POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 113, 20 August 1910, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent). Wellington, Thursday. THE CRIMES BILL. The Council debated the Crimes Bill to-day with illumination, the chief features being a speech from Mr. McGowan, who spoke with the weight of some experience of prison administration, and a review of the English prison system by another member. ■REFORMING THE COUNCIL.

"The best laid schemes," etc. The passing of 'Russell did not 'happen as advised. 'The Bill got to committee after all and 'the clause abolishing the Council was passed and also the next, and then progress was reported and Russell passed far the time. The Lower House did some work, but not much, the main effort of the evening being the veiled opposition to the further proceeding of Mr. Russell's Bill for the reform of the Council. It was now on the list ready for the committee stage, and the member in change looked bright and full of pride after the second reading, but members had so much to breathe out about other Bills on the paper that these obtained an extraordinary share of attention. The prison's report, circulated, to-day, lias been largely anticipated by the speech of the Attorney-General in the Council on the Crimea Bill. FEEBLE EFFORTS.

Despite the fact that practically none of the real business of the session has yet been touched, the House found itself to-day in the paradoxical position of having almost nothing to . do. The afternoon was wasted with useless talk about two petitions. Then four local Til's passed their second reading. In a few minutes another one was referred back to a committee, and the acting leader of the House (Mr. Carroll) was brought face to face with Government business, and the fact that there was nothing of importance to go on with. He proposed that the River Boards Bill (in charge of Mr. Buddo) should be taken, but members had not seen the Bill, and protested against discussing a measure they knew nothing about. A SLUGGISH HOUSE. Mr. Carroll then moved that the three Bills on the top of the Order Paper be postponed to enable the third reading of the Phosphorus 'Matches Bill to be taken. Thi9 wias agreed to, and the third reading was agreed to without debate. The Government not being ready to go on with the next Bills it was agreed to skip five more of them and to take the second reading of the Town Boards Bill, but not before an unsuccessful attempt had been made to find Mr. Sidey, with his Public Health Amendment Bill, and Mr. Massey had made a suggestion that raised a laugh at the Government's expense, to the effect that yesterday's postponed discussion on the Rigg-Cross petition should be resumed. A HALTING 'EXPLANATION.

Mr. Buddo gave a somewhat lame ex-| planation of Irs Bill, and in about live) minutes it had passed its second read-j inig with a word of protest from Mr., Massey against the inadequacy of the j explanation. Meantime Mr Carroll had] left the Chamber, and Mr. Roderick >:cKenzie had to come to the rescue with hia Stone Quarries Bill in committee. '!n five minutes' more the dinner hour mer-' cifnlly intervened. In the evening we had Mr. iSidey, with 'his private Bill. WHITE FLAG. The Opposition, recognising that Sir Joseph Ward was away owing to illness, did not attempt to cut up rou^h. AMAfIJG-AMATIO'X OF LOCAL BODIES. Mr. Ell's proposal that the amalgamation of one district with another shall be determined by a poll of those interested instead of by petition to the Govern-, ment, will be included in the Local Go-1 vernment Bill and the Municipal Cor-i porations Amendment Bill, the lastnamed of which, at least, is expected to be passed this session. Mr. Ell has received many letters commending tlic proposal. KAURI GUM VALUES. | The fluctuations in the production and value of kauri gum are said to be somewhat surprising. During 1908 there was an extraordinary fall in production, estimated at £207,090, but last year the industry made a phenomenal recovery, the exports increasing from 5530 tons in 1008 to 8250 tons, and the value from £372,798 to £552,698. The fluctuations are ascribed to exploitation of the mar; ket. It may be remarked that next to gold the kauri gum exported from the Dominion has reached a higher value ' than any other mineral exported, the value toeing fifteen million pounds, since 1853.