POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 99, 11 May 1901, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

MR. BTMES AT WAITARA. (From Our Own Correspondent). There was a rcmarkibly small attendance at St. John'd Hall on Thursday evening, the chair being tak n by thß Rev. H. T. Rawnsley. In his opting remarks, Mr, Symes txpiessed regret at the small amount e>f interest shown by the electors, and stated that he thought he might take it as evidence of the fact that the elec'ors were quite satisfied with what he had done. He went on toexpre'S regret at the death of the Queen, and, as an illustration of ' the terrible manner in « hicb mem 1 e' s of the House of Representatives ate over-worked, said that 107 Bills were passed by the House last se&fion and about a similar number had hern dropped, and that no less than 670 petitions had been presented to the House.. A very cocsidi-r.tble portion of Mr. Symes' addre s was devoted to severe strictures on the Laiid Board which he charged with incompetent administration and regarded as a ''one man show." He further added that the Beard w&s a "f-ssiiz d" institution, and that all Boards should be elected. He denounced the " Penny Postage "a3 one of the worst *' Tory " measures ever introduced, was favourable to " Rating on the Unimproved Value," and the establishment of a sanatorium on Mount for the cure of tuberculosis. Wi h legard to the increase of honorarium, he said that he opposed the bill, but he tosk the £4O and gave it to the poor—put it in his own pocket. He favoured the " Noxious Wetds Bill," as all that whs necessary was for people to go round with a spraying pump in ord< r to kill blackberries or other weeds. Referring to national education,'fae thought that a uniform system of supplying books Bhould be established, and that fema'e teachers should receive the same pay as ft male teacher. At the close of hiaddress he stated his willingness to answer any qu's ioos, when the following queries were put:— Mr. B. A. Higottt: D> you remember that when the Minister of Lands was spaakiog on the " Government Valuation of L-.nd Bill" in 1896 lie said it would r. suit in a saving of at least 50 per cmt to eiek of the Local Bodies in the colony ? Mr. Symes: I was not in the House at the time.

Mr, Hignett: Are you aware that B periodic re-va'uation of the colony costs, at the present time, a sum cf £70,000, and that the annual cost of administering the Valuation D?pattment is £30,000 p?r anLum ? Mr. Symes: I don't know the exact figures, but I dou't think it is quiti as much.

Mr. Hignett: Ave )on aware that Local Bodies are being cbargid time times as much, and more, than when they did the work tbems.lves, and tha' an attempt was recently m-de to get j£4o 16i 9d out of the Waitara Town Board by the Valuation Department, which amount was reducdon a p otest to j£l2 10s, and on a final proiebt to j£s ss. What would you call a loaal tradesman who acted in a timiUr way ? Mr. Symes: -1 shiuld call him a bit of a " shuffler." Mr. Hignett: Was not oue ef the main objects of cstabling the Valuati* n Department to ensure a uniform eys'tm of valuation, so that each office might abide by the standard toll of the Valuation Department ? Mr. Symes: That is so. Mr. Hignett: Tren how does it] happen that when as t It applies for 1 a loan, the "Adv.nc-s to Settlais Office" ignore the Valuation Depirt-j ment roll which has been compiled at such »n enormous cis 1 -, and send a Valuer to specia'ly value the farm, for which service the unloituoa f e applicant has to pay a guinra ? Mr, Symee: That is on« of tbe < vi's I admit, and I think ih t it is necesBiry that reform* should be effeced. Mr. Hignett: Touching that littb. matter which has been relerrei to as the ".£4O steal.' I presume that when you are so jocu'ar ov?r wish us to understand tbat you do not go to the House dimply for the benefit of your health ? Are you not jus H . a little bit ashamed of yourtelf ? Mr. Symes: No. Mr. Hignett: Wi h regard to nominated Boards, you st.ted in the House that people are mtd who allow nominated Boards to exis k . Are you aware that the Wait u a Harbour Board is (in entirely nominaled Board? Mr. Symes : I was not a*aie of i\ Mr. Hignett: Is not the logical deduction of your r; ma' ks, t hat p?ople of Waitara s'loull bo cenfioed in an asylum for permitting such a state of affairs ? Mr. Symes: I did not pay go. Mr. Hignett: Are you in favour of

giving the country increased n-pie entation on the New Plymou'h Hartou' Board bo far as ihe Gov.rnment nooii- * Bees are concern< d ? Mr. Symes: I am not in favour of Bdding to the exp.nss of Boards by increasing reprf sentativep. Mr. E. A. Dugdale: That is not the point, Mr. Syrres; pla'e answ.r the question. Mr. Symes: I have already explainsd that I am not in favour of pominated Boards. *" Mr, Hignatti Are you aware, Mr,

Symes, tl\a* in w.v \ of Me IV t. Oth<w in thi.-J 00'',r...v, <-iv>l M<;\\.iits ant Wf.l'king lOH J liOlsrs <W:Ui;; t.-> OliictS.-; bemg urid-r.-t'<i"i.l, tlur, anr.ul leave u practically and that men are iun down in health, nnd that t.h< re is a prospie'iVH surplus of .£400,000 '( Mr. Symes : I am not aware of it. The Kev. H. T. Rawnsloy than proposed -'a hearty votj of tl-aoks to Mr.' Syme* and cinfido' ce in the Gcvernuie t," whiih was seconded by Mr. Laing, Mr. moved an amer.ilment that the words " confidence in the Govercmef t" b? omitted, but t hiChairman dec'atcd the reso'u'ion carried, without even putting it to the m-?i ting.