POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1909, 19 October 1906, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

FARMERS’ UNION.,

to Times.) Wellington, last night,

Speaking in the House Mr Laurenson, one of the Government party who most strongly supports the Land Bill, stated that the Farmers’ Union did not represent the farmers of the country. It was, he added, simply a bastard organisation that represented tho large land owners of the colony. The Farmers’ Union did not represent one-sixth of the farmers of the colony. In Otago and Canterbury the Farmers’ Unions were treated with absolute contempt. At mooting after meeting convened there had been no attendance. In other cases only tho Secretary and (. hairman had attended. At one meeting at which an important resolution had been passed the attendance was limited to three men and a dog- Mr 1!. McKenzie, another Government supporter, was moved by Mr Laurcnson’s declaration to come to the assistance of tho Farmers’ Union, lie said the member for Lyttelton might know something about fish, but ho certainly knew nothing about farming, and lion, members who represented farmers had no need to be anxious about anything tho member for Lyttelton said about them.

PUBLIC REVENUES’ AUDIT. The amendment to the Public Revenues Act has been circulated. As already stated it provides for the abolition of tho departmental audit, and brings all the departments at present outsido tho jurisdiction of the audit office under its supervision. Provision is also made in terms of the powers granted under tho principal Act to transfer balances for the purposes of payment from ono account to another, but such transfers arc to be restored to their original accounts within three months from the date of tho transfer, and ail such transfers are to bo laid before Parliament within ten days after the commencement of each session. SCHOOL BOOKS.

The Minister for Education, in answer to a question, stated ; “I am not prepared to introduce legislation this session, or indeed at all, to provide for uniformity of school books until it is absolutely clear

that it is in the public interest to take away tho discretion that the Boards of Education now have to chooso suitable book? from the authorised list.

This answer caused Mr Ell to urge that

the Government should print a uniform sot of school books, and supply them at cost price.

Mr Ell’s remarks brought Mr Hardy to his feet, with an emphatic protest against tho suggestion that tho State should do

everything. Mr Ell was one of those who wore always talking about tho downtrodden working man, hut as a matter of fact tho working mini was never so well oil as he was at tho present day, and lie saw no reason why he should not deny himself just a little bit for the sake of his own children. If a man loved his children he would see to it that they got a good education, and would not always bo wailing on the Government, to do this and do that. " 1 hate that sort of thing,” said Mr Hardy emphatically as he resumed his seat, tho remarks being greeted with erics

I oi " lu\lt' llOal'." The .Minisius-for Ebuoafion siibscqiKMitly | luado it [>i:;in that. .Mi- Kii's slip-pus!ion, if uaniod into offout, would not bo in the I inlotvsls of 1 1 10 wol-kin;; imm. boonuso I tunny of (ho soiiool hooka woto piibliaiu'd [ by hip (inns a! Homo at a clieapuf ralo than tiioy oould bo (n-oduuud by tin- Now

klrniaud iicivmiUH'iit. IT the (iovcrninent ! pi'hiteil the books they would cost a good heal more than they did now- In regard to the ehanyes in books, as far as the eentfiil department was eoneernet! it refused to alter the list mofe than ouee in three years. At present strong pressure for an alteration was briny exerted by the Wellington Mdneation Jioard. but he deehned to give way to it lie, however, had in eontemplntion the publication of a monthly school nmgndne, which would take the place of a number of tlie sup-

plementary school readers Under this system they might probably gel along with one standard render fot' all schools, yetting the needed candy in the mnga tine. This "as, lie admitted, a. big subject to tackle. It muitl cost a good deal of luonov, and

its success would depend a great deal upon getting the eight, soft of man to act as editor of tin' magaxine,

THE LMitCMIGH. I Some of tlio Government supporters ( imvo been feeling the pulse of lion. I members with a view to currying a motion in the House, expressing appreciation of Sir Joseph Ward's services at the recent Postal Conference in Koine. THU NEW ELECTORATES. A good deal of interest centres in the alterations in the electoral boundaries that will be necessary before next election. In consequence of the rapid increase in the population of the North Island it it rally understood that the North Is- ■ ...d will gain two seats at the expense ol the South Island. It is the intention of tho Government to call the representation Commissioners together next mouth to deal with tho re-adjustment of electorates, and the definition of the boundaries of the