POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 75, 15 August 1912, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

. THE ARBITRATION ACT. I t By Telegraph—Own Correspondent. Wellington, Last Night. The, Government does not deem it advisable, said the Prime Minister in answer to Mr. Vigor Brown, to amend the Arbitration Act so as to give, preference to unionists, as opportunity ia now given under the Act to any union of workers to apply for conditions of employment, including preference, to be fixed.

MAORI REPRESENTATION. In "answer to Mr. Ngnta, the s Prime Minister, said that the Government was of opinion that the time has not yet arrived for the abolition of special Maori representation.

CHILDREN ON THE RAILWAYS. The Minister of Railways was .asked by Mr. Myers whether it was his intention to make concessions in the railway passenger fares for children, allowing those under five years of age to travel free, and those between the ages of five and fourteen years to travel at quarter rates. Tn reply, the Minister said: "My investigations into the matter indicate that it would cost many thousands per annum to introduce the system of carrying children up to five, years of age free, and those between the'ages of five and fourteen years at quarter rates, on the railways of the Dominion. In these circumstance)! it is not proposed to make any concession in the direction indicated." \ ij- . i»" 1 ■■■ pjf

THE WEBSTER. CLAIMS, The Prime Minister informed Mr. Harris that Webster's claims against the New Zealand Government have not been settled, and are How included in the treaty of arbitration know as the Pecuniary Claims Convention, which was entered into between Great Britain and the United States of America 011 April 28, 1912. The hearing of the claims is expected to take place at an early date.

THE EGMONT SEAT. The only announced candidates for the Egmont seat are Messrs. Dive and Wilkinson. It is generally understood that the latter will stand as a definite supporter of Mr. Massey, although the information comes as somewhat of a surprise to many of Mr. AVilkinson's friends, who did not look upon him as a Masseyite. Many of the Egmont electors are refraining from expressing any opinions concerning the two candidates now before them, preferring to wait and hear the addresses of the contestants before being committed to either of them. If a satisfactory Liberal candidate is not forthcoming, it is quite plain that-the Liberal supporters will hold the balance of power at the forthcoming election and bo able to sway the voting in favor of Mr. Dive or Mr. Wilkinson, whichever they select. —Eltham Argus.