POLITICAL NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8483, 10 July 1907, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(From Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. UNCERTAINTY. It was anticipated in a previous communication that the debate on the Address-in-Reply would last out the whole of last week. That the anticipation has been fulfilled is attributable to the Government, who for some reason best known to themselves desired delay. Oppositionists state that the tactics of the Government in this matter suit their books, but they do not give any reason why. So far the policy Bills of the Government have been kept in the background. Not one has been introduced as yet. Some Government Bills have been listed but they do not come into the category of what is generally designated policy measures. As soon as the Address-in-Reply debate is over the Treasurer proposes to bring down his Budget, and it may be the unreadiness of th is that has induced the Premier to keep the talk going. From what I can gather it will be continued throughout Tuesday and possibly Wednesday. The Land Bills seem to rest in the womb of the distant future. JOTTINGS. The total amount of securities held in the colony or elsewhere en March 31st last was £5,092,810. Of this sum the Post Office held £4,497,946. The civil list account up to March 31st last shows that the Minister of Labour, the Minister of Lands, and the Minister of Education each received house allowance to the extent of £l3O. Two of the Ministers were to reside in the Ministerial residence in Molesworth Street, formerly occupied by Mr Seddon, which would have saved house allowance to' them and the country, but as Mrs Seddon still continues to occupy the Ministerial residence the sums mentioned have been paid, and a like proportion is still being paid to the two Ministers. Verily the people of the colony are a patient and enduring people. The cost of collection of Customs and other revenue for the past year shows Wellington to rank the lowest for the colony, the percentage being £1 4s Id, Oamaru stands higher!; with £4 7s lOd per cent, Auckland costs Is 3d more than Wellington, Lyttelton and Christchurch 3s sdt, and Dunedin and Port Chalmers 4s 4d per cent. Mr R. McXenzie is making another effort to compel the local authorities of the colony to demolish noxious weeds on the lands under their control. Following the suggestion I threw out in my notes and comments last week respecting the uselessness of the Governor's Speech at the opening of Parliament, Mr T. Mackenzie has given notice to move—"That with a view to saving time and expediting business of Parliament, the debate en the Address-in-Reply be abolished."