PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 65, 14 September 1894, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

+ A GOOD SPEECH. The time-limit worked wonders last night with the Premier. His speech on the second reading of the Licensing Bill last night was the best he has made this session — concise, moderate, explanatory, and argumentative, and aa moderately delivered as it was reasonable in tone. It was fall of points, and covered the whole Bill, yet it occupied only 50 minutes. TUB CONSOLS BILL. Tho preamble of the New Zealand Consols Bill of the Colonial Troasurer reads " Whereas it is expedient to encourage thrift by affording to the people of NewZealand facilities for the safo investment of their savings, be it thorefore enaotod," Ac. And what it is proposed to enact ia that the Governor -in - Council may anthoriao the Treasurer from time to timo to receive by way of deposit from persons in the colony an aggregate amount of £1,000,000, bearing interest at not more than 4 per cent. The Treasurer is to fix the date when such depoaits shall be repayable, and the rate of intoreat. Eaoh depositor is to be registered, and all deposits are to form part of tho Consolidated Fund. The deposits are to be repayable within. 4o years. Interest is to be paid half-yearly. Consols certificates are to bo issued and shall be transferable by delivery, and the certificated will be renewable. Any person over 10 yenra of age may hold Consols. Interost is to bo payable at the Treasury, or at *ny Post Office or Money Order Offioe. The Qovernor-in-Counoil may from time to time declare certificates to bo convertible stook under " The New Zealand Consolidated Stock Aot, 1877," and its amendment of 1884. Tho Secretary of tho Treasury, as " Registrar," may, with the oonsent of the Colonial Treasurer, take Government Beouritiea in lieu of caah for Consols under the Aot, upon such terms as the Colonial Troaaurer may think fit. The Act is not to prejudice any seonritioa heretofore obarged on the Consolidated Fund.