POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 87, 21 July 1910, Page 4

POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES

(By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. THE BUDGET. The Budget has many admirers and more detractors. Initiative and enterprise are ilu' oust things on the Government side. On the other the criticism, is that it is the Wintou speech over again, without the details one expectß in the Budget. Local Government is held up us au example for ndicule and execration. The debate is announced lor Tuesday.

Mr. Massey is grinding his sword, but ln> stops every now aud then to lament that without B-l the grinding Is Hard work. Without that paper, which the Premier said could not come down till the end of August, there will, according to Mr. Massey, be practically as ftw details of the Government in concrete as there are in the abstract of the Winton speech and its shadow that fell across the House. We wonder whether he will, therefore, keep the debate going till the end of August. THE STATE COAL MINE BILL.

The State Coal Mine Bill found fair weather and a free course to-day, and later Mr. Russell was in fine form as he addressed the Legislative Council. THE GAMBLING QUESTION.

To-morrow the gambling resolutions will have a grand field day. IMPROVEMENT IN SALARIES.

A careful perusal of the Estimates shows that many civil servants will today be congratulating themselves cm having received increases m their salaries. Last year was a dismal one for. servants of the State, but the appropriations this year are on a more generous scale. Indeed in some cases large increases have been provided for. The salary of the Public Trustee is raised to £IOOO, being an increase of £150; the chief clerk to £SOO ( £45); and the inspector to £SOO (£SO). The salary of the recently appointed solicitor is fixed at £525. The Commissioner of Stamps receives no less a sum than £175 by way of increase, making his salary £625. The Chief Clerk's salary is raised by £ls to £575. The recently appointed Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce is awarded a £SO increase, making his salary £550, the Accountant £2O (£285), and the Editor of Publications £ls (£280). The salary of the Director of Live Stock now amounts to £C>25 (£25 increase), that of the Government Printer is raised by £25 to £7OO. There are hundreds of other increases, most of them, in the case of responsible officers, ranging from £lO to £25.

SLY-GROGGING ON THE STRATFORD RAILWAY. In reply to Mr. J. B. Hine to-day, the Premier said his attention had been called to the matter of illicit liquorselling near the Stratford East rail head, and every effort has been made to cope with the evil referred to. While it was undeniable that illicit sales took place, a good deal of the drunkenness was due to the importation of liquor in quantities, and the division thereof among the purchasers. This could not be prevented. The police were severely handicapped by the fact -that they were closely watched, and that the general punlic would not assist them. Under these circumstances it was very difficult to secure sufficient evidence "to warrant a conviction. No effort would be spared to cope with the illegal traffic. WHANGAMOMONA POST OFFICE.

Sir Joseph also said that the question of erecting a post office at Whangamomona is receiving attention. TELEPHONES FOR BACK BLOCKERS.

In reply to Mr. \V. Jennings, Die Premier said the Postal Department should not sell telephones or any other materials to outlying settlers at half-price for private telephone lines. LOANS TO SETTLERS.

To Mr. Okey, the Premier said, in re advances up to £3000: "Advances are still being limited to £SOO, in accordance with the Act. I hope the Board will soon be in a volition to make advances above that amount." TRANSFERENCE OF.PROPERTY.

To Mr. Jennings, the Premier an id: "Section 03 of the Rating Act, 11)08.. makes it incumbent on owners or occupiers of rateable property who sell or otherwise dispose of the same, to notify in writing the local authority in whose district such property is situate of the iul! particulars relating to the purcrase or transfer."

THE CO-OPERATIVE SYSTEM. To Mr. Okey: "My attention had not previously been drawn to the statement, made at the conference of the Farmers' Union delegates as to the cost ot v.crk under the co-operative system. If the statement attributed to Mr. Soil mitt correctly conveys his impression, then he has been completely misinformed. No contracts have been let for Weiring Titree on the Hauraki Plains., There have, however, been contracts let for forming drains involving the clearing ol the Titree from the surface of the drain, but payment for such work is only made at the rate of €1 per acre. With reference to the statement that co-opjrative workers did not get up antil midday, I may say that this is highly improbable, but in any case the men on. cooperative works are paid by results, anil in such a case as that mentioned, it would be a matter of 'no work, no pay. On public works, satisfactory results are obtained under the co-ooeraiive system, and, consequently, it is lot proposed to set up a Royal Commission to enquire into that system." THE OHURA ROAD.

Mr. R. McTCenzie told Mr, Bin* tnnf tlie need of completing the metal'ing of the Ohura road is recognised. Li is estimated to cost £30,000. TV w:n\ is under way, but it is impossible that the full amount required to complete riiis road can be voted for sometime. BUTTER AND MARGAIUNE.

Mr. T. McKenzie told Mr. Olcv that the matter of legislating let'vcMi ltit tor and margarine has boon li'fno the Monie Government. for many yi ai >\ As it is very desirable tlu'.t margarine should bo of difl'oront color to butter. t!io Now Zealand Governnic-it Imve already made representations on the subject.