POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 222, 25 October 1909, Page 1

POLITICAL.

TARANAKI QUESTIONS. Following are questions asked i„ the Ilouse relative to matters of local interest, with the .Ministers' replies thereto:— Mr. Dive: Whether it is the intention of the Government during iii,. comiii" session to introduce a liai.w..,- Autho" isalion Bill providing, along will, others for the construction u ( "the required line to Opunakev-The "ones lion of aulliorising the construction <i. a railway to Opnnake will l.e dealt witi, "•licit tiie next Railways Aulliorisalioi, iiili is under consideration Mr. Dive: Whether the' Governmenl are aware that by present legislation licensing fees had been reduced in towi. districts fifty per -cent., and whether, m justice to these local bodies, tlioy wi'l introduce a BUI this session to put tliit matter right!—Yesj tmTmatter is receiving consideration.

Mr. Okcy asked Hie Minister in charge of the Advances to Settlers Department, Whether, seeing that the business done uy the Department in the Taranaki Provincial District is the third largest ra the Dominion, he will take the necessary steps to open an office of the Department in the town of New PlymouHi that being the most convenient place 'or the business of the district?— The Department is already well and sufficiently represented in the Taranaki district. Each postmaster is empowered and qualified to give applicants every assistance and information, a solicitor acts for tie office in each of the principal townships, and a district valuer is stationed at Hawera. There is thus no .necessity for the opening of another office for the Department in New Plymouth at considerable expense. ■Mr. Dive: When does the Government propose to proceed with the erection of a post office at Kahotu, on account of Which £SOO was appropriated by Parliament last session?— Tenders were invited for the work in July Inst, but as | the lowest tender was considerably in excess of the amount voted ( £500), »il tenders were declined. No further action has since been taken in the matter. Mr. Dive: Whether the Government will take into consideration the repeal of that part of the Native Land Rating Act which provides that no judgment for non-payment of rates against a native owner shall operate without consent of the Native Minister? (Note.— The effect of this provision Iras been to make the Native Land Rating Act a dead-letter, and to cause very Prions injustice to many of mir local bodies.) The question of the amendment of the law at present affecting rating on native lands is intended to be dealt with by legislation to be introduced this session.

Mr. Hinc nsked the Minister for Public Works, Whether, for the purpose of placing the Mount Egmont stone-crush-ing works on a payable and businesslike basis, lie will at once authorise the extension of the permanent-way to the permanent quarries, as recommended by the Department's engineers?— The construction of the Mount Egmont branch railway or tramway has been authorised as far as the quarries, and the question of its extension to that, point will be considered as' soon as certain necessary data are available.

Mr. Dive: Whether it is the intention of the Government to place on the statutes during the present, session of Parliament the model by-laws for county councils, as circulated about two years ago?—lt depends upon the course of public business. Mr. Dive: Whether it is the intention of the Government during the present session of Parliament to amend the l*inil Valuation Act with a view of placing mi the statutes something dealing with improvements more equitably than at present?— The Valuation of Land Act provides for the assessment of the eapi. tal value, unimproved value, and value of improvements on the basis of fair selling values, and district valuers have I ecu repeatedly Instructed to make a libera! allowance for all improvements. Thi-: matter has for years been the suujccl. of the most earnest consideration. The ilCMiit latis us piovkkd in th ; e Act is, in the opinion of experts, the most equitable. At all events, no other ! basis of dealing with the value of improvements has been submitted which would prove as satisfactory as' the present, method. Mr. I'cane asked the .Minister of i Railways, Whether he will again put | the refreshment car on the mail train running from Wniigamii to New Plymouth during the summer months, in view of the fact that the traffic will lie, much greater during the summer months?— The dining car was taken oil' the mail train north of Wanganui owing lo the falling-oil' of business resulting from the diversion of traffic from the New I'lvinoutli line to the North Island Main Trunk. The haulage of tin; car north of Wanganui frequently involved the running of a s'ecqivl locomotive at an expense that was altogether disproportionate to tile revenue derived from the oar, or the revenue accruing therefrom, and in the circumstances it was decided to take the car oil the train at Wanganui. I regret that I am unable to comply with tbe request to reinstate its running north of that station— Eltham Argus correspondent,