POLITICAL NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 107, 2 November 1904, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

WORKER'S COMPENSATION. The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act Amendment Bill proposes to amend the existing law by providing that no payment shall be made for the first week in any case where the worker's incapacity does not continue for a longer j period than two weeks. J Where the compensation in respect of injury to a casual worker is based on the worker's average weekly earnings, tliey will be deemed to be not less than a full working week's earnings at the rate of pay at which he was employed at the time of the accident, notwithstanding that he may not have actually worked for the full week, and the compensation will be assessed accordingly. This provision will apply to cases of death, as well as in-" capacity. .Special provisions are made with respect to stevedores, wharf labourers, etc. Where the compensation in such cases is to be based on the worker's average weekly earnings, they are to be deemed to be not less than a full working week's earnings at the' rate of pay at which, the worker was employed at j the time of the accident,- notwithstanding that he may not have actually worked far the full week, and the compensation is to be assessed accordingly. Finally power is given to the Court to award a lump sum in lieu of a weekly payment iv cases of permanent incapacity. WELLINGTON CITY' LEASES. The consideration of the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Wellington City Leasing Bill had been set down for yesterday. In the meanwhile, however, the House had decided that the debate on cfie Public Works Statement should take place on the same day, and the Premier, in drawing up the Order Paper, gave piecedence to the Government business. A protest was entered by Mr. Duthie, but the Premier pointed out that the Bill occupied the first place on the list of Local Bills, and, he added, " the hen. members need not fear any debate on it as far as 1 am concerned." MAORI LEGISLATION. " The Maori Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Bill, brought down by Governor's Message last night, is what is known as a " washing-up Bill," and deals with a variety of subjects. Among other provisions, the Bill is designed to remove, nil doubts as to the effective discontinuance of the action brought by Nireaha Tainaki and others in the Wellington Supreme Court against the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Wellington, in respect to the title of a portion of the block known as Kaihinu No. 2, in 1901. The Bill also provides that the portion of the Waimarino Block acquired from the natives by the Crown, known as Tawata, containing about '1500 acres, shall be reserved for landless natives. Another provision is that if any member of a Maori Land Council votes on a subject in which he is directly interested his seat shall thereupon become vacant, and lie shall not be eligible for reelection op re-appointment for three years. A member of the Council who receives a fee or reward in respect of any matter dealt with by the Maori Land Council will, on conviction before a Stipendiary Magistrate, be liable to a fine not exceeding twice^the amount received by him, and, in addition, or in default, to imprisonment with or without hard labour for a period not exceeding three months. RATE V OF INTEREST- | The following is the average annual rate of interest on the public debt of the colony during the past fourteen years — 1890-91 : Outside the colony, £4 4s 4d ; inside the colony, £4 14s Id; on total public debt, £4 ss, sd. 1891-92 : Outside the colony, £4 4s Id ; inside the colony, £4 9s lOd ; on total public debt, £4 4s sd. 1892-93 : £4 3s 4d ; £4 9s 7d ; £4 4s Id ; 1893-94 : £4 3s 2d ; £4 9s 9cl ; £4 3s lid. 1894-95 : £4 0s Id ; £4 7s 9d ; £4 0s lOd. 1895-96 • £3 18s 9d ; £4 6s 4d; £3 19s 7d. 1896-97: £3 18s 2d ; £4 Os lid ; £3 18s sd. 1897-98 : £3 17s 8d ; £3 18s lOd ; £3 17s 9d. 1898-99 : £3 17s 6d; £3 17s lid; £3 17s sd. I 1899-00 : £3 16s sd ; £3 15s 7d ; £3 16s 3d. 1800-01 : £3 16s Id ; £3 13s 2d ; £3 15s 7d. 1901-02 : £3 14s lOd ; £3 14s, 7d ; £3 14s 9d 1902-03 : £3 14s 2d ; £3 14s 9d; £3 14s 2d. 1903-04: £3 14s 10d ; £3 14s 6d ; £3 14s 9d. Messrs. Macdonald, Wilson and Co. wilh! hold a sale of landed properties at thoir Exchange Land Mart 10-morrow afternoon, at 2 o clock, and will submit, under inslructions from Mr. W. J. Jorgenson, his bungalow residence of eight rooms and conveniences, together with four and thre%quarter acres laid out as garden, etc., Situate at the Lower Hutt. In the estate of the lato Mrs. Clune, a block of nearly two acres, with residence, at Karori-cres-cent (Tinakoa-road) ; newly-erected residence of six rooms, Clyde-quay, and corner block of land, ten and a half acres, Island Bay, with frontages to Queen's Drivo and Adeiaide-road, with two cottage residences theroon ; freehold business premises, Lamb-ton-quay, with double frontage of 28ft to the quay and 33ft to Bowen-street, with large .shop, dwelling, and storeroom, in the occupation of Messrs. Winton and M'Laughlin. Full details appear. On .Friday, ot 12.30 o'clock, the firm will sell ac the residence of Dr. De Renzie, No. 3, Murphy-street, the whole of his household furniture, details of which appear. On Friday, ab 10 30 o'clock, at Cuba-street, they will sell building timber, bricks, and galvanisou iron, as detailed.