POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3327, 20 September 1911, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

RAILROADS IN AUCKLAND. ' NATIONAL ARTERIAL ARMS. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) An emphatic endorsement of the advocacy by the Auckland Railway Leagues that certain mam lines in the province should .be constructed as expeditiously as possible was given by Mr. Myers (Auckland East) in his speech this afternoon in the Budget debate. He expressed a hope that authority would be given for tue expenditure of £200,000 on the North Auckland main trunk line, including the Kaikahe connection with the Kawakawa-Grahams-town line; £150,000 on the East Coast (Auckland-Gisborne) line; and £IOO,OOO on the Ongarue-Stratford line. Mr. Myers anticipated the suggestion that the claim was a parochial one by explaining that the lines were of national importance, as they would form arterial means of communication, promoting prosperous settlement, and increase the working profits of the railway system. He urged that the construction of the East Coast line should be prosecuted from both the Waihi and the Gisborne ends in order that it might be brought into profitable operation with as little delay as possible.

RAILWAYMEN’S WACES. WILL THEY BE RAISED? WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. Mr. Pearce mentioned to-day the promises of increased wages for railway employees, as outlined in the Budget, and gave notice to ask whether in the event of such increases being granted the rents of cottages occupied by employees and owned by the Department would he raised, as was done on the last occasion of the kind. Sir Joseph Ward: That is not correct. It’s one of the usual misrepresentations. the electoral boundaries. FINAL REPORTS DUE IN A FEW * DAYS. It is expected, the Prime Minister stated this afternoon, that the final reports of the two. Representation Oommissioners will bo delivered to the Govemor on Friday. They must be accompanied by maps, and he promised that copies of both documents would be available to members as soon as pos--81 The Legislature Act provides that the report will be published by Government proclamation in the Gazette i and within ten days of their receipt being communicated to the Mouse or Representatives. THE PROFITS OF DRAPERS. WHAT DO THEY MAKE? The profits of the drapery trade was the subject of a bright little passage .in the House this evening. . Mr. Isitt- stated that Mr. Massey had ’said drapers made 100 per cent, profit on their goods. He did not know 1 whether the Leader of the Opposition would adhere to that statement. Mr. Hardy: I do; and I am a draper. (Laughter.) Mr Isitt said that the member for Selwvn must be the exception that proved the rule. Most of the countiy drapers made an average net profit or six to twelve per cent, on their turnover, The moral was that big drapery firms were not such fit subjects for •taxation as big landowners. THE COMING CAMPAIGN. OPPOSITION CANDIDATE AT WAIROA. IFEB PBEBB ASSOCIATIOW.T WAIROA, Sept. 19. Mr. H. M. Campbell, Opposition candidate, last night addressed one of the largest political meetings ever seen here. He received a fine hearing, tlisnosing of a number of questions satisfactorily. He received a vote of -thanks. THE WAITAKI SEAT. Sept. 19. George Livingstone, a member of the Otago Land Board, announces Ins candidature for the Waitaln seat as a Government supporter.