JOTTINGS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9157, 15 July 1895, Page 2

JOTTINGS.

The Premier, speaking of men on the cooperative works who leave their wives and families to be supported by charity, Bays that in the vicinity of works to which men have been taken on accoun* of their necessitous circumstances, public houses thrive. An amendment of the Truck Act would be proposed, giving power to the Government to accept orders on the men's pay for the benefit of the wives and families. The announcement was received with applause. The Library Committee will make a strocg effort to induce the Government to grant . £10,000 for the construction of a fire-proof addition to the Parliament buildinga for the safe housing of its magnificent library, which, in the present building, in the event of fire, could not escape total destruction. The Government Licensing Bill is to be brought down at the end of next week or the beginning of tho week following. It ia intended to make a modification of the 7 per cent, rate charged on loans on policies in tho Government Insurance Department.

Captain Rinscll is asking the Minister for Labour to consider the question of how beat to provide temporary employment for men who have undergone imprisonment, so that they will not necessarily drift back to crime on their release.

Sir Robert Stoat wants to know whether the Ministry advised his Excellency to write bie despatch, objecting to New Zealand citizens acting as foreign Consuls.