POLITICAL NOTES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 226, 1 September 1914, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

I'ATh OF KLl.Ci'loN^

As ■v; il l j S'l' if OSt p!l it iI W !i"ll the general elections wotud take place, the Prime Minister replied tb.it for tli" reason that no one could predict the conditions that would exist at tli9 beginning of December he coul I not make any annouueoment with regard to the elections. Legislation such as had never previously been introduced in the New Zealand Parliament would be required if it was proposed to prolong the term of Purliamant. Tho Government had never yet considered tlio (jiK'fctioii, because it. wis impossible to do so until they had a better idea of what the position was likely to be. A decisive battle might be fought any day, and by December tlio war be practically over. In such circumstances it would be only right to go on with the election-?.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT

During the past financial year operations under the Lands for j Settlements Act have boon extec- j sive. The number of properties | considered was 1 91), of an area of; 612,880 acres, but many of these! were found to lie quite unsuitable , for settlement, or were offered at such prices as to preclude business, j An aggregate area of 111,027 ar'.rei ' was purchased at a c ost of £ot;o, IKS. | In addition tho leases of lON, 7 81; acres of Crown land were sin rendered, and a portion has been uilisel as additions to settlement lands. The total expenditure upon the purchase of estates to March 31st is £0,930, CIO for I, 190,0G7 acres. The chairman of the Land Purchase Com nissioners adds that the purchase of fuither areas is steadily pursued, and already 20,790 acres value 1 at £INI,oS'J have been completed. Considerable areas ate being offered, but in many instances at prices which are cousidered to be much beyond the value. With the j present returns for all produce there j is, however, some justification for j owners looking for extreme ptic s. j LOCAL RAILWAY CONSTRUC- j TION. j : A scheme for the construction of 1 railways by local enter prise is con- j 1 taiued in a Bill introduced in the j House of Representatives on Friday. Any continuous area may be 1 1 constituted a railway district upon a j 1 petition signed by one-fourth of the ratepayers within tho area. A ! railway board of from live to nine ' members is to bo elected by the ;

ratepayers, and this board is to have power to borrow money ami to levy rates on a graduated scale

according to the measure of benefit conferred by its works. The construction of a railway proposed by a board must bo authorised by an Order-in-Council beforo it is commenced. An agreement may bo made between the Governor and any railway board for tho trains and rolling stock of both the State and tho board's railways to run on tho State and tho board's lines. Upon giving 12 months' notice the Government may purchase a railway system constructed by a railway board at a price fixed by arbitration. No compensation is to be paid for goodwill, but an addition is to be made to the price fixed by arbitration of -3 per per cent, if the puichase is completed within 10 and 11 years after the railway has been opened for traffic : or of 10 per cent, if it is tuado within 14 and 21 years. Power is given to the board to sill or lease its railw ays.

ENFRANCHISING VOLUNTEERS. There lias been considerable agitation in favour of passing legislation to enable the members of (lie departing expeditionary force to vole at the forthcoming general elections on both the political and No-license issues. £o far as the political question is concerned Sir Joseph Ward has suggested that the soldiers should cast their votes for party in their several electorates, irrespective of individual candidates. A definite statement was made by the Prime Minister on Friday evening that he hoped to bringdown a B ; ll 011 Tuesday evening dealing with the right of members of the expeditionary force to vote in connection with the forthcoming ele< tions

Members: On both matters'' TVIv Massey: Yes; on both mat

REGULATION OF FOOD PRICED The Prime Minister stated in the House on Fnday that the commissi! n get up under the Regulation of Trade and Commerce Act would be as follows: Mr Justice Stringer, president if the Arbitration Court, chairman. Hon. J. Barr, M.L.C., ("niterbury. Mr J. I3egp, Otago. Mr G. J. Garlard, Auckland. Mr W. Milne, Oamaru. Mr George Wilson, Wellington.

The ccmmission is to intjuirc into the scale of prices in New Zealand of wheat, Hour, bread, oatmeal, beef, mutton, and nil other articles whatever of food or drink on August Ist, 1!)]4, and at any tiino thereafter; the quantity, situation, demand, supply or possession of any such articles ol fuecl or drink in New /'.'aland; the advisability of the exercise by the Govcrnor-ic-Council of tho power to li< and determine the maximum price in New Zealard of any audi articles of food or drit;k, and whether different maximum prices should be fixed for the same articles of food or drink in reepcct of different tiwns, district", rr localities of trade, commerce, sale or supply.

The commission is to tubmit its first report upon a day in September yet to be fixed.

When the Prime Minister ar--1 nounccd Iha name B of the Hoard of i Investigatioi', pevcral questions were put to him by members of the House. Me paid thai the Hoard would commence its in Wellington, but would have a tree hand to sit elsewhere. Ihe order if reference was sulliciently comprcj lienaive to cover anv possibility, aid the power of calling cvidcice was complete. Mr (iarland i-i chairman id tlnAm kland Kdmation Board. Mi Milnr is an in.N] n-< tor id tlio Hank of Now /''aland; Mrs A. Oritur, "I I l'ukokolip, is his daughter.

Si. JOHN' 3 AMBULANCE CLASo. I" (1 r Dr. Bronte.)

Owi.ifr tn tii.i lierPiivement su - tained by l'r. liroiito tLero will be ' NO clirs TO-NIGHT. MISS V. DELL, llmi. Sec. ; COADY AND C ALDER. | LYCEUM PICTURES. I'REMI E R II A L L TUESDAY. "WEDNESDAY AHD SATURDAY Tuakau every Thursday. The la'o*t Films, 11 !<■> choicest miljeets /proji"ctfl byth?mot modern \Vv graph.

PRICES

Ladies .. All puts 1 • Gents .. 1 - autl 1, <>. I Children 6d. N.Z. Farmers' Union. PUKEKOHE BRANCH. A general n\< will be held in 1 the Borough Conned Chambers on SATURDAY, September oil), at 8 p.m. I). II HAMILTON. Hon. 'Sic.