POLITICAL NOTES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 505, 2 October 1912, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

NATIVE SCHOOLS. Hon. W. H. Herries expressed great appreciation of the work done by the native schools teachers, who not only taught but also acted as pioneers in the backblocks. Mr W. D. S. Mac Donald said the native school teachers' work was highly appreciated by the natives. He heartily* emlorced the previous speaker's remarks. Dr Te Rangihiroa spoke similarly. The Hon, Dr Poniare suggested that fewer frills should be indulged in on the technical side of the native education system. The care of babies would be preferable to teaching Greek or fancy carving, and would save many lives in the kainga. He thought the pakeha and the Maori should be put on an equality in education. THE MOKAU CASE. The cummittee appointed by the House of Representatives to inquire into the petition presented by Mr Joshua Jones in reference to his claims respecting the Mokau lands met for the first time on Friday. Only preliminary business was transacted. Mr Mander was appointed chairman, of the committee, and was instructed to confer with the committee tu be appointed by the Legislative Council. No date was fixed for the taking of evidence. A SETTLER'S GRIEVANCE. Serious allegations are made by John Maher, police constable of Taumarunui, in a petition for an enquiry which wa3 presented to the House of Representatives last week. He states that on April 16th he selected section. 3, block 15, Ohura survey district, and has found that the particulars regarding the improvements as set forth on a plan issued by the Taranaki Land Office are "wrongly described and grossly misleading." The following statements are made in the petition: stated to be felled and grassed does not exist but there is an area possibly not exceeding 40 acres felled and grased; (b) the 55 acres felled only is also purely mythical; (c) the 40 chains fencing is really represented by 30 chains only, and some of the smaller items are also incorrectly described; (d) the two mortgages referred to are not represented by any tangible security other than that set forth, amounting to £320 Us 6d, which sum your petitioner says is in excess of the actual value. The Weighting of £690 10s is, therefore out of all proportion to the improvements said to be effected." The petitioner declares that he was induced by wrongful description of the property to purchase it, and has suffered and is still suffering loss, and claims the relief of an inquiry. STOCK EXPOEiFATON.

A deputation waited on the Premier last week in reference to the question of working up trade in the exportation of stock, and to point out thepresent difficulties in the matter of importation. The deputation explained the difficulties experienced in bringing stock from England to New Zealand, and in exporting stud animals from the Dominion to South Africa and Falkland Islands, owing to excessive freight charges. It was stated that several wealthy owners of ranches in South America would shortly arrive in New Zealand in search of stock, and it was suggested that a conference might bo arranged with a view to obtaining better terms from the shipping companies. The Premier promised to go carefully into the matter, and to inquire whether the desired conference could be arranged.