POLITICAL NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 25, 24 October 1919, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES

END OF THE SESSION

MR. MASSEY SAYS SATURDAY WEEK .. "Can the Prirao Minister give an indication when it is inlojidcd to close thesession?" naked Sir Ward, Loader of the Opposition, in tho House of ltopresontatives yesterday.

The Prinio Minister: I am hoping to close the session on Saturday week. J. ahull bo very glad \v-hcn the session comes to an 'end, not because there hrts been nny unpleasantness, but because the work has been much more strenuous than usual. I don't think wo can finish before Saturday week, but'l hope to close down then. THE RABBIT MENACE.

"Does the Minister o£ Agriculture propose to bring down this session an amendment of the' Rabbit Nuisance Act?" asked Mr. Young in the House yesterday afternoon.

"I am unable to make any definite promise," said Mr. Nosworthy in reply. "T«»e Crown Law Office is inquiring into tho matter now.' J do not think that the amendment proposed by tho honourable member is going to te effective. The problem is really a very big one." ONE WAY OF CELEBRATING. "Is it proposed to reduce or remit the sentences of long-term prisoners who have been of good behaviour on the announcement of the linnl ratification of the Pcaco Treaty i" asked Mr. P. Fraser in the House yesterday afternoon, Mr. (j'oalcs's reply was brief and to fhn point: "It is not proposed to reduce the sentences ot long-term prisoners." - THE COOK ISLANDS, "I am perfectly satisfied that there is something wrong in the Cook Islands," said tho Hon, J. T. Paul in tho Legislative Council yesterday. "The Government would be well advised to give tho matter somo consideration. I have received to-day a series of letters complaining about the administration of tho islands." i Sir Francis Bell replied that the Government 'was satisfied 'there was very littin behind tho agitation, Tho Resident Commissioner had tried an experi-ment-that of cutting out the middleman in tho native fruit trade-wid the middleman did not like it. He (Sir Francis Dell) regarded the money spent on education in the islands as the bastspent' money he had ever been concerned with. The results had been delightful, and tho only real dilliculty was that teachers were hard to obtain. Thero was nu gruimd lor diwuiiet on account of tho discontent of cerUin traders with the administration of the Resident Commissioner. A £501) VOTE, An inquiry by the Hon, U. J. Garland as to the late of n -MOO vote for tho Boy Scout moremi'ii'i was answered by Sir Francis Dell in the Legislativo Council yesterday. Tile Leader of the Conn, cil said that the niune.v wins paid to the Dominion Chief Scout on May ]D, 1919, and the distribution was left to the discretion of ths Dominion Executive. In ,a, division taken in the early hours of yesterday morning Mr. Jennings's vote was wrongly recorded in 'MB DOMINION. In tho Hotiso yesterday ho made a personal explanation on the matter. The question involved in tho vote was really as to whether tho whito occupiers of land in Native townships should lie allowed to acquire the freehold of their lai/ls. Mr. Holland had moved an amendment to the effect that tho lands should he disposed of by leuso only, and Mr. Jennings was recorded as "laving voted lor thin amendment. Mr. Jennings,, in his explanation to tho House, s:iid that he had in fact voted against the amendment, and that he had Miivnys been ;i stioug udvocate uf tho freeiu.lJ tenure