POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1538, 6 September 1912, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

MR. WILFORD'S POLITICS. I DECLARES HIS INDEPENDENCE. As was indicated in The Dominion a few days ago, llr. T. M. Wilford has withdrawn from the Opposition party in Parliament. He made a public announcement on' the subject at an entertainment given l.y members of his election committee;; in St. Augustine's Hall, l'etone, last evening. There was a crowded attendance. Explaining his political position, Mr. Wilford said: "Tho time lias arrived when I must announce to my constituents that I have formally withdrawn from (lie present Opposition party in Parliament. This withdrawal was made before that party proceeded to Hie election of its executive. This eourse became imperative, as I realised that the views held by n number of that party aro totally opposed to those which J havo always held. Whilst, tho Seddon-Ward party were, in power, tho general policy of the party expressed in the Government's legislation called for my hearty support. It is plain, however, that this did not mean my concurrence in tho views of the extreme section of that party. Now that tho party is in opposition, I feel that tho only way In dissociato myself from tho extreme views expressed by a number of the party is by taking tho eourse 1 havo indicated. 1 am now as I have always been a Liberal of moderate views anil an opposeroi' fads. J intend to reserve to myself full liberty to criticise all legislation introduced, and to support those measures which in my opinion aro 'for Now Zealand.'"

On the motion of Mr. D. ICeir, Mr. E. J. Southgato seconding, tho meeting unanimously passed the following resolution: —''That this meeting of Mr.' 'Wilford s supporters approves his actions, and has every contidenco in him as their representative."

The company then sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS, NEW SYSTEM OF AUDIT. A copy of the Public Accounts for the financial year ended March 31, 1012, was received by the House of Representatives on Wednesday from tho Controller and Au-ditor-General (Colonel K. J. Collins), together with a report by that official stating that the account had been audited and found correct.

Tho Hon. J.. Allen (Minister for Finance) said this was the first occasion on which tho accounts had been presented audited as one document.

Sir Joseph Ward (Awarua) said that previously the accounts had besn audited before presentation. The Hou. James Allen insisted that only the sheets making up the statement were audited; the certificate had not been attached to the statement as a whole.

A. return called for by Sir. Davey and presented to the House of Representatives shows the-, amount paid by the Government during the last- three years for advertisements in newspapers throughout the Dominion. Following; are the totals for the years indicated:—loo 9-10, .£11,481 14s. Gd.; 1910-11, -.£10,495 lis. 3d.; 1911-12, .£15,683 15s. 3d.

.Sir Joseph Ward took an opportunity in the House of Representatives yesterday to direct attention to a. paragraph on Page 15 of the report of tho Public Service Commission:—"During the last six years or so comparatively lew of these outside appointments have been made, and there seems to have been an honest attempt to till all vacancies above that of cadet from within tho service, and to keep the stiff up to its necessary strength by appointments from the Junior Civil Service list." This paragraph, Sir Joseph AVard remarked,. was very gratifying to him in view of a good many strictures that had been passed.

Tho exclu.sio'n of the County of Rangitikei, tho boroughs of Marion and Taihape and the town districts of Huntervillo and Mahgawoka from tho proposed Wanganui harbour rating district, is asked for in a petition signed by Brown Bros., and 956 others, residents in the County of Rangitikei, which was .presented to'the House of Representatives on Wednesday by Mr. E. Newman,, M.P. Similar peti. tions were sent in some time ago by several of the boroughs and town districts concerned.

Tho petition of John James Meikle, (now of Auckland) praying for-an inquiry into certain charges mado by him, has been referred to the Government for consideration by the II to Z Committee.

The following members were paired for tho division on the Estimates in the House of Representatives on Tuesday evening:—Messrs. G. J. Anderson and G. W. Forbes; G. Hunter and J. V. Brown; G. M. Thomson and W. J. Dickie.