HON. DR FINDLAY. VISIT TO CHRISTCHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 35

HON. DR FINDLAY. VISIT TO CHRISTCHURCH.

AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW.; CHRISTCHURCH. February 21. '• I'm as dry as the weather. There halt been no political rainfall for some time," said Dr Findlay to a Press interviewer this morning shortly after his arrival from Wellington. The reporter thought that there might be some hidden springs of neVs, 6o he opened, with a few questions, and an interesting interview was the THE TOURIST SEASON. In reference to the Mount Cook Hermitage, Dr Findlay stated that the consideration of some improvements had been left to Mr Donne, chief of the Tourist Department. The Government hoped to have the work started there early next month. The plans would provide for a two-storey building and a large hall. There would also be a wide verandah and balcony, so that visitors might use them as much as possible for sitting out. " From what I last heard," Dr Fiudlay continued. '" the tourist season promises to be -one of the best we havQ ever had. I believe tliat at Rotorua this year it will be a record, but that might be due to the carnival which is now proceeding. The Christmas holidays, though there was no special attraction, saw more people at Rotorua than ever before. When I was at the Hermitage, the number of visitor* up to that time was ths biggest ever recorded, and I Vlon't think that even the Exhibition year will beat the present one. I -cannot speak with any -certainty in regard to the southern tourist resorts, but am confident that, taken all round, the season has been a most satisfactory one everywhere." ■ NATIVE LAND COMMISSION. " I have just received a report concerning the Waimarama ca3e,"' said Dr Findlay. when asked about the Native Land Commission, '" and it ,has been sent on to the Governor. This report, was specially made regarding the land Miss Meinertzhagen is enfiiled' to 'under the special provision of the -Native land washing-up bill of last session. This bill provided that she was to get a lease of 5000 acres, the area, to be settle by the Native Land Commission', and this is now being done. The Chief Justice leaves on Monday to continue the work of the commission, and he seems to be satisfied that a very largo area of good land will be obtained for settlement in the King Country. This land will be set aside by the commission and dealt with under the Native Land Settlement AVt. The area which' will ultimately be available for European settlement will - approximate two million acres, which will be nearly double the whole area acquired by the Crown from European owners under the Lai*d for Settlements Act from 1894 up to the present. The surveys are proceeding, and no doubt before' Parliament meets a large area will bo axailabio fnv application." APPOINTMENT OF FIRE INSPECTOR. The Government, said Dr Findlay, was advertising for applications for the position of fire inspector, whose duty it would be to inspect tho fire extinguishing appliances of all the fire boards in the Dominion, act as adviser to the boards as to the best and most up-to-date methods of fire extinguishing, and report to the Government as to the operation of the act generally. The position was being advertised in Australia as well as in New Zealand." STATE FIRE INSURANCE. This brought up the question of fire * insurance, and the reporter inquired whether there was any disposition on the part of the Government to increase the , State fire insurance premiums as a result of the recent severe losses. " That is a very difficult question to deal with." said Dr Findlay. " The State fire insurance up to the end of the last business year had made a profit, but in the past it has been fortunate in escaping serious losses. I This year has already suffered some considerable losses, but the question of ' . dealing with the rales will have to be heldI over until we see how the present year | pans out. I recognise that the insurance companies, who have to pay probably about £30.000 as contributions under the Fire Brigades Act of last year, and who have had severe losses through fires, may find 1 it absolutely necessary to increase their rates. THE GAMING ACT. " I believe that points of acute .difference between the bookmakers and the clubs arc disappearing," said the Minister, when questioned regarding the operation of'thft. Gaming Act of last session " The bookmakers have ju«t sent me from Auckland a list of thoir objections to the regulations drawn up by the recent conference, but as they only reached me last nis»ht I have riot yet had time to consider thorn. As far as I pan see, the chief dubs are frankly endeavourinc to carry out the spirit of the act, and where any reasonable hardship is found pressing on the bookmaker the clubs have shown a willingness to make concefesions. As to the general operation of the act, there is no doubt at all. from the police reports wo have received, that street betting, tote betting, betting at sports, and all the other more objectionable forms of betting have been enor mously reduced." KING'S COUNSEL. The Minister was a«ked whether it was intended to appoint any more King's counsel in the near future, or to fill the vacancy in Christchurch caused by the death of Mr T. I. Joy nt. '"There ha\c been several applications since the last X.C.'s were appointed," said Dr Findlay. in reply, " but the Chief Justice has expressed the opinion, without rpflVctinjr on the suitability of f he applicants, that no further appointments should bo made for somelime. To create fresh X.C.'s so soon after the original a-nnoi.itments had bren made waff, in the Chief Ju6ticr"s opinion, neither «xpediont nor in accordance with practice." CIVIL SERVICE SUPERANNUATION* Dr Findlay stated that the superannuation scheme promises to work well. Already an exceedingly large number of applications were in. and as application* could be sent in until June next it was anticipated that practically the whole ser« vice would take advantage of ft. The regulations had been settled, and tne board, of I which he was chairman, would meet on hi« return to Wellington* next week. t

According to a, London coroner, tho lacE of fire-guards was chiefly responsible tm the detthi of .1600 children tost year*