POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2280, 27 August 1908, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(Special to “Times.”)

AVELLINGTON, Aug. 25.

CORONERS’ EXPENSES.

There are 72 coroners, in tho Dominion, according to a return presented to (Parliament to-day. The amount paid to tho coronc s in each of the four centres for personal o'pc uses and fees last year was as follows: Auckland £l7B, AVellington £l/1, Christchurch £6B, Dunedin £l7O. Other coroners received £413 for fees and expenses- Tho amount paid to coroners’ jurors was £1664, while witnessees received £99.

LIQUOR IN NO-LICENSE DISTRICT. According to a party return there have been sent into the Invercargill district in accordance with Section 5 of tho Licensing Act of 1904, since no-license came into force there, 123,952 gallons of alcoholic liquor. Oamaru since “going dry” has received in tho same way 29,196 gallons, 37,766 bottles, 8 barrels, 612 cases, one keg, one jar, 18 hogsheads and 167 flasks of liquor. Tho Ashburton figures are: — 102,982 gallons, 3330 bottles, 8778 cases. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS.

The Government proposo this session to make some amendments in tlie Advances to Settlers’ Act 1908. Under the Act there is provision for a total borrowing of £5,000,000. It is proposed to extend tho limit to £6,000,000. At present there is only power to borrow £200,000 in one yoar; the Government is now asking to borrow up to £500,000 in any one year. Section 4 of tlio new bill makes it lawful for a lessee of land to mortgage his leaso to the Government Advances to Settlers Office Department under the provisions of the principal Act at any time after grant of tlie lease and without the recommendation of the land board or tho approval of tho Minister of Land and advances may he made under the principal act on these on tho security of any such lease. Section 5 enables a lessee or licensee under the Land Act to mortgage liis lease or license to the Advances to Settlers Office, although the lease or license ha 6 been current for less than twelve months. THIE PUBLIC REVENUES. Ail important amendment to tho public revenues act has just been introduced in tlie House. The purpose of tho Bill is to substitute a system of post audit of the public accounts in place of the existing system of pro audit. Under the proposed system vouchors for the expenditure of public moneys will he audited by the audit office after payment instead of before payment as at present. The only other material alteration proposed by the bill is the increase of th,p unauthorised expenditure from a maximum of £150,000 t 0 a maxi mu of £250,000. It is proposed that the act shall come mto operation on April 1,1909.