POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 14631, 29 July 1911, Page 8

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[Fhom Oun Special Cor;t:ksi-ondent.] WELLINGTON, July 29 Aii Imprest Supply Bill for £721,400 passed through all stages in the House vertoxxiay afternoon without debate, a course I had advised early in the day would bo adopted in consequence of the death of the member for Christchurch North. GOVERNMENT MEASURES. The following Bills have been introduced and read a first time:—Town Planning (Hon. G. Fowids), Pharmacy Amendment (Hon. G. Fowlds). Friendly Societies Amendment (Hon. J. A. Millar), Shipping and Seamen Amendment (Hon. J. A. Millar). Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment (Hon. J. A. Millar). Workers’ Compensation Amendment (Hon. J. A. Millar). Administration Amendment (Hon. Sir J. Carroll). PRIVATE MEMBERS’ Undeterred by previous failures Sir W. J. Steward "bobs'up” with his parennial, the Elective Executive Bill. Mr Hogg seeks by statute to abolish the duties on food. The member for Manawatu has given notice of tho in trod net ion of the Hereditary Titles Prevention Bill. Mr Newman will not proceed with his Bill until Sir Joseph Ward takes Hits scat-.

, Mr Jennings, at the request of the recent i conference of country wing clubs, is jn- ; producing a Bill to amend the Gaining Act : of last session, with the object of preferring Ibe rights of certain dubs which have lost their totalizator permits in accordance u ith the report of the Racing Commission. The .Marriage Act Amendment Bill (Sir W. ■!. .Steward) seeks to remedy a deficiency' in the law which makes legal marriage with a deceased wiles sisicr, but ; docs not permit of marriage With a deceased wife's niece or de-ccasod husbands nephew. Mr Sidey is reintroducing ins M;w Zealand Mcon Time Bill, w Ijich will have the : ItalJ.-mark of approval of a number of organisations throughout the Dominion, t MOKAU LANDS. Mr Massey states that he intends !•« i ]irons his nxjtttvst for an inquiry into the i .Mokan land* tiansaction. it wait, lor t lie Douse to decide the manner in winch the inquiry should be conducted. Probably it ; would be eutrurtod to a Parharuontaiy • Con unit tee. j SPECULATIONS, ! It. am in a position to say ihat the 1 South Inland Electoral Boundarum (JoinI mission will finish their work to-day, and | their report may be expected any time | next. week. It. will, however, be encMmr ; 8 or 10 days before tin North 1.-i.-nd members have, finished their work. ; Alt .bought it may rhoeo many people, , yet to a certain extent tue say mg *• i | King is dead, God save the Klim, ' :qii plies to members of Parliament. 1 has I yesterday it was noticed that Mr I. M. I B. Fisher was sitting with Mr Arnold, and on inquiring I ascertained the cause to be that the member for M eihncion j Central bad taken the late. .Mr Tayloro i seat in the House, but did m.i can- i-» occupy it tmfil Tnorday. ■Speculations are rife with regard to Mr Taylor t fiiccct-ieor. and the i.ium.' of Mi- L. .M. leitt is freely mentioned in . political lines as, those of the hit" . eii - 1) w, he could walk in at this jiiii'.-nne. ; Mr Isilt will be approached on the tub- ; jf-ct early next week.

; WHAT PEDDLE DRINK AND SMOKE, i No less than 767.620 gallons of spirits I were consumed by lhe people of Z v ! land lust year, the dutv on the siou-- ben;.; jat the rule of £1 ISs per head. .an ■ ■rm.u; ! of Is ]Qii per head on Dio fiirmv. fm the j previous year. In the same _ j«.tio i t:r----i people wlio are not tomtom ie.e drauK i 153.455 gallons of wine. 2.'1.564 gallc.ia oi ’ ale and beer, while 7.5c2.500!b o: t»--i wore used. The. consumption of tc-b.i.'o «• ; 2,295,7771b, and cigars, cigarette.