Political Notes.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5628, 12 September 1889, Page 3

Political Notes.

[from ouk pari__centab\- J_POETEB.] [BY TEMXJBATH.'j Wellington, Last night. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. In accordance with a promise, the Premier to-day made a statement as to tho business the Government propose to go on with. The Bills he enumerated were as follows :—Tho Public Health Bill, Licensing Act Amendment Bill, Lincoln College Mill, Rating Act, West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Suspension Bill, Hospitals and Charitable Aid Act Amendment Bill, Westport-Ngakawau Railway Extension Bill, Land Transfer. Bill, Native Land Court Acts Amendment Bill, and tho Property Tax Bill—the annual taxing Bill, not tho Assessment Bill. It was also intended to bring in a Bill in plane of the Public Revenues Bill, now hung up in Committee, to simply provide for the appointment of a-Deputy Controller-General, iv the case of the illness of the Assistant Controller-General, this being necessary in order to prevent the heavy machinery from getting altogether out of order. In conclusion tho Premier said he saw no reason why these Bills should not bo disposed of by to-night. iionobabiuji wkstion. The honorarium difficulty which arose this week through the service of au order of the Supreme Court upon the PaymasterGeneral to intercept a member'ehononrium, came up for discussion this afternoon. The Premier proposed to get over it by bringing in a Bill of a retrospective character, declaring the honorarium to Lo unassailable by law or in equity. He moved that leave bo given to introduce such a Bill. Mr Scildon moved, as au amendment, that tho report of the Committee which had enquired into tho matter bo adopted, that the .Speaker's order for payment be given effect to, and in order to ensure it a Bill bo brought in to deal with the question. Tho Premier was of opinion that tho report of tho Committee wn« clearly against tho law. A long discussion eusued, and ultimately the motion for leave to introduce the Bill was lost by 50 to 13, it being generally felt that to have such retrospective legislation would not meet with the approval of the country. Mr Seddon's amendment was also lost, so tho matter is in statu quo. ME. BALLANCe's AMENDMENT. Mr. Ballance's intimation of his intention of intercepting Supply hy an amendment that an immediate dissolution of Parliament is expedient, was received with cheers from the Treasury benches, though, of course, it will bo opposed by the Ministerialists, seeing tho quarter 'from which tho proposal comes, and will bo negatived. It will bo taken when the Mipplemeutary estimates uoino on for consideration, and will provoke very slight, if any, discussion. MAIIBIED WOMKN AMD PUBLICANS' LICENSES. The Court of Appeal having decided that married women are ineligible to hold publicans' licenses, tho Government havo introduced in the Legislative Council a Licensing Act Amendment Bill. In moving its second reading to-night tho lion. Mr. Stevens remarked that the proposed measure was brought up in order to give relief to married women, rnuuy of whom had been deserted by their husbands, but some of whom were living with them, in order to allow them to conduct public houses. The Bill passed through all its stages.

COUNCIL OF MILITARY OFFICERS. Mr. Fe-ldwiek asked U:e Goycr.sincnt today whether they intend that this colony should be represented at tho Council of military officers, which is to meet llajorGeneral Edwards in Melbourne ? The Defence Minister said there was n<> intention of heuding an oflicc-r over. His Excellency the Governor had been in communication with General _dwii?ds, and it was extremely probable that he would visit the colony some time in the beginning of next year, wjien bo will be able to advise us about our own defences. A'.;andoni-:i.>. The Government have abandoned the Lincoln AgrioulLural School Bill. UITHU HOVSI2. ThoLeyislativeC--unc.il sat from eleven o'clock this me-rning till ten o'clock toiii«'iit, and cleared tho Order Paper of all the small Bills, which passed their final stages, including the Napier Harbor Ik-.aru Aii_iidiut:ut iind Fui'tiiCi' Empowering Bill, and the Nelson Foreshore Reserve 'Bill. Tl.e Ratiit" 1 Act Amendment Bill had a narrow shave°Ui? Hon. Mr, UeLcuu's amendment that it bo road a third timo that day six months bcinsr o:-'iv negatived by 13 to 10. Tho Gisbovm; Ifurbov Act AiMt:i ; l;ueni, Bill •v/.is eomii;itled im'i reported without amendnii.iii, - ami ic:ul a third time. in resuming the debate on tho second reading of the North Island Main Trunk Railway Lo.ui Application bill, Dr. Pollen said that if the Bill were passed it would give a loophole to Hie New Plymouth Harbor Board to

