POLITICAL POINTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 77, 9 July 1910, Page 5

POLITICAL POINTS.

NEWS AND NOTES. (By Telegraph—From Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) Wellington, Last .Night THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE. I never saw such unanimity of agreement as there is to-day about the debate on the Address-in-Reply, which closed last night unexpectedly. In the House of Representatives, the Opposition consider that they have scored, however, because their leader was ihe only speaker on their side, and none of his men chipped in, because they considered that he had not been answered from the Government benches. DEFENCE REPORT.

The report of the Defence Department was laid on the table tlii.s afternoon. It shows that regiments and battalions of the field force are being reorganised on a peace and w >r establish meat, and approval has been given for the appointment of permanent adjutants and a sufficiency of non-commis-sioned officers as administrators ana in-i structors to each. Up to date, lu,(!2!) adult volunteers have qualified for capitation. Fourteen rol.'s are still outstanding, taking which at an average it can 1 be expected that' 11,400 will capitate for the year. Vp to date 3040 defence cadets have qualified for capitation. It is expected that the number will be increased to about 3800. Last year aasffl violunteera and 855 defence cadets attended the Easter manoeuvres. The territorial force, however, is clearly m a state of (lux, waiting for the completion of the new system.

THE RIFLE CLUBS. The rifle clubs supply the fly in the ointment. They are described' as not efficient, .and as unable to obtain instructors for drill and instruction. The intention is to give more ammunition, and increase the amount of cheap ammunition permitted. It is also the intention to cancel the drill parades now required as the general training aoout to come into force will take its piece shortly. In ordeT to establish, uniformity in the clothing of the territorial forces, sealed patterns of field servfce uniforms have been adopted and forwarded to the officers commanding districts, for the guidance of officers commanding units and local manufacturers. AGITATION" AGAINST THE FIGHT PICTURES.

The agitation for legislation to prevent the exhibition of the films of the Reno fight does not meet with much favor in the lobbies. Members want to know exactly on what grounds the legislation is advocated. To them it seems that whatever may be the case in a country like South Africa, where there is mixed black and white population, there can be no reason here, where the population is white and black mixed and the color question is viewed with toleration. The fact that the fight was desperately one-sided and hideously punishing for the beaten man, is the ground for regarding the exhibition as certain to be demoralising, and therefore to be prevented. I BY-LAW BILL. v Dr. Findlay's By-law Bill seems at first a drastic document, inasmuch as it does away with the present proviso of preliminaries for each case by giving them a general bearing. The apparently dangerous provision is the one ordering the reference of by-laws to the At-torney-General, whose approval shall be a Anal test, but there is no danger whatever, as the measure goes on to provide that by-laws are not immune against objections that they are bad in • nlstance, ultra vires or contrary to the general law. The Bill merely makes the formalities easier. Lastly, any person may apply; to the Supreme Court! for an order quashing any by-law on grounds of invalidity, and further tnat the Court may on rich application amend the by-law sr as to make it valid, if it thinks 'roper. CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEES.

■Mr. Wilford's resignation of the Chairmanship of Committees (as pittmised dirringthe Mayoral election) reached the Speaker to-day. Mr. Davies is sure of election.

"SETTLING THE HASH" OF THE' j BOOKIE. J There is much speculation and increasing interest about the bookmaker. In the Council to-day some attempts were made to draw the Attorney-Gen-eral by interjections, the speakers calling for five abolition oi uie oookie. Dr. Findlay then, with a positive tone, naid that the Government is about to "settle his bash, right enough," but there was no draw. CROWN LANDS REPORT.

The Crown Lands Report shows the year's transactions in Crown lands were 1056 selections, totalling 1,317,245 acms. Of these 08, with 537,000 acres, are pasteral runs; 350 with 8018 acres each; 307 with 108.151, occupation wvfli the viglit of purchase; 35, with 8553 acres,] renewable lease; 220 with 33,000 adves, improved farm settlements, land for settlement; 308, with 89,000 acres, national endowments; 303, with 81,000 acres, renewable leases.

GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A return of Government advertising for the year ended March 31, 1910 (a year later than the return submitted the other day) was available to-day, in reply to the request of 'Mr. Massey. The following amounts were paid for Government advertisements to the principal papers of New Zealand: l — Star, £3-22; New Zealand Herald. £322; The Dominion, £l2; Evening Post, £Sfli); New Zealand Times, £576; Christchurch Press, £401; Lyttelton Times, £424; Otago Dailv Times, £447; Dnnedin Star, £4Ol. Among the papers which received more Government advertisements than the Dominion are the Auckland Observer, £114; Christchurch. Spectator, £l6s;' New Zealand Trut!h., £24; Red Funnel Magazine, £10; Saturday Night (Auckland), £24; N.Z. Tablet, £2(1; Railway Review, £2B. The Dannevirke Evening News, an Opposition paper, received advertisements to the value of £1 Os 3d; the Danne-j vtrke Advocate (Government) received £OB, and the Dannevirke Daily Press £ls. CIVhL SERVICE PENSIONS. The following pensions, as shown by a Parliamentary return, have been granted under the Civil Service Act, 1908: W. W. Beswick, General Post Of-] fice. £310; R. Carter, Customs Department, £533; J. A. Hutton, General; Post Office, £400; R. Tait. General j Post Office, £283; J. K. Warburg, Controller and Auditor-General, fcflM.

1 CLAIM FOR PENSION. f A petition has been presented to P*rliamcnt by Mr. Wilford, on behalf of .' r tire widow of the late Sergeant Magmre, •,.'; who was fatally shot during the Po- ,' welka pursuit at Palmers ton North, |. praying for further compensation wan the amount of £SOO granted by die Police Department. It is urged that sum of £SOO, and an annual allowance of £lB from the Police Provident Fund, represents the sole means of the petitioner, and are inadequate for her support It is also represented that the sum of £.500, in comparison with otfler eompnssionate allowances, and ia view of the special circumstances of Sergeant\ Maguirc's death, is not sufficient compensation. The petitioner asks for such > further sum as will, when invested, to- ' gether with the amount of £SOO, provide a sufficient income for her support. OVERWORKED MOTHERS. Petitions have been presented by several members on behalf of medical practitioners, pointing out the urgent need that exists for obtaining assistance for overworked mothers. The petition imints out that mothers suffer in health owing to the scarcity of domestic servants, and this reacts on the chil'ren. especially in their early years. They therefore second the effort of the ladies' committee engaged in promoting the immigration of suitable girls. BREAK ON INDUSTRY. 'Speaking in the House this alterneo* Mr. Luke (Wellington Suburbs) declared that at present labor in New Zealand was building a wall around itself. (Oh's!) Tlip workers were not encouraging the adult population. Mr. P.oo'.c: "They arc coming here in thousands." ' •' Mr. Luke: "Yes; end they are going v awav in thousands." (Hear, hear.) ,' Resuming, Mr. Luke said the fact was that bov labor was needed in New Zealand. "Why. at present, men had to •' be' employed at ten shillings per day to do boys' work." The position wag such . that not a great many manufacturers were just now able, to make two ends ™.eet. ; '