POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 6899, 11 May 1886, Page 3

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[Fnor.l QiiH Special Reporter.]

Wellington, may n

The Government do not propose to interfere with either the Licensing Act or the Education Act during the present session. The Minister of Education is strongly opposed to the abolition of the cumulative vote in the elections for school committees, and gives me to understand that he will offer staunch opposition to any proposal in that direction emanating from tho Conference of the Dunedin and Suburban School Committees. Among tho early measures to be introduced will bo the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill, to come into force on January Ist next. The principal amendments are for the relief of small boroughs. The minimum of a Council is reduced to six members. Tho power of the mayor is given to any councillor temporarily acting as such. General rates arc to bo levied not exceeding Is 3d in the £ instead of Is as heretofore. When separate accounts arc kept for the different wards in boroughs, the general rates shall be levied in the different wards according to their requirements. With the idea of stopping pilfering at fires, a clause has been added providing for tho enrolment of volunteors as fire police, and swearing them in as constables. It is not intended to act on tho recommendation of the jury in the 'Evening Press' libel case, viz., that a searching inquiry should be instituted into the working and management of the Christchurch Hospital. A new Board having been formed uuder the Charitable Aid Act, the Government think that the control of the Institution is perfectly safe in their hands. There is nothing fresh re the East and Coast Railway, but the agreement and conditions will be disclosed on May 25.