POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1508, 2 August 1912, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL. ' Til the Legislative Council yesterday the Hon. Sir .Maurice O'Korke asked the Minister for Internal Affairs whether it was tho intention of the Government to proceed with the Bill brought down in February last for enlarging the powers of Road Boards and County Councils, or whether the Government would introduce a Bill to restore the provinces. The Hbn. H. D. Bell replied: It is not the intention of the Government to proceed with the Bill to amend tho system of, local government as proposed by "tho Inst Administration. In answer to the second part of the question, I am unable to say that there is any prospect of the Government reverting to the system which was abolished in 1875. SMALL GRAZING RUNS. . Mr. Craigie is to put a question to tho Minister for Lands about small grazing runs leased under the Acts of 1885 oiul 1892. Tho member for Timaru states that a number of these leases arc now expiring, and asks the Minister to give instructions that as the leases fall in the runs shall be inspected and reported upon as to their suitability for further subdivision. EDUCATION COMMISSION. The Education Commission presented its report to tho Minister for Education (the Hon. .Tas. Allen) on Wednesday. .Mr'. Allen, informed a roportor yesterday that tho report had boon sent in to l;is Excel.lency. tho Governor, and that a's soon as it wimo back it would be presented to the Ifouso. Tho recommendations by the Commission will be found highly interesting. Drastic changes,in the administration of tho education system are proposed, one of them being a reduction in the size of same Education Boards. Another recommendation is that a council of advice should be constituted to act as a consultative body in connection with education matters. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were read a first time yesterday Licensing Act, IMS, Amendment. Bill iMr. Malcolm); Elective Executive Bill (Mr. Laurenson); Mental Defectives Amendment Bill (Mr. Bnddo); Agricultural ond Pastoral Societies Amendment Bill (Hon, Mr. Mnssev); New Zealand University Amendment Bill (Hon. J. Allen); Deputy Governor's Powers Bill (Hon. A. L. Herdman); Wanganui Harbour District Empowering Bill (Mr. Veilch); Bureau of Justice Bill (Mr. Payne); Aknroa and Wainui Knad District, Akaroa County, and Wairewa County Alteration of Boundary Bill (Hon. li. H. Rhodes); New Plymouth Iluatoki Stream Diversion and Exchange Bill (Mr. Okev): Oamaru King George Park Reserve Vesting Bill (Mr. Leo); Itotel and oilier Employees' Six Days a We4k Bill (Mr. Payne); Opunake Harbour Amendment Bill (Hon. T. Maclvcu-ic); Orakci Mode] Suburb Empowering Bill (Mr. Myers); Nationalisation of the Iron'lndustry Bill (Mr. Payne): Dominion Saturday Halfholiday Bill (Mr. Payne): Taurnng-v | bour Bill (Hon. W. H. Jlerries); Prisons Amendment Bill (Hon. A. L. Ilerdmau): Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill (Mr.- Ell). SECOND READINGS. Of Bills which had been set down for second reading, the Graduated Income tax Amendment Bill (Mr. Payne) not being printed, was set down for second read-lij-na/-\r'ce]C"lij-na/-\r'ce]C" ' lcnco, The Sunday labour Bill (Air. Issuer) was permitted to lapse. RACING PERMITS. Efforts are being made by a large number of members to secure an alteration ill tho present allocation of racing permits Notice was given by Mr. Hunter (Waipawa)^yesterday afternoon of a Bill dealing with the matter, but the mea.Mire has not yet been drafted. Its character mil Ik> determined by the members actively interested in the matter. Steps are now being taken to ascertain their views. A meeting was convened for last evening, and attended by about twenty members, but Hie discussion of the subject was interrupted by the meeting 'of the House. Tho meeting will be continued to-d;\T. The principal question to lie decided is whether* the Bill should .propose merely a rcdis* tribution of the present number of permits (SO) or ask for an increase.