POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 8614, 7 September 1891, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Odb I'abuamentabt Reporter. J WELLINGTON, September 7. Work of the House. Although there has been more talk this session, there has been a great deal of legislation enacted—notably the Electoral, the Legislative Council Reform, the Female Suffrage, Land, Mining, and Land and Income Assessment Bills, besides a vast quantity of Bills of minor importance and of local Bills. The Estimates. This (Monday) evening the Governmen intend to go on with the Estimates, consideration of which will probably occupy about four days. The Works Statement. The Cabinet have not yet finally adopted the Public Works Statement, bnt it is in a forward state, and will be brought down en Tuesday evening. There isno great anxiety to ascertain what works are to be undertaken throughout the colony, because there is very little money to spend; but it will be found that generally efforts will be made to extend several of the existing railway lines to what promise to be more profitable points. Auckland's claim comprises the Rotorua Railway, and Otago will no doubt be favored with a vote for the extension of the Otago Central. Bnt no district is likely to receive very exceptional consideration, the intention being to dole ont the public works vote so as to some extent meet the demands made from various parts of the colony. Notice to Quit The House Committee decided this morning that notice to quit shall be given to those members of Parliament who are now lodging in the parliament building. This includes Major Baillre (Chairman of Committees in the Legislative Council) and Mr Saunders, but does not apply to the Speaker, whom it is necessary should live in the buildings. Exception is also made in the case of Sir 6. Grey. At a meeting of the House Committee exception was made in the case of Sir G. Grey in consideration of his age and services to the country, and the fact that he had fitted up his quarters in the parliamentary buildings at his own expense. To-day's Business. The business at the bead of to-day's Order Paper isthe Factories BUI. Consideration of amendments by the Council, the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill, the Public Trust Amendment Bill, and the Naval and Military Settlers' Amendment Bill follow in that order. The Female ■uff'rase. The Council is very evenlv divided, on th« question of female franchise, and, in the absence of Colonel Kenny, one of its strongest supporters, I fear that the amemendment which Mr Bowen intends to propose, that the BUI be read a second time that day six months, may be affirmed. Upper House Reform. I have no doubt that the Council will refuse to accept the amendments made in the Legislative CounoU BUI, both in respect to making the Aot retrospective and in giving the Ministry of the day power to appoint the Speaker. The Factories Act. In the Hous? this afternoon the Hon. W.

P. Reeves moved—"That the several Amendments made in the Faotories Act by the Legislative Council be disagreed with, and that Messrs Tanner and Pinkerton and the Minuter of Education be appointed to draw np reasons." The principal amendments objected to are altering the interpretation of the word "factory" so bb to include only plaoes where six or more persons are employed 5 dealing with the matter of space ; excluding a number of places from whitewashing and other sanitary arrangements; abolishing the provision that women must not be employed more than eight hours a day ; doing away with the proposal that children shall be compelled to pasarthe Fourth Standard; and the clause altering the minimum age of female type-Betters from eighteen to fourteen. Mr Fish moved as an amendment—" That the debate be adjourned till to-morrow, to enable members to consider the alterations made," and this was accepted by the Minister. ___________