POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2294, 12 September 1908, Page 1

POLITICAL NOTES.

[Speoiai. to “Times.”]

AIORTGAGES UNDER LAND TRANSFER ACT.

AVELLINGTON, Sept. 10.

A-.elaloinont of tho business Iran* isaetbd under tho Lind Transfer Act during tho last financial year shows the total number, of transfers to have been 21,791, tho number of mortgages 19,795, and their valuo £15,,037,486. Tho valuo of country mortgages during tho previous year was £3,650,561, and last year tho value increased to £0,090,G52. An interesting return shows tho total amount of money remaining secured by mortgage under the Land 1 Transfer Act on 31st Alarcli last as follows: Auckland £5,889,121, Taranaki £5,255,925, Wellington £19,970,037, Hawke’s Bay £0,776,490. Poverty Bay £1,427,024, Nelson £1.4.71, 582, Alarlborough £803,395, Canterbury £14,307,471, Otago £4,131,199, Southland £5,139,087, AVostland £218,998 ; total £05,453,940. Tho total for the previous year was £59,097,070, so that in ono year there has been an increase of considerably over £6,000,000.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Tho Commerce Committeo lias considered the Public Holidays Bill (Sir Joseph AVard) and recommends that the third schcdulo of tho Banking Act bo amended—(a) By repealing tho reference to the Prince of AVales’ Birthday and substituting therefor Empire Day, which is the 3rd of June. Tho 26th of September (Dominion Day) is added t 0 the clause. There is a provision in the Bill that bank holidays falling on ft day other than Monday shall be observed as a close holiday oil the following Monday. If tho said following Monday is also a bank holiday within the meaning of the Act, then tho next following day which is not a bank holiday shall be obsorved as a bank holiday under the new Act. A new clause is added making “‘the following Alonday” principle apply in regard to the King’s Birthday, Dominion Day, Empire Day, and the Prince of AVales’ Birthday, provided for ill awards of industrial agreements. Empire Day in these awards is to be deemed the 3rd. of Juno and not tho 24th of Alay.

THE GAG BILL

GOA r ERNAIENT ORGAN ‘ROUNDS’

ON THE AIINISTRY.

Tho following is tho significant comment of the AVellington Gtoverncinent journal, the “New Zealand Times” on the Second Ballot Bill :

The House of Representatives lias swallowed the Second Ballot Bill liolus bolus, and without any attempt to modify or erase the pernicious gig clause which closes the mouths of the critics of all denominations between tho period supervening between tho declaration of tho first poll, and the holding of tho second election. Wo have already expressed our. detestation of clause 18a, and we .are extremely sorry tint the politicians of the Dominion aro so lacking in ecurage, so bent upon conserving their own privileges, that they have not hesitated to take away the British rights of public speech'when free criticism and unlettered discussion can bo most advantageously exercised. Year by year Parliament surrounds itself with greater and greater privileges, and tile-community is fettered by galling restrictions in order that the Legislature may becomo a close ‘preserve. And tho politicans do not hesitato to place their hands in tho taxpayers’ pocket if they think they can do so, under cover of an ulterior motive. Thus wo see a new subclause introduced -into the Second Ballot Bill by which candidates are allowed to incur expenses up to £SO in connection with the second ballot. With no meetings to ho hold, and no advertising to bo done, it is hard to seo how candidates will he faced with any expenses in connection with tho second poll, hut as tho authorising sub-clause makes no stipulation -as to tho character of tho expenditure, it may well ho imagined that needy aspirants will (.avail tliemsolves to the full of tho piracy of tho exchequer which is thereby authorised. Tho only condition under which a inonoy vote for electioneering expenses could fairly he made would he if tho right of free speech were retained. If the gag is to bo applied, and candidates are to remain mute, there can bo no excuse for raiding the Treasury for a fighting fund. We rely upon tho Legislative Council t<> defend tho puhjic rights and protect tho public purse. On tho same subject tho Wellington “Post” says:—lt has been made clear, however, that tho Government is not anxious, to reform the system of representation. Its object is to dish opponents at the coming elections, by balancing a Labor vote, if given, against the Opposition vote, so that at tho second election a Government candidate may slide in between the candidates of two rival parties who dislike each other a little more than they dislike tho Government. In tho circumstances, the profession of reforming zeal is ia piece of cynical effrontery. The “Hawke’s Bav Herald” says:— Here we have another illustration of tile autocratic nature of the Government. They govern not only tho country but Parliament. Members wlio express themselves in the most unmeasured terms against a bill -aro found when it comes to the vote quite willing to abandon their convictions. It was the ease, to mention one remarkable instance, with the Land Bill of last session. It was the same with the Meiklo Acquittal Bill of this session. No one knows what wires are pulled or how the conversion is brought about. But one cannot help feeling that there is little value to he placed on the convictions of the average member, and that the power of the Ministry is so great that no member can resist it.

The Christchurch “Press” says: The iSecoml Ballot Bill, with the latest amendment introduced by the Government, is getting beyond a joke. Weuro not surprised that even the Ministerial hacks are becoming alarmed at the prospect. It is gradually being converted into an instrument for enabling the Government to get entirely their own way at the general election, and for pre-

venting freedom of speech on the part of the newspapers and tho public. AVe have already explained the

.general eifcct of tho measure. It is absurd to speak of it as a Bid to enable the majority to rule. Even the most serviio organs of tho Government disclaim this credit for the measure. It is a BilL to give effect to tho will of tho majority of the minority who will take the trouble to go to tilo poll a second time, and all experience shows that this is only a. small- proportion of tho original voters.