POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 98, 16 October 1911, Page 5

POLITICAL.

THE HAWKE'S MY SEAT. By Telegraph—Press Association, Hastings, Saturday. Mr. G. ,S. Olapham, who is contesting the Hawke's Bay =eat as an Independent Liberal and Labor candidate, opened m*B campaign last night, and was accorded a ivote of thanks. THE TIMARU SEAT. Timaru, Saturday Night. Mr. J. Harold Moore, solicitor, excaptain of the local volunteer corps, this afternoon consented to contest the Timaru seat in the Opposition Party's interest. MR. McCLUGGAGE'S CANDIDATURE. Tahora, Saturday Night. Mr. J. McOluggage had a.splendid meeting at Kohura-tahi last night. Mr. W. A. McCutchen was in the chair. The address was on similar lines to that at Stratford. The candidate received a good hearing, a.nd was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence, and confidence in the Ward government. THE TARANAKI SEAT. A meeting of supporters of the Liberal Party will be held in the Town Hall tomorrow evening for the purpose of arranging a plan of campaign in support of Mr. C. E. Bellringcr's candidature. THE HINE ENQUIRY AGAIN. In the House on Friday Mr. Hine asked why the Government did not intend tobring down legislation giving effect to the finding of the Hine Committee, especially in view of the resolution moved by the -Prime Minister? It seemed strange that the Government should bs able to override the will of the House in the matter. He hoped that the decision of the Crown Law Officers would be laid before the House.

The Prime Minis! >■;• said he had always held the opinion that public men should not receive any monetary benefit from any transaction with the Government, lie had moved accordingly as a member of the committee. He had not at any time, cither on the committee or in the House, proposed that anything different should, be done than was done in any other country, or by which public men in general "would have a slur cast upon them. The Standing Orders were at present being altered to do what was necessary to meet the case. The report of the committee showed that some men, not then members of Parliament, had had something to do with the sale of land to the Crown, and that a Maori member had personally benefited by the sale of land by natives to the Govern, ment. The House passed a vote of cen« sure upon that member. The hon. member (Mr. Hinc) had asked that men should be made honest by legislation. He was not going to introduce legislation of that kind. Any member of Parliament! was responsible to his constituency and to the country.

'Mr. Hine: What did you propose it{ for?

The Prime Minister said he had taken measures to do the thing in a propel! way. He was not going to give the hon, gentleman a chance to go on the plat* form and say that he was the only hon* est and virtuous man in Parliament. ■■ '

NATIVE LANDS. ! In the House on Friday the Ministefl for Lands (Sir Joseph Ward) said that it was the duty of the Government ta see that there was the same justice and honesty of administration in the taking of native lands as is the taking ef European lands. The Government proposed to put as much activity in acquiring both native and European lands as the means at its disposal would permit. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL. On Friday Mr. Pcarce asked if the Prime Minister intended to circulate the Local Government Bill, which had been so long promised? Sir Joseph Ward said he did not intend to circulate it before the election. The Bill contained 600 clauses. It was a very important and very difficult Bill, and a whole session would be required for its consideration. Mr. Reed: Is it drafted? , The Prime Minister: ''Yes, it is drafted." He was perfectly certain that when the Local Government Bill came up for consideration, not only would it be necessary for local public bodies to consider it separately, but it would probably be necessary for representatives of these bodies to meet in conference, probably at Wellington, to consider the Bill. He did not consider it desirable to divert public opinion from the burning questions now before the country prior to the general election. He was not proceeding from any strategical point of view. As a fact,' he believe that if this Bill were circulated it would do the Government a great deal of good. A far•eaehing and comprehensive measure of this kind should be dealt with by public men when they were clear of the turmoil of the general election. The Bill would be introduced next session; circulated and considered; and he was perfectly sure that it would take a session to deal with it. Local Government in New Zealand required to be carried out on an entirely different basis to anything now existing, if it was to be successful.