POLITICAL NOTES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 167, 24 October 1910, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES

Mr. Pearce has given notice to ask the Minister of Agriculture, whether he will agree to take oil as cadets at; the Mounialiaki State Farnl, eight or ten boys—from fourteen to eighteen years old—to work on the farm and learn farming, and so get practical experience of the experiments carried on there? [Note. —There are ample buildings on the farm for their accommodation if a few inexpensive alterations are made.]

Mr. Jennings to ask the Prime Minister, whether f he will consider the advisability of amending the Police Offences Act in this direction: That it shall not be an offence if damage is done when settlers in any district by a majority decide on having a uniform date for burning off portions of their bush. [Note. —It is an offence under the above Act if a settler or settlers decide on a burn and damage is done to any adjoining holding, and the owner can institute court proseedirigs. If a a date be fixed by a majority of settlers for a general burning in anv locality, there should be a statutory immunity from dangers and penalties. At present many necessary improvements are stopped owing to the present law.] Figures showing the transfers made from one branch to another of the State Guaranteed Advances Office were laid before Parliament on Thursday. At the end of September, £30,000 was transferred from the settlers' branch to the workers' branch, and £50,000 was transferred from the locjil authorities' branch to the settlers' branch. On September 13, £30,000 was transferred from the local authorities' branch to the native land settlement branch. During the past two years 795 applications were made to the Advances to .Settlers' Department for loans of over t'oOO, of which number 129 were granted. The total amount of the applications was £832.712, the advances made totalling £08,165.