POLITICAL POINTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 211, 12 October 1909, Page 3

POLITICAL POINTS.

THE PUBLIC DEBT. One of the returns presented to Parliament gives |iarlii-ulars of the Public I Debt. Tue following are the figures-—• | Public Debt, 1008-0. C70.!>38,534; Public Debt, IUO7-8, ± - (Jli,4.">:l.81l7: increase for year £4,484,037. It is added that of the increase there are "duvet interesthearing iteiii.>' amounting to .1:2.848 31!) "A large portion uf the loan f )lr „ u ij]jc' works of £1,200,000" is »aid to bo largely interest-bearing.

COST OF VISIT OF AMERICAN FLEET. According to 111 return, the expends ■n connection with the visit of the American fleet to New Zealand cost the Dominion £.",700. The principal item was the military review (including cost »f transport), which ran into ,£IOO4 Next in order of size was the cost of the banquet to the admiral and ollieers which aggregated £OO4. "From the return it is also gathered that decorations, J« and illuminations cost £4BB- wi»egratuities, etc., £400; hire of'cabs'and brakes, £457; travelling allowances and expenses of commissioners, etc cmdaison Queen Street wharf and annexe to Drill Hall, £340; accommodation of American ollieers and others £"O3- Idiot dynamos, etc.. £237; annexe at Government House, ,1104; album and address to President Roosevelt £l-»- •. freshincnts served to visitors, "i'l IDcasket and address to Adnmal Sncrrr ' £6fi; payment of Maori dancers at Rotorua, £6O j and purchase of Uao-i eunos, £42. -w-i

SECOND BALLOT ACT. Among the figures given in Bl return to the public accounts arc those in connects with the disbursements under £lOll - CO nl Ba,lo , t . Act - Altogether £lOl3 as Gd was claimed bv the thirty-, nve candidates who reached the various .second tests. It is interesting to note that the smallest sum claimed was £l9 Is by the Hon. J. Carroll, whilst mod of the otner candidates' expenses were just under the maximum amount allowed, viz., £SO. Mr. Geo. Hutchison sent in accounts aggregating £49 ly s PETITION FROM PROFESSOR GILRUTH.

■ The petition, present,,! to the House on Friday included one from .]. \ Gilruth, Professor ~f Veterinary Science and Pathology f„ r ,|,, Vn xv „ Melbourne. and formerly Chief Government Veterinary, i u Jf ew Zealand. In September, 1004 (petitioner said), whilst He was in receipt of a salary or' £BOO J>er annum, the Imperial Government ofle I™?' Tm "°\ th ; X, ' w Zealiln <i Government, the post of principal veterira T s „rp ( ,„ ,„ lh „ Tran.vnnl Coverall, n at a .alary „, nm risi to 11-00 per annum . Notwithstanding ha his ,nj5,g0, 8 ,.„ t with the New Zen* land Government was terminable by ne'Xew'X Z'l , hrce " ,ontl »' mt ™- the i\e« Zealand Government declin-,l to transnnt the offer to iihn, „nd in consequence he did not receive th . •„ [.ointment, -etitioner pointed ,' ' Z %'> "'"' «* f»l* for seientinc u.ik »., ~,„,!, greater in Africa than had leff t' ' ""• •"'"' the ofliTOr wh ° went fn V hc ..P° s,t,on °ff««d to Mm wont tci the Highest position in the linITl^f 1 , Veterinary Service" Rilruth further alleged that he did no transmitting the olfer to Wm had te™ 00., 5 t sional skill and character. U P claimed »n,pe„saU„„ fo ,., 0 f )0 / South Africa, and also for the loss < f taineT' P "' tig * Which ''« "ad s „s

SUPERAXXI-ATEDUVIL SERVANTS

A return is to be asked for |„- Jlr Hoidman showing-)l) Tha names t|] officers who have ceased to serve in the lulilic Service since April 1, loot), m the description of the office held and th« salary received by each such officer on the date upon which he ceased to he a servant of the Crown: mill (:i) th" mines of all officers appointed to the sevsce of t|„. (rown since April I I.'iffl, a description 0 f the office to which eacn officer has been appointed anil the rate of salary payable to him.

OF JXTEHEST TO TEACHERS. Two important matters in regard to tiaehers are touched on in notices ol million given on Friday. Mr. Massey is to :::ove:-Tiiai there be laid before His House a retiira showing (1) the niaou..its paid i„ each ipw*papcr in Xew Zi aland for Government advertisements for the year ended .March 31st, lDOU; (21 the amnunls similarly paid for Gov-' eminent printing, stating to whom paid; ai!.! (3) tiie amounts expended for ad vtrti-ing Xew Zealand scenery (a) in this country, and (b) outside this country, staling to whom the same lias been paid. .Air, Wilford lias given notice to ask the Minister for Education whether ic will this session amend the Education At, and rei|uire all education boards to sub'iiit to school committees not less than four names, even in the case of a transfer.