POLITICAL NOTES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2578, 28 September 1915, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES

THE END IN SIGHT TAXING BILLS TO-DAY The end of'tlio session is now clearly jn sight, and it is practically certain that Parliament will disperse before the end of next week. The taxing Bill or Bills will be down to-day, and probably the Houso will bo asked to put the proposals through at.a sitting. The Public Works Statement will be down either at the end of this week or the beginning of next. Tho Railways Statement i 3 voported to ho ready for presentation at any time. It is the opinion of the Piimo Minister that, wo should finish next week very easily, and this without sitting on Saturday next. PATRIOTIC RAFFLES. The Gainiug Amendment Bill, introduced by the Hon. G. W. Russell, proposes by the issue of permits under pre. scribed conditions, to legalise lotteries, of tho kind popularly known as raffles or art unions, which are instituted for tho raising of money for purely patriotic purposes. .

MINERB' PHTHIBIB. Pensions for miners ' totally incapacitated by miners' phthisis are provided for in the Miners Phthisis Bill, introduced in the House of Representatives last night. It is proposed that a married man, or. a widower with children under fourteen years of age, shall receive £1 per week, while a single man will get 15s. The pension cannot bo drawn unless the miner contracted the disease in New Zealand, and he must bo a British subject, haye resided continuously in New Zealand for five years and worked as a miner for 2£ years prior to his application. Any man who (s not of good moral character and sober habits, or who has within the last five years committed certain serious offences, or who has deserted or failed to support his family, will not be granted the pension. On the death of a miner entitled to a pension under this Act, his widow may receive 3 pension of 12s. 6d. per week for two years, and the State may pay his funeral expenses up to £20. A mcdical examination of pensioners may be ordered afc any time, and a man residing out of New Zealand cannot draw the pension. It is provided that the gold duty paypble under the Mining Amendment Act, 1910, by which provision was sought to he made for pensions for miners, shall now bo paid direct into the public account. The miners' pensions proposed shall be paid out of the consolidated revenue.

SICK PRISONERS. The Prisoners' Detention Bill, introduced by Governor's Slessage last night, provides tlmt in certain cases prisoners may. be "removed from gaols to hospitals, or: parts, of hospitals specially set apart for prison purposes, and may, if such is considered necessary or desirable, be kept in such hospitals for a period extending beyond the duration of their ' sentence. A prisoner is given the right of'appealing against an order made for his detention in such a hospital.

RAILWAYS AUTHORISED. , The construction of various new sec tions of Tailway along routes already decided upon, and in course of preparation, is authorised by tho Railways Authorisation Bill, introduced in : the House last night by Governor's Mesisage. Tho sections particularly specified are as fol'ow:— Paeroa-Pokeno route—A length of about six miles from the authorised line at Paeroa to a point in Block 11, Waihou! Surrey District. East Coast Main Trunk route —A! length of about 24} miles from the end of the authorised line at Athenree to the end 1 of-the authorised line at Wairoa River, a length of about 265miles from the end of the authorised line at Taueatua to Opotiki; a third section of oboit ninetv-three miles from tli® end of the authorised line at Hangaroa'to tho ond of the authorised line in Block 3,- Puketapu Survey Djstrict; and a branch line of about two miles to a wharf on the left bank of the Wairoa River, opposite Wairoa; town, is also proposed. South Island Main Trunk—A length of about 13 miles from the end of the authorised line at Kekcrangi to tho Clwenco River. , • ' Lawrence-Roxburgh route.—A section of about 15 miles from the end of the authorised line at Beaumont to; tho northern boundary of Block 3, Bangor Survey District. -.