FOR. AN AMUSING INCIDENT. Ono of the most amusing joke.; at tlx expense of tlio Government has been perpetrated by the former Minister for l'tilv lie Works, who has made to the new Government Whip a request that a pair should bo given for tlio Hon. J. A, MilInr, now seeking renewed health at Eotovun. Those who wero aware of Mr. Millar's intentions perceived the humour of Mr. M'lCenzie's proposal, but tho member for Hurmnii is unsophisticated in tlio duties of a parly Whip, and he accepted tlio request ill all seriousness. Last evening; Sir: Forbes informed a reporter that tho Government was considering tho application. A clearer indication of Mr. Millar's position is given by a letter written by him to one of "liis constituents in Dunediii, in which Mr. Millar states that he is advised that if lie continues the treatment prescribed for him at Rotorua there is every chance of his complclo recovery in the course of four weeks. Mr. Millar will consequently merely exercise, his vole oil Mr. Massey's, amendment, and then apply for a month's leavo of absejice ou the ground of illhealth, which will enable him to return to liotorua forthwith.

SECOND BALLOT EXPENSES. According to a return laid before Pa» liament yesterday, the expenses of candi< daises in tho second ballot elections last year totalled J2I!GS-j is. Thero wore thirty second, ballots and tho State was therefore called upon to meet l the expenses of ■ sixty candidates. Only three candidates claimed the maximum amount of ,£3O, Mr. A. W. Hogg, who was unseated by Mr. Sykes at Mastcrton, Mr. 11. J. Sinison, who was defeated b,v Mr. H. M. Campbell in the Hawkc's Bay seat, and Mr. J. M'Combs, who unsuccessfully attempted to unseat the Hon. G. W. Russell (Avon). Tlio candidate who claimed least in expenses!, was Mr. 1?. Moore, who spent; _.£)3 I.ls. 6d. in at tempting to wrest the Kninppi seat from the Hon. D. Buddo. Twenty-six of the sixty candidates claimed .£1!) odd. RAILWAYS SUPERANNUATION. Tho report on tlio Government. Raihvavs Superannuation Fund states that the fund amounted at tho close of the year to .£233,15", the contributions during tho year totalling ,t38,J(11. Superannuation allowances actually p;\id amouuted to representing grants to 741 memIwrs of the service. Allowances amounting.to .CG-Wr wore paid in respect of 170 willows and 270 children. LICENSES TAKEN AWAY. The into of tlio two hotels in th« Suburbs electorate, which lately lost, their licenses as a result of the alteration of electoral boundaries, was briefly referred to in (he House of Representatives vestordav aflernonu. Mr. Bell asked the Prime Minister whether lie was yet in a position to make a reply to tlio deputation which roeenUy wailed upon him in reference to the hotels at Foyirua and Paliautanui. Mr. Mackenzie replied that Cabinet bad not yet definitely decided whether temperance legi.slot.ion should b? gone into. His own opinion was that Cabinet would decide- that the subject should not be exiled. This, Mr. Mackenzie remarked, really covered tho question that Mr, Bell had put.