POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1815, 30 July 1913, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

■ * CRY FOR FREEHOLD, AN OJIAKUNE GRIEVANCE.

A petition signed by about fifty village settlors residing in tho Borough of Olinkune in regard to the tenure of their • sections was presented lo tho House of . .Eepr-esentatives yesterday by Mr. 1!, W, I Smith (Waimariiio). [. Tho petition sets out—(1) That many j of the petitioners voted for the Reform j parlly on the promise that if tha Reform party was- returned to power steps would } bo taken to give theni the freehold of i, their sections. (2) That the late election was, fought on the Question of freehold ! versus leasehold, and it is asked that tho i necessary legislation shall,'be .introduced without delay to give tho petitioners tha freehold of their holdings. The petitioners also point out. that tho system of leasehold is a great bar to the -raising of " either public or' privato loans, and consequently 'materially.-hinders the progress " of the town and neighbourhood, 'j ha peti- . tion was referral lo tho Lands Oonimitj tee. 1 SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY, 1 Mr. A. Harris, M.l'.,'yesterday presenta ed t.o tho House of Representatives a petiV tion from the Auckland Industrial Grocu eri' Union.of Employers, pointing out the ;* great less to tho public that resulted from the'compulsory closing of shops on Salur- £ days, and praying—(l) That Road Boards 1 bo brought within tiio' operation of the Act. (2) That all exemptions ba abolishf cd, including thosa of hotel bars. (:t) . That tho Saturday lialf-holiday bo made J, compulsory throughout tlio Dominion. j NATIVE LANDS. i Mr. Guthrio gavo notico in. tho Housa s of Representatives yesterday to ask tho - Government whether steps will bo taken at iUi early date to enact such legislaJ tion as will place .the subdivision of \ Native lands iu tho same position as apt plies to Crown and privato laud in tof spcct to read access.' > a : SCHOOL TEACHERS' SALARIES. Mr. Wilford is to ask the Minister for ' Education whether he intends introduc- [ ing legislation this year or during election. ■ yeaV in tho direction of increasing the salaries of school teachers.