POLITICAL MATTERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 167, 6 July 1908, Page 4

POLITICAL MATTERS

ECAIuNT SKAT. Kllhain, Saturday. Mv. ]). L. A. Asibury, ,v Liberal c.tlldidate lor the Figinont seal, addressed a meeting last Jiiiilit. 1U- said lie was ill Jaior of single la\. though it cuuifl not collie tor a 11>i;lt time. For Jhe present he favored the freehold, willi limitation of area, lie approved the graduated land lax as a means of settling the land and preventing aggregation oi estates, lie suggested that Crown land should be let at a rental of .4 per eenl. on the unimproved value. The rent should pay the cost of the roads, which the Government should make.

The subject of dairy inaction and the work of dairy inspectors is brought under the notice of tlie Aliilis-' ter for Agriculture (Hon. It. AlcNab) by' Jlr. Wiltord, in a notice and qucstib ( it given in the House, lie wants to know if the Minister will amend the dairy regulations so as to provide ill it tlio judgment of the local inspector shasj'j not lie filial in cases of alleged breach of those regulations, hut lh.it the .Magistrate, apart from, the evidence of the inspector, might determine the question having regard to the whole of the evil ilenee before him. Air. Wilford explains his question in an attached "note." A stipendiary magistrate recently said, in a ijcaring of un information for the 1 breach of a dairv regulation, that >t did not matter it' thirty witnesses were called to contradict the evidence of the inspector, he must follow the evidence of the inspector alone, for the regulations provided that "all tilings had to be done to the satisfaction of the inspector," whereas if the regulations had contained the words "to the satisfaction of the whole court," lie would then have been able to decide the case on the who.'* Gf the evidence before him. ■

It is understood (says ail exchange I that Afr. F. E. Itanme/A1.1'.. either question .Ministers or propo*? legislating tins >ession with a view of meeting in some way the grievances of mothers travelling with young children and practically subjected to a boycott by hotel and boardinghouse-keepcrs ami by first-class passengers 011 trains and steamers. Air. llaumc, when travelling with his wife and children, is said to have had a somewhat bitter experience. Consequently he will lie able to speak feelingly.

A meeting of incinbers for the pm'|u/HC o{ considering the imminent tor an increase ia the State's interest, iu tlie Bank of New Zealand was belli at Parliament House 011 Friday. After sonic discussion in regard to the Bank of NewZealand and the question of banking reform generally, the following motion was carried: "That a committee be set up to formulate resolutions regarding banking and currency to be submitted to the Eight Hon. tfie Prime Minister, sucli committee to consist of the chairman (Hon, I. Kelly), Hon. W. W. lieCardie, and Messrs. Ell, Barclay, Flatman. and Major; and the committee to report by Wednesday, July S.'' It was stated during the course of'.the proceedings that thirty-six members iif the iiower House had associated themselves with the movement for obtaining an improvement in the relations between the 'State and the Hank of Xcw. Zealand. The committee was informed that the Prime Minister had consented (o interview a deputation in regard to the matter.