PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 8 October 1901, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

The Minister of Lands does not see his way to amend the Land Act so as to substitute improvements in lieu of residence. The Land Act Amendment Bill, of which the Minister for La ids has given notice will contain provisions for controlling the burning of fallen bush and rubbish.

“I know that the public are thirsting for the information,’’ said Mr Ilatmau last week. And a member correctly summed up the position by interjecting, “That’s the reason you won t get it, Mr FJaiman did not get it. The Minister for Lands says he will give instructions that road laborers shall bo paid wages in cash instead of by cheque whenever possible. Instructions have been sent to the authorities at Earatonga not to charge duties on good-t imported from New Zealand to the Cook Islands. Any duties collected on such goods since the annexation are to be refunded.

The Minister for Customs does not favour a suggestion by Major Steward that the Advance to Settlers Act should be amended so as to provide for the return of inspection and valuation fees in cases whore loans are refused.

Government does not intend to bring in an amendment of the Land Valuation Acs tlits-session.

There are no persons more useful to the Government, said Mr. Pirani last week, than a number of men in the Petone railway workshops, and if the men had acted in the same way against ihtGovermnent during election times as a number of them acted during the last election, there would be a great many vacant places in the Petone workshops.