POLITICAL NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 155, 3 July 1899, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

« THE LIBEL BILL. The Libel Bill promoted by tho New Zealand Institute of Journalists and introduced by Mr. Carncros*, has been circulated. It consists of only six clauses, and in effect it makes privileged all fair reports of public meetings held lor pioper purpo-'es, provided thai such reports aro in tho public inteiost. It also provides tho-t no criminal prosecution for libel can bo commenced without the leave of a Judgo of tho Supreme Court. While H i* an improvement on the existing law, it really proposes to give less rights nnd privileges tluui have ueen possessed by the English press for tho past ten years. LIEUT. -COL; PITT'S APPOINTMENT. The illegality of tho appointment of Lieut. -Col. Pitt to tho Legislative Council . appourt to bo unquestioned. There is souv.} talk of introducing a Validation Act to remove the disqualification caused by his having received a Government .salary as a volunteer ofticei within six months of hn appointment, and if the Opposition show no strong objection this may bo done. It seems likely thai the Opposition may not object, but if they do Col. Pitt will have to wait until the si;: months' period of disqualification has expired. AN ENERGETIC OPPOSITIONIST. Tho member for Selwyn, Mr. J. C. Wason, did some quick travelling betweon Adelaide andi Wellington, in order to tako an early part in the proceedings of l'urliament. Ho arrived at Adelaide from the Old Country on Sunday week, and by travelling overland without tielay •was able to catch the boat at Sydnoy, and arrived by tho Mokoia yesterU.TV. „ "A FOXTON PETITION. A petition fifteen feet long, and containing several hundred signatures, hns bee presented to the Minister of Railways from residents of tho Palmeraton uud Foxton districts, praying for tho coivstruction of a light railway from i''oxton to the ocean beach. Mr. Fraser, Mayor of Foxton, who presented the petition, stated that a large area of country lcquucd the outlet to tho ocean beacli that would b3 given by tho railway. He. •alio urged tho necessity for re-erecting 1. shed recently destroyed by fire on thy L'VUon Whan. Tho Minister promised to look into tho matter, und, if possible, visit the district personally. A MISSING MAORI MEMBER. Tho member for tho Northern Maori district (Mr Hono Heke) is again this session missing from his place in Parliament. It will be remembered that last session Mr Heke was repeatedly given leave of absence, until at last a protest was raised against his non-attendance, and towards tho closo of tho sesSion ho put in an appearance. As stated, he is again missing this session, and telegrams from the Opposition Whip (Mr. Massey) have failed to elicit a reply. Somo comment hast token i>itico in thrt lobbies as to the reasons for Mr. Heko's absence, no cause having been assigned.