POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1918, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

LIBERAL CAUCUS.

<Special Correspondent.)

Wellington, Nov. 29; Tlio "Liberal Caucus yesterday adopted(.lie resolutions proper to the occasion. It expressed unabated confidence in thu party leader and assured him ofy-iis continued loyalty and support, put on record its opinion tliat Sir Joseph Ward should accompany Air. Massey to the Peace Conference, and pledged" itself'to the observance of the letter and the spirit of the party truce during the absence of the leaders from the Dominion. Tt also resolved—as individuals, the official report states—to give all reasonable assistance in expediting the business of Parliament "so that the Peace delegates might get away as speedily as possible. Altogether, the caucus was in a happy mood, and if there are rifts in the lute, us some people say there are, they certainly were not conspicuous at this gathering. , "

"wilfcl and Canton waste."

■Hut (hat pledges to the party truce are not going to tie the tongues of all the critics on the Liberal side of the House was made obvious enough a few hours later. While Defence matters were being discussed, Mr" Witty, the member for Riccarton, wanted to know how long the present "wilful and wanton waste" was going to continue; Mr. Anstev. the member for Waitaki, liad some herd things to« say about the land purchased for soldiers' settlement; and Mr MeCallum, the member for Wairau, who is not one of the firebrands of the House, asked some pertinent questions concerning the report of the War Expenditure Commission. Mr. Massey and Sir James Allen, rather in sorrow than m anger, protested against, the wildly inaccurate statements that had been made, and promised all the information the members required would be forthcoming. | THE RAILWAY STATEMENT.

The Railway Statement for tlio rear 1017-18 presented to the House yesterday was a more satisfactory document from tlic financial point of view than was generally expected. The net profit on the working of the lines—that is, the excess of earnings over expenditure—was £1,G44,7»:i. or only £12!»,153 less than the amount realised during the preceding year. The gross earnings declined. compared with the figures of the preceding year, from £4,800,810 to £4.587,700, and the working expenses increased from £2,020,804 to ,-£3,042.007, while the percentage of profit to capital invested fell from 5.20 to 4.G0, which Mr. Herries says compares favorably with the results obtained from the railways in any of the Australian States. The important point ahout the Statement, however, is the Minister's insistence upon the need for making an early start with the improvement of the railway system that was interrupted by the war.

THE SESSION.

if the majority of the House remains in its present frame of mind, it may be quite possible for the Government to bring the session to a close by the end of fiext week. This would necessitate, of course, a great deal of the 'business which would have engaged the attention of t«e House in normal conditions being left undone, but members who have been urging that the session should continue after the departure of the party lenders are beginning to realise this would be a somewhat futile proceeding, perhaps the worse of what they regard as two evils. The majority feels that vision made for carrying on the arl'aits of the country till the return of Mr. MasSey and Sir Joseph Ward from London, both the remaining Ministers -and private members could be better cmployed than in haggling over matters which they could bring to no final determination.

THE CRIMES BILL.

The Crimes Amendment Bill, Introduced by the Minister for, Justice (Hon. T. M.Wilford) provides that any person convicted on indictment or sentenced for any crime on a plea of guilty under the Justices of the Peace Act, may, with the leave of the Court of Appeal, appeal to that Court against lus sentence on the ground that it is excessive. The Court of Appeal may quash the sentences and pass any other sentence warranted by law, whether more or less severeWhen a motion for leave to appeal aeainst a sentence of conviction has been dismissed, the Court of Appeal may, if it thinko fit, order the applicant to pay to the other party to the prosecution the costs of the motion.