POLITICAL NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8537, 18 September 1907, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(From Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. LAND TAX BILL. The House having disposed of the much-debated Tariff Bill has now a clear field for proceeding with the Land Bills—at least the most important two of the triology, of measures dealing with ;the land (other than native lands) of the colony. The first measure to be brought forward will be the Land and Income Assessment Bill, as amended by the Public Accounts' Committee, and there is no reason to doubt -that the amendments made by that Committee ■ will be accepted by the Government,. seeing that there is no alteration in ■ the measure that affects the principle upon which it was originally based. The principal feature around which. discussion will "cavort" is the amount at which the graduated tax upon land will increase. Forty thousand poundu was the Government's fixture, and that has been> retained by the Committee. It is; certain that this amount will be agreed to as the starting point. I have ascertained the views of the bulk of the members, and fojnd that with the aid of the Opposition, whoare almost certain to support the Government proposal—though doubtless they would prefer to see the startingpoint placed at a much higher figure—there is no doubt about the ultimate result. There may, however,, be some trouble on the part of the Government in keeping some of their followers in hand, for there is a tendency among not a few to bring down the starting limit by half.

A VALUABLE SUGGESTION. A suggestion has been made that the debate in the Legislative Council on the question of infant life preservation should be put in pamphlet form, and widely circulated. It is a good suggestion, inasmuch as the discussion, though academic in character, has done much to show the imperative necessity for doing far more than has been done to minimise the terrible mortality which has occurred, and is occurring amongst infants in the colony. The facts and figures cited during the debate have been such as to appal those who have become acquainted with them but the Press has only vaguely sketched the discussion, and Hansard is scarcely read by the general public so that very few persons idea of tfie valuable and interesting information which has been collated by members of the despised Upper House. I venture to say there has been provided by the Legislature for the delectation of the public no more fascinating reading than the full Hansard reports upon the subject of infant life preservation. It would be deplorable if the information therein contained were allowed to remain buried in the coffin provided by the pink covers of that official publication. DEPUTATION FROM MASTERTON.

On Monday last a deputation from Masterton consisting of Messrs J. M. Coradme (Mayor), W. H. Jacksor, and M. C. O'Connell. waited upon the Minister of Education and asked for a grant of £2,000 towards the erection of a new technical school building. The deputation, which was introduced by Mr Hoga:, M.H.K., stated in support of thei? application that £1,200 had been collected locally towards the Seddon Memorial School, and th&t the Trust Lands Trust had given them a 21 years' lease, at a nominal rental, of a fine site in.the centre of the town where the old school buildings remained. It was, the deputation stated, proposed to shift the buildings, which were in a good condition, back, and to erect a new structure in brick and cement, at an estimated cost of over £5,000. The land as leased was represented to be of the value of £1,050. It was pointed out that the school had been carried on for thirteen years, had been well supported by local donations, and was well attended. More than half the present pupils received a free education, and the charges for the remainder were very reasonable. The great drawback was the absence of suitable buildings. At present part of the school was occupying a portion of the old post office on sufferance, and there was no certainty of this favour being continued; ; while the plumbing, woodwork and some of the other classes were being carried en in other buildings of a temporary character. The Minister's reply was that as the school came under the 12th schedule of the Act, and was a separate institution, it would be unusual to make a large grant. Only a subsidy for £ on contributions could be claimed. Any further grant would require a special vote on the Estimates, and the grant available for buildings was pretty well exhausted. He admitted the deputation were entitled to £1,200 as subsidy, but said that before he arrived at a decision as to any further assistance he would consult his colleagues. The deputation pointed out that considerable grants had been made to similar institutions in cases where no funds had been locally contributed, and expressed a hope that the Minister would take the fact into consideration that the people of Masterton had liberally responded to the call for donations, and were determined to have a suitable school erected. The deputation having thanked the Minister, retired. MASTERTON AND THE FACTORIES ACT. The residents of Masterton have been making frequent representations to Mr Hogg, member for the district, pointing out that clause 9 of the Factories Act, pro"iding that in a borough where the population is 5,000 or under shops and factories wher3 combined could have their half-holiday on the same day, is of no benefit to the people of their town, inasmuch as it cannot apply to Masterton, where the population is over the limit. Mr Hogg's correspondents ai-e of opinion that the provision of the Act referred to should be made to apply to. a much larger population. The matter has been placed before the Minister of Labour, who has promised to favourably consider it.