repudiate the demands made upon them. The second reading was carried on the undertaking of the Attorney-General that the Government would recommend His Excellency to send down amendments, Tvhich would bo found to have the effect of doing away-with all objections on tho part of hon members. WKSTrOBT-NGAKAWAU EATWAY. The Westport-Ngakawau Railway Extension Bill, to provide for an extension of the Westport line to Mokihinui, at a cost of £23,000, out of tho Westport harbor fund (of which £270,000 is available), was tho subject of contention to-night. The second readiug was, after much discussion, carried by 33 to 23. Mr fish then began a system of obstruction by taking the unusual course of calling for a division on the question of fixing the time for committal, aud now (11 u'olock) is stonewalling the motion that the Speaker leave the chair in order to go into Committee on the Bill. WEST COAST SKTTMCSIENT. The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act 1887 Suspension Bill, to suspend the Bill of 188" till next session, was read a second time to-night by 53 to 5. - IMPORTANT TO' RAILWAY KMPIOYES. Yesterday afternoon the Minister of Public Works introduced The Government Railway Employes Insurance Bill, which was read a first time, aud the. second reading fixed for Friday fortnight. Tho Minister explained that the Bill was only intended, for circulation this session. As reg-ards the railway- employes it is a most important measure. Us benefits aro only intended to extend to permanent employes on the Government railways. These, are defined as all persons who may bo employed on the N.Z. Government, railways open for traffic at the date of the coming into operation of this Act, and which have been employed thereon in tho service of the colony continuously for not less than three years previously. No person shall be hereafter appointed a permanent employe unless such person shall first pay such a premium to tho Board that is to manage the insurance fund as shall be determined by the Government Actuary. The Bill provides for the establishment of a trust fund, by which permanent employes shall benefit in the following respects :—(A) The payment at death to their representatives of a sum not exceeding one year's pay of tho deceased employe, at tho rate of "one month's pay for each year of service. This also applies to employes dying through sickness, or when superannuated. Any permanent employe who may be discharged from the service in consequence of permanent incapacity from accident, or ill-health, or old age, shall be entitled to allowauce as follows: (1) _H he has served as a permanent, employe for under twenty years, or has not, attained tho ago of sixty-five years, his retiring allowauce shall bo paid at the rate of one quarter of the pay ho was entitled to receive at the date of his retirement; (2) if he has served twenty years, and his age is not less than sixty-five years, tho retiring allowance shall be at the rate of one-third of the pay he was entitled to at tho date of his retirement. Any employe who is dismissed for misconduct or crime, or resigns without permission, shall not be entitled to any benefits under tbe Act. Tho insurance fund is to bo made up (1) by all fines and penalties levied upon railway employes accrued at the date at which tho Act ooraes into operation, and levied thereaftor; (2) sums contributed as follows : («) during the sorvieo of each permanent employe each one whoso pay does not exceed 7s per working day the sum of 2s per week shall be paid into the fund, and for each permanent employe whoso rate of pay excods 7s per working'day for each shilling or part of a shilling per working day the sum of 4d per week shall be placed into the insuranco fund. These amounts are to bo takon from the annual Parliamentary veto for tho railways; lb) by any other means Parliament may see fit to appropriate to such purposes ; (<;) by premiums paid by now permanent employes. Tho fund'is to bo managed by a Board consisting of the Public Trustee, tho [ secretary to the Treasury, and three per- j mancnt employes. The Government aro to guarantee tho" sufficiency of the insurance fund to meet all payments authorised by this Act. Later. WESTTORT-NGAKAWATJ. After a long discussion the stouewallers were prevailed upon to allow the Bill to get into Committee, and tho Government reported progress after passing its first clause. SATIVB HILLS. Tho Native Land Court Acts Amendment Bill came up for further consideration in Committee, aud led to a long discussion. Clause 10, which gives an order for serving fees affecting mortgage on land, was strongly resisted by tho native members, and a motion by Mr Taipua to emasculate it was lost by 20 to 22. Ultimately tho Minister agreed to strike tho clause out of the BUI. This day. LAST NIGHT'S ElinJfO. Progress was reported at 2.40 a.m. on tho Native Land Court Acts Amendment Bill, leaving the new clauses still to be dealt with. Tho Land Transfer Bill and tho West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Suspension Bill passed all their stages.