POLITICAL GOSSIP

Evening Star, Issue 14225, 26 November 1909, Page 3

POLITICAL GOSSIP

[Elion Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON. November 26. LOCAL BODIES’ LOANS. Replying to Opposition complaints that under the Stale Guaranteed Advances Bill the local bodies would not be so well off as under the I*oa(.is to liOcal Bodies Act, the Prime Minister pointed out that under the new measure local bodies were at liberty to pay off their indebtedness as soon as they liked. It cheaper money was available privately the local bodies could PRJ oil their Government loan and liorrow where they pleased. The Bib proposed that public bodies should get loans f rum the Government at tho same rate ol interns* as the Government paid for the money. Its advantages wore extraordinary as compared with the existing law. At this Mr Monsey remarked that the Government would never be able to borrow cheaper than per cent, (the present rate paid by local bodies under the existing Act). Inhi's opinion it would be more like 4 per cent. “ A bt of them could not get it a short time ago for 6 per cent.,” interjected Sir Joseph Ward. “I know that.” said Mr Massey, explaining that those were unusual circumstances, and adding that under the new proposals a local body would pay 4J per cent lor thirty-six years, as against per cent, lor forty-one years under the present law. CONSOLIDATED STATUTES. Ihe Consolidated Statutes were referred to in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon. when the lion. S. Thorne George asked whether the Attorney-General would cause to be issued to all solicitors practising in the Dominion a request that they will notify him of any defects, alterations of the law, or omissions that they may notice in the Consolidated Statutes. 1908. with a view that should 1 here be any defects, .alterations, or omissions the same may be amended at the eailiest possible date.—Dr Findljy said lie recognised that the object aimed at was a good one. It was hardly necessary to communicate with every solicitor, but practically the case would be met by communicating with the district law societies, and that course he proposed to take.—(Hear, hear.) LICENSING LEGISLATION. •The latest development in connection with the proposed Licensing Bill is the subject of a great deal of comment amongst members ot Parliament. When seen and aeked whether a liill would be introduced in view of what has taken place. Dr Findlay stated that lie was not in a position to say anything at that moment. Careful inquiries amongst members of all shades of opinion disclose a very general feeling that no Bill will be introduced this session. A WIN FOR DUNEDIN SOUTH. Mr Sidey succeeded in carrying bv the narrow majority of two votes an amendment which was opposed by the Minister in charge of the Slate Guaranteed Advances Bill. _ Tic received the Mippoil of the Opposition and of other members who are interested in local bodies, and. with this backing, lie succeeded in inserting in the Bill a proviso restoring to local bodies their former powers in tlio matter of finking fund commissioners. hi calling Mr Sulcy the member for Caversham. although his political title is now Dunedin South, yesterday on the State Guaranteed Advances Bill, Mr Kerries remarked that the member for Caversham seemed to him to .show a better grip of the measure than tho Minister in charge. ‘‘ln that case,” retorted the Prime Minister. “he outpaces yon by many miles.” I never put myself forward at any time,” replied Mr Kerries smilingly. THE COUNCIL AND MONEY BILLS. “The State Guaranteed Advances Bill is no ordinary Bill.” said Mr Fraser. “It is very doubtful to what extent the Upper House cun make alterations in it. because it contains money clauses.” He expressed the hope that the Council had the power to alter the Bill, because he thought that very many clauses would need overhauling. CHATTELS TRANSFER ACT. In the Legislative Council the debate on the second reading of the Chattels Transfer Amendment Bill was resumed by the Hon. J. R. Sinclair. He urged, as Mr Anstev did. that the-Cmmcil should be very wary before interfering with a law which had worked for such a long time. He contended that no adequate case for change had been made out. Unregistered bills of sale offered a convenient and safe cofirse for accommodation for small farmers bv mercantile bouses where loans for short periods were required. The Hun. George Jones expressed similar views. If (lie Bill passed it would jeopardise the business of small fanners. In reply, the Attorney-General said the debate had boon very interesting, anti the Council was indebted' to the Hon. Mr An6tey for raising the main criticism. At the same time he was hound to say that it the principle expounded by Mr Anstev was right, then they should give up the registration of hills ot sale altogether. At the present time one creditor holding an unregistered bill of sale could sweep down on ,* debtor a day before bankruptcy, take the security, and snap his lingers ;i( the rest of the creditors. It was possible that. a. method could he devised which would facilitate business of the kind referred to Wv Mr Anstev. and at the same time stop the rascality and frauds which weie perpetuated under the present law on the commercial community. No unnecessary brake should be put on tho kind of lending to which Mr Anstey had referred, hut it°had to be remembered that it was only a. fraction ol Hie lending that was done'on chattels. There were two sides to the question. The Bill was a. defence of honest trading, and against dishonest trading. Tho second reading was agreed to, and the Bill referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. MINING LAW. Thr- Mining v\mcndment Bill introduced by the Minister of Mines (Hon. R. M’Konzie) was circulated last night. Provision is made fur prospecting on endowment lands and public reserves. Every mine must be under the control and personal supervision of a manager appointed by the owner, and if a mine is worked for more than three days without such a manager being in charge, the owner is liable to a tine not exceeding £SO. An important provision of the Bill is that in future it will not be lawful lor any one in charge of a mine to require any* employee over eighteen years of ago to ‘be medically examined that he is in a good or sound slate of health. Any person committing a breach of this section is, for the first offence, liable to a penalty of not exceeding £SO, and for any subsequent offence to a line of £IOO. Full provision is made for inspection of gold mines by workmen’s inspectors.