POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 9502, 26 September 1894, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, September 26. The Shops BUI.

In the Legislative Council yesterday the Shops and Shop Assistants Bill was recommitted, and the Council reaffirmed Mr Reynolds's amendment as to small traders who keep no assistants bcing'exempted from closing. Though other amendments were made, it was recognised that this virtually killed the Bill. The third reading will be taken this afternoon, after which a conference between the two branches of the Legislature will take place, with little hope of a satisfactory compromise.—The Colonial Secretary, in moving that the Bill bo recommitted for reconsideration of clause 2, told tho Council that his object was to endeavor to have the decision come to on Friday with respeot to Mr Reynolds's amendment reversed. The Bill, as it now stood, would not bo accepted by the other branoh of the Legislature. As to the other amendments mado, he admitted that the Bill had ben very much altored. A conference would be necessary.—Mr MacGregor suggested that the whole Bill should be recommitted. It seemed to him that in the event of Mr Reynolds's amendment being adhered to tho best course thoy could adopt would bo to strike out the whole Bill except the short title and the first clause, which repealed the present Act. Then they would have a clear sheet and an eml to the agitation which was going on between the shopkeepers and the shop assistants. Mr Shrimski Ejected to being led into a trap, as would be the result of the adoption of Mr MacGregor's suggestion. If thoy struck out all the clauses of the Bill instead of trying to improve and perfect it, they would be properly chargeable with showing a disregard of the other Chamber. It was agreed, after discussion, to recommit clauses 2, 3, 9, and 11 only. In the first paragraph of the interpretation Mr Ormond moved to strike out the word "business." The amendment made at his instance might be taken as having a wider meaning than was in the minds of the Committee at the time. The proposal was agreed to. —Sir Patrick Buckley repeated that his object in asking the Council to recommit the Bill was to endeavor to have struck out the words " where any person works for hire and " inserted iu Clause 2 at Mr Reynolds's invitation. The retention of these words, he plainly told the Council, practically meant killing the Bill. The matter had been debated so fully that it would only be trifling with members' time to discuss it further. —Mr Reynolds denied that his amendment would have the effect of destroying the Bill; on the contrary, he contended that it would improve it—A vote was at once taken, and Sir Patrick's motion was lost by 18 to 9. The following is the division list: —

Ayes (9). —Messrs Bolt, MacGregor, Kelly, Kerr, Rigg, Jennings, M'Cullough, Montgomery, Sir 1\ Buckley. Noes (18).-Measrs Reynolds, L. Walker, Richardson, Bonar, Barnicoat, Swanson, Shrimski, l'harazyn, Williams, Kenny, Dignan, Acland, Ormond, Bowen, Stevens, Grace, Whyte, Mantell.

Pairs.—For: Messrs Jenkinson and Feldwick. Against: Messrs Oliver and M'Lean. The Hon. Mr Stevens moved that thewo-ds "and includes bars of hotels" should be reinserted in the interpretation of shop hours, but this was negatived by 24 to 4.—On clause 3 shops to close on one working day in every week Mr Launcelot Walker moved that hairdressers should be exempted. He thought that if Saturday were the halfholiday great inconvenience must result from haird ressing establishments being closa 1. Hairdressers were added to the list of exemptions by 18 to 9. —Clause 9 (the mode in which the day for closing shops is to be fixed) was then considered. Mr Kelly moved that sub-section 5, providing that by giving notice to the inspector a shopkeeper may close on Saturday in the event of another day being appointed as the closing day, bo struck out, and this was agreed to by 18 to 9.—The Hon. Mr MacGregor moved an addition to this clause that, in the event of Saturday being the day appointed, butchers and photographers should be enabled to have the holiday on another day, and this was agreed to. —The Bill was then reported, and its third reading fixed for next afternoon. Conversion of Local Koiiies' Loans. It is understood that the Government Bill authuris'ng the conversion of local bodies' loans will be a permissive measure, enabling any local body to deal quietly with its debenture-holders w.thout coming to Parliament, but no loan conversion scheme shall be entered on without the approval of the Government. Provision will, however, be express-ly mado that the colony shall not have any liability in respect to such conversion operations on the loans to which they referred. Tariff Tinkering. Some opposition was raised in the House yesterday to the Premier's motion to have the minutes and proceedings of the Tariff Committee treated as confidential till the question of the tariff revision came on next session.—Sir R. Stout asserted that the Government would next year propose an increase of taxation generally, exception lining made in favor of tea, to ensure a free breakfast table. He contended that the refusal to publish the conclusions arrived at by the Committee on various items in the Tariff would have an injurious effect on trade, as before next session business people would make extensive clearances through the Customs in anticipation of increased duties.— The Prcmi- r admitted the necessity of a readjustment of the Tariff after the lapse of six years, hut asserted that there was no foundation for Sir R. Stout's statement that increased taxation would be necessary to meet the engagements of the Government next year. It was a revision and readjustment of the Tariff that was aimed at, with a view to remedying existing anomalies, and therefore the proposals to be submitted next year would not go in the direction of increased revenue in the aggregate. He contended that some of the documents placed before the Committee were given under the belief that they would be treated confidentially. The motion was assented to. Checking Truancy. In introducing the School Attendance Bill in the Council (the measure has already passed all its stages elsewhere) the Hon. Mr Montgomery explained that it was to do away with die evils of truancy.—The Hon. Mr Bowen acknowledged that the question of compulsory attendance was a very delicate one, as, while it wa3 necessary to protect the interests of the children of selfish or negligent parents, nothing should be done on the other hand to make education distasteful in the quarters where it was most needful by any aggressive interference with family life. This was felt to be especially the case on the first initiation of the national system of education, and provisions on this subject in the Act of 1877 had been the result of a compromise. He had looked forward to the possible introduction of any extreme compulsory measure with some anxiety, and was glad to find that the Bill, as it came to the Council, did not differ much from the existing law. The present system was a little more accentuated—that was aUVbut the Bill, as originally introduced in another place, had proposed an important change in the law to transfer the whole administration of the compulsory clauses from the committees to the education boards. He was glad to see that the House of Representatives had insisted on the rights of local committees. This was essentially a question foi them. The committees had better means of knowing the circumstances of their neighbors than the boards. It might be an extreme hardship in the case of a very poor family to, at all times and under all circumstances, have to be met with the rigor of the law. There were cases in which it would be a better moral education for a child to help au indigent mother to live than to acquire all the knowledge tho school could give him. He hoped that the Legislature would never allow the education system to be centralised. If it did, a great deal of the popular interest in it would be destroyed. No blunders of local bodies could ho so mischievous or so far reaching as those of a central authority. The more active the central administration was the more closely it must be watched, for there was a tendency in all active administrations to usurp powers. He pointed out that there was an omission in the Bill of the provision which exists under the present law for an appeal from the committee to the board in cases where an exemption certificate was refused. He thought this provision had probably b.'en left out accidentally. Then it was proposed that the Education Board should deal with the whole machinery to enforce attendance, and that when the committees were reinstated in another place the ommission had been overlooked. He had known cases in which an appeal had remedied a hasty and unjust decision, and he should move in committeo to reinstate the right of appeal He would support the second reading of the Bill.—The Hon. Mr Montgomery, in reply, agreed that the power should be given to the local committees, but he placed particular reliance on the word "shall," which makes prosocutions mandatory and not permissible.— The second reading of the Bill was agreed to. Freights on Lime. The Railway Commissioners, in reply to a question asked by Mr Allen, state" that they have under consideration the petition of a large number of farmers in and around Bruce, Clufcha, and Tuapeka asking for a reduction in tho freight on lime. Most of the petitioners live within a twelvemile radius in which the rate is Is 9d, and it was not an unreasonable request that the charge should be reduced. The reduction on the rates for a larger district would only result in loss.— The Premier declined to pledge the Government to reduce the rates when they took over control. The Borrowing Policy Denounced. Jn speaking to the motion for the third read-

ing of the Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Bill, Sir Robert Stout said that the present Parliament was plunging the colony into a system of wild borrowing which some of the members would live to regret. The £250,000 for Grown lands was not for opening up Crown lands for settlement but to aid settled districts in making their roads, and the money was given on no prinoiple whatever. The Treasurer, in reply, put in a strong plea for settlement, and said that for many years to come there must bo a large expenditure in that direction. After further discussion the third reading was agreed to on the voices. Jottings. The Premier states that .as an old gold miner he felt a little uneasy and restless when he read about the finds at Coolgardie. If £1,600 will be sufficient, the Government will provide that sum to convert Reveral grain trucks into refrigerated cars on the HurunuiBluff section. Mr G. J. Smith put in a plea for washerwomen by asking that Mount Magdala, and other similar institutions subsidised by the Government, where washing is done in competition with outside work people, should be brought under the provisions of the Factories Act. The Minister of Labor said he would take a legal opinion on the subject. Sir R. Stout said it was rumored freely in the lobbies that at a meeting of the Tariff and Industries Committee one day the Freetraders were in a majority and carried Freetrade, that the next day the moderate Freetraders carried maderate Protection, and that on the third day the Protectionists were paramount and carried Protection. The Government Railways Bill passed through committee in the Council yesterday without material amendment. The Gisborne Harbor Act Amendment Bill passed its third reading. When the Premier was moving to strike off the Order Paper the Bills to be dropped this session he mentioned No. 69, the New Zealand Institute of Journalists Bill. Sir Robert Stout instantly interjected: "No, I object." The Premier said that probably a compromise might be arrived at between the member for "Wellington and the Minister of Lands, whereby the Libel Limitation Bill and this measure should either be proceeded with or dropped. Mr Larnach presented a petition from a number of residents in and at the Teviot, Roxburgh, Millers Flat, Moa Flat, and Coal Creek Flat districts, praying that the import duty on shot and ordinary rabbit powder be abolished. Mr Green presented a petition from a number of residents in the Waikouaiti district, praying to be delivered of the sea of mud on the WaikariWaitati road. The Hon. Mr Rigg found only eight others to vote with him on his motion for the setting up of a joint committee on Labor Bills. Mr Bowen led off opposition to the proposal by ridiculing the idea of class legislation being perpetuated. Ministers were divided on the question. Sir P. Buckley voted for the motion, and Mr Montgomery with the majority. In the Council yesterday the Inspection of Machinery Amendment Bill passed its second reading on the voiceß. The Hon. Messrs Ormond and Kelly considered that it was unnecessary for drivers of traction engines to be certificated, as any intelligent man was competent to understand their working. 1 he sitting of the Volunteer Conference will be further adjourned till Friday, as the subcommittees have not yet completed their investigations. The Kxodns. Mr Dutliie drew the Premier's attention to the exodus from the colony, and in reply Mr Seddon stated that it was due to the Coolgardie rush and the cheap faros, which offered great temptation to people to travel. He thought it very unfortunate that these cheap fares prevailed, as they tended to disturb and unsettle people. If the Government got the money they asked for they would have road works started and endeavor to settle the people on the land, and by doing so they hoped to prevent other people from leaving the colony.