POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11010, 6 July 1901, Page 8

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

(special to "the tress.") WELLINGTON, July 5. ALLEGED RETRENCHMENT AT RAILWAY WORKSHOPS. In his remarks on the Address-in-Reply, Mr W. J. Napier referred to the large quantity of work that had been reported to have engaged the attention of the railway workwhops at Newmarket, and wished to know why, in the face of that, a number of joiners had been discharged from Newmarket. Sir Joseph Ward gave th-e explanation this evening, and a?so cleared tip a similar complaint of retrenchment made by Mr Tanner (Christehnrcn). The Minister said that from April 29th to Juno 22nd, 1901, the increase in Clio mimber of men employed at Newmarket was from 148 to 168, and in a'.klition 16 <ky-t 6-day casuals liad been uk<:ii on at Adiling-ton. This increase had )i.en from 413 to 491, and during the past list' or six months 66 day-to-day casuals li-iid been employed. Mr Tanner interjected (hub many men had been suspended since June 22nd. Sir Joseph replied that the men had been token on to tit up the imported American cars and cope -with the work that vrw a corollary of the Royal visits The work of the department demanded extra men, -but no one would ask thab these extra hntrh thoitid be kept on after the particular wrk for which rhey had been secured was iini-Hhcd. The mis-take had arisen by hon. members confusing casual men employed for ■specif.! work with those who were permanently anployed. That was the explanation. IHE LAW RELATING TO TRUSTEES. '1 he Premier's Bill to amend the law relating (o trustees, provides for the appointment of a new trustee in case a trustee dies ur remains out of the colony for twelve months, or desires to be discharged from his trust. On the appointment of a new trustee, the number of trustees may be increased, kind a separate set of trustees may be appointed for any part of the property hi'kl on distinct trusts. Provision is also made for the retirement of one trustee if he wishes to do so, in cases where there are more than two. But in both the above caste tha provision i£ these sections only apply if a contrary intention is not expressed in the will. JOTTINGS. Mr McNab strongly condemns the new railway carriages imported from America. Hβ had, he said, to travel in one from Dunedin to Christchurch. To begin with, the occupants were smoked out in going through the tunnels, and it appeared as if the doors had been made not to close, and the windfows never to open. The interior fittings were, he considered, infe- j rior to those in the British-made carriages. Mr Laurenson says the land boom is already on us, and that land is being sold in Canterbury at two and three times its pro•ductive value. He said he knew ot land ♦ worth only £11 5s an acre having bsert sold for £23 an acre. "As sure a® we have a land boom," added Mr Laurenson, "so sure will there come the crash afterwards.' The Teachers' Salaries Commission will probably have their report ready for Parliament within a fortnight. The Referendum Bill (the Premier) enables any Bill rejected by either House to be submitted to a vote of the electors. Any legislative proposal may be <so submitted to vote if a resolution to that effect is passed by both Houses. ""Wβ have no more to condemn a gentleman for taking a title than we have of condemning anyone for being a vegetarian, and 1 for one heartily congratulate Sir Joseph Ward upon the distinction he has gained." is the opinion of Mr Laureneon on the recent distribution' of honours. Mr Thos. Mackenzie devoted his halfhour's speech on tht^Address-i^ : Reply to an exposure of the frauds practised in connection with the frozen meat trade m London Mr Mackenzie maintained that the evstern of grading in the" Belfast Works, Canterbury, was not so efficient as that in the other Company's worts. Mr Mackenzie also had a tilt at Mr Waymouth, of the Belfast Works. He had, he said, a slight grievance against Mm. Mr Waymouth had cast reflections against him (Mr Mackenzie), and fee did not intend to spare Mr Waymouth now. Mr Mackenzie went on to criticise tlie alleged actions ol Mr Waymouth in London. "From the superintendent to the rank and file nothing more creditable has been done in the railway service of the colony than baa recently been done on the New 7,e aland Railways during the extraordinary congested state of the traffic."—The Mini* ter of Railways' compliment to his department. Apropos of recent events, Mr W. H. Field (Otaki) thinks that the Government should take atepe to appoint a wool expert, whose druty it ehould be to visit wool, sheds and see to tfoe general preparation of the clip for the market. If that -were done, he said, at least Id per pound would be gained by the woolgrowers. This appeared to him to be a. very important mat-ters-important, particulariy when wool was bo low ac ife was at the present time.

New Zealand woe not godng to let Old England call in •wan, Together thqy the foemen met, And side by side were slain. f 'Tis said! *'Dbeti» kSJe more than wur, And nothing can be truer. When coughs and oolds knock at the dow Take Woode'e Great Peppermmt Cure. Id Butter.—The celebrated Black Swan Factory Butter. Frwh daily, from Hubbard, flail and Co., at Iβ per lb.—(Advt.)

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