POLITICAL NOTES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 496, 31 August 1912, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

NURSES FOR THE BACK BLOCKS. Replying to a question by Mr Wilson, member for Taumarunui, the Minister for Public Health stated in the House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon that the department Is doing its best to provide districts nurses for the back blocks. Efforts made by settlers in this direction are being met, especially where settlers show their desire to obtain a district nurse in a practical way by guaranteeing a certain sum towards her salary. EGMONT ELECTION. In reply to a question on the Order Paper by Mr Russell, Mr Massey said: "The date of the visit of the Prime Minister and Minister for Public Works to the districts affected by the proposed Opunake railway has not been fixed." The visit, says Mr Massey is not intended to influence the Egmont election in any way. SHORT CUT TO ROTORUA, In answer to a question from the member for Waikato, asking whether steps would be taken to obtain a report as to the desirability of extending the branch railway line from Ruakura Junction, and now terminating at Cambridge, beyond that town, so as to join with the Auckland Rotorua main line at or near Tirau or Putaruru, the Minister of Public Works states that the district engineer was recently directed to make an examination of this route. He has not been authorised to make a regular survey, but will traverse the suggested route and report his observations thereun. The member for Waikato thanked the Minister for his sympathetic reply and urged that this was a special opportunity to make a trial of electric railways. He pointed out that electric current would be available close by at Horahora, where electrical generating works were in progress. Mr Young said that he believed that in future they would have to electrify many of their lines. The AucklandWellington journey was particularly distressing because of the numerous tunnels. PRIVATE ENTERPRISE RAILWAYS. Mr Wilson asked the Government whether they will take into consideration the advisability of allowing, with proper safeguards, private capital to construct branch railways where the Government through shortness of funds are unable to construct lines? The Hon. Mr Fraser, Minister of Public Works replied, this is a question of policy which the Government may have to take in to consideration. NATIVE LANDS. Several reports were presented by the Native Affairs Committee on Wednesday afternoon. It considered the petition of 50 natives that the Taumarunui Borough Council should not be allowed to purchase the land on which the town stands until the native interests in it have been defined. The committee reported that as a question of policy was involved it had no recommendation to make. Upon the committee's advice the House referred to the Government for consideration a petition by 132 natives that a iudge should be appointed to sit for 12 months to enquire into the titles of land in the Taupo district. The Opposition party in Parliament has not yet elected a leader, having decided direct the party destinies per medium of an executive committee, Sir James Carroll, and Messrs W. D. S. Mac Donald, G. W. Russell, G. Witty and J. A. Hanan have been duly elected. Messrs G. W. Forbes and A. T. Ngata were appointed the South and North Island Whips respectively, The opinion was confidently expressed among members of the Opposition that the appointment of the executive will have a stiffening effect, and be conducive to the welding of the various elements among the left benches.

Pending the determination by the Massey Government as to whether the scneme for the construction of now Parliament Buildings, commenced by the Mackenzie Government, is to be continued, or whether some other plan will be followed all work on the laying of the foundations has been stopped.