POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 54, 24 July 1914, Page 5

POLITICAL.

ill!. MORRISON'S PUBLIC LIFE. Mr VV. Morrison, who bus been selected as the Liberal candidate for the Patea seat, is a member of (he Waitotara County Council, with wliicllr he has been eonni'eU'd for nearlv nine years. He lias been chairman of the Maxwell-town selion! committee for several years, and was elected to a reat on the Wanganui Harbor Board at last election. Mr Morrison has been a volunteer for 2(i years, having been in command of the Queen Alexandra Mounted Rifles for eight years, and is at present a captain in' the reserve of officers. He is a Justice of the Peace, having received his commission in 11102.

TIIK IliOX AND STEEL IXW'STRY. Recently tlii' Hon. "R. MeKnezie asked the (Jovernment what steps were being taken to promote the iron and steel industry. On Wednesday the Prime Minister replied that a proposal to offer a bonus was under umsidnation during the recess, and in connection therewith it is proposed to seek legislative authority during the present session. Mr. Massev adds that the terms olVeved by the Ethelburga syndicate were not considered to be reasonable, and they have accordingly been declined. The ipiestion cropped up again when a motion was moved that the Purapara lion Ore Commission report he laid on the table of the House. This was opposed by the Minister of Finance, who said the evidence was given under terms of sevrecy. The Commission did not recommend that the Kthelburga syndicate's oiler' should be accepted, kut they made other suggestions, which he did not think it would he to the country's interest to disclose. A similar attitude was taken by the Hon. \Y. Fraser. Minister of Mines, who explained that a special liill was being drafted offering a bonus to anyone who would take up the manufacture of iron in the Dominion.

OVETUN'SVRANCE. The Hon. J. Duthie has given notice to ask the Minister for Internal Affairs:—''(l) Whether the grave danger which exists throughout New Zealand from the lire risks tlmougli overinsurance, with its accompanying excess rates of premiums has received the consideration of the (loverninonl. and if vo do MinisterM propose to deal with the question this session? (2- Whether the system uf co-insurance recommended in volnni" 14 of the latest' 'Encyclopedia liritanniea," and wiliJch is widely resorted to in the United States. Krancc and (lermairv has had their consideration'! (3) Whether the New Zenland State Insurance Department, nfte." it.-, (in Years' experience, i- now able t"- devise a tariff for r'wks tale.ulaled Mo meet tlie equities and to command general confidence."