POLITICAL MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 171, 23 July 1904, Page 2

POLITICAL MATTERS.

PAHMTUA NOMINATIONS, The following have been nominated for the I'aluatua seat :-Mr Hawkins lndc|H.*dent Liberal; Mr Bolton Oi> position ; Mr Crewe, Liberal; Mr Uuick, Government .candidate • and Mr Honald Munro, of Wober, Opposi-

GOVERNMENT CLAIMS. In the statement of unauthorised expenditure submitted to Parliament on Wednesday is mentioned the payment of ±,20 16s 8d to the Imperial Government, lor claims for looting in South Africa by members of the Eighth and Tenth Contingents.

LOOT CLAIMS. The Government considers that this is not the time to enlarge the lending powers uivderthe Local Bodies Loans Act, 1901. The stringency of the money market, says the Premier, still continues, and the Government's available funds for loans to local bodies must be carefully conserved. It is not tiro intention of the Government to bring in a bill raising the maximum limit to £IO,OOO for waterworks within boroughs, as urged by Sir w. J. Steward. There ie nothing to prevent local bodies raising outpide of the Government the amounts required.—Times.

SHODDY GOODS. In the event of an amendment in the tariff being undertaken, tha Government will, says the Commissioner of Customs, consider the advisability of imposing a higher duty on woollen goods in which thcro is a proportion of cotton, or which arc wholly or in part made Irom shoddy, than that leviable on pure woollen goods. The difficulty in the way of giving effect to this will too flio large amount of examination which will ho neeefwy. Tho tariff in relatiop to textile materials is at present some what intricate and the proposed alteration will add greatly to the duellos of Customs officers, and will be an impediment to business. The Government, will, however, make Inquiry into the whole matter.