POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 76, 16 August 1912, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE MOKAU LAND.. By Telegraph—Own Correspondent. Wellington, Last Night.. Notice has been given by Mr. Okey to move that there be laid; before tli-O' House a return showing: (1) AH payments made by the two late Governments on account of the purchase of. the Mokitu-Mohakatino block; and (2) all payments made to any solicitor in. connection with the same block, for the two years ended March 31, 1812/

THE MACKENZIE GOVERNMENT. TRAITORS AT WORK. During the course of a conversation: with a representative of the Waimate Witness during his visit to Manaia bn. Monday, the member for Egmont, now the High Commissioner, appeared inclined to congratulate himself on the fact that the iierce struggle of the last few months, with its grim and threatening uncertainties, its ceaseless and interminable uphill fight, its thousand attendant worries are all ended and done with. "But," said Mr. Mackenzie, "what' I cannot brook is the underground, enemy, the false friend who stabs in the dark. The open adversary one is prepared for. His attack is expected and.' may be met. I may say with confidence that my Government could have .successfully withstood the attacks of the Opposition had we not been assailed by the members of our own household. The head and front of this treachery was the ex-Minister of Railways, Mr. J. A. Millar. If not the author of the conspiracy that destroyed the Government,, he was certainly the leading figure in it. His was the hand that gave the Government its death wound. There can. be no mistake about that." Had you reason to expect anything different from him? "Most certainly," answered Mr. Mackenzie. "Neither myself nor my colleagues should dream of forming a Government had we not been assured of the loyal suport of the party. It was onthat distinct understanding that, we accepted office. Manifestly it would have been mid-summer madness to have ac- : cepted the responsibility under any other conditions." It wasn't then, so much an insurgent movement arising from some unexpected acts on the part of the Government as deliberate treachery? "Cold-blooded treachery," assented Mr. Mackenzie, "and it seems aa if it began to work immediately after a promise of loyalty and support had been* tendered at the caucus."

What would your position have teen: had the party stood together! "We should most certainly have been-h-olding office to-day.' There is not the slightest -doubt about that." What are the probabilities regardingthe present Government! "The present Government is pretty 1 certain to go until Parliament dissolves in the usual way by effluxion of time. What may happen then no one can at present say. I do not believe in either the policy or wisdom of driving a Government out of office merely by a snap vote. It leads to nothing permanent. It is not good for the morale of the party, and it is bad for the public busi* ness, which should under all conditions be the prime consideration. In the case of the present Government I don't think that anything of the kind will be attempted. I certainly should be averse to it and it is not likely to be tried."

MAORI REPRESENTATION. The following reply by the Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Minister) to a question by the Hon. A. T. Ngata is interesting: '•The Government is of opinion that th« time lias not yet arrived for the abolition of special Maori representation."

A return- giving interesting statistics regarding the taxation of incomes was presented to the House of Representatives this week, on the motion of Mr. Laurenson (Lyttelton). The total number of income tax payers is 11,303, including 5:12 companies, and discharges on incomes under £3OO, who are not entitled to exemption. Their incomes aggregate £ 11,006,021. The following table shows the number of persons paying taxes on incomes of various amounts, and the total amount in each class:— Income Number. Total. £3OO to .£3OO 3,870 £2,207,005 £3OO to £IOOO 3,243 £2,178,586 £IOOO to £10,000... 1.342 £3,433,100 £IO.OOO to £30.000.. 92 £1,673,075 Over £30,000 10 £1,426,4(58