POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1520, 16 August 1912, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS. Tho Government lins not yet considered what is to bo dono in connection with tho new Parliament Buildings. Tho Hon. W. Fraser (Minister for Public Works) told a reporter yesterday that flio Government architects were at present revising their plans, under instructions from tlio Into Government. When this work had l>een completed Cabinet would consider whether tho building should be started or its erection postponed. Meantime, the grounds wero being restored to something like order, but it was not proposed to lay out lawns and llower-beds, or do any work of that kind until Cabinet had considered tho whole matter. No additional men wero being taken on, and many had left.

A MINING COMPANY'S GRIEVANCE. Tho Paparoa Coal Mining Company, which was formed in lDOfi to work a Government coal-mining lease at Paparoa, beyond Blackball, avers, in a petition which was presented to the House of Representatives yesterday by Sir Arthur Guinness, that it has been subjected by the Railway Department to unfair discrimination. Petitioners ask that the Government take over tho company's private railway at such a valuation as mar bo deemed fair and reasonable, so that tho proceeds of tlio sale may bo available for working tho mine, and further that tho Government relievo the company from unjust and exorbitant discrimination in tho rates and charges which have been hitherto imposed upon it.

TAUPO-TOTARA PETITION. The Hon. W. Fraser yesterdav gave notice of his intention to move:—"That a special committee bo appointed, consisting of eleven members, to inquire into the petition of the Taupo Totara Timber Company, for railway extension and any other matter in connection therewith, such committee' to have power to call for persons and papers; three to be a quorum; the committee' to consist of Messrs. Anderson, Buchanan, Buick, Dickie, Hindmarsh, Laurenson, MacDonald, Wilson,' Young, the Hon. Dr. Pomare, and the mover.

THE FINANCIAL DEBATE. Although, the financial debate has dragged somewhat almost from its commencement, the prevailing opinion among members yesterday was that it would not conclude until well on into next week, as there remain a considerable number of members who intend to speak before the debate concludes. On the Opposition side, spocchos are looked for from Sir Joseph Ward, Mr. A. M. Myers, Mr. Ilnnan, and other members, It is believed that most of the Independents and the Labour members who have not yet spoken intend to expound their • views, and speeches are looked for from a number of the younger members on the Government side, some of whom have already ■lifted up tlioir voices to. good purpose. Some of the expected utterances from the Left of the.House will call for Ministerial replies. Thero is a. possibility— not a probability—that the debate inay flicker out unexpectedly in the presence of a thin House, but the chances are that it will continue as it was at first expected to 'do, until it has lasted for about a fortnight. IN BRIEF. Mr. Buchanan is to ask the Minister for Lands, whether ho will cause an inquiry to bo made as to tho desirability of opening up for settlement the most suitable of the-Crown lands lying to tho east and south-east of Martinborqugh, certain areas of which are'now reserved as a.deer forest or sanctuary.- Mr. Buchanan states that certain of these' Crown lands which were once covered by bush have been largely cleared by fires, and aro now suitable for settlement.

In view of tho announcement that it is not intended to introduce a Town-Plan-ning Bill this session, Mr. Myers has given' notico to ask whether the Government will consider the desirability of engaging the services of an expert town-planner with a view to enabling those local, bodies ■ who recognise tho importance of townplanning and aro desirous of adopting a scheme of this nature to obtain the advice of one thoroughly conversant with these matters?

Mr. Wilford produced a remarkably fine sample of mixed metaphor when he said yesterday that the Budget had been criticised by "fledglifigs who were just cutting their eye teeth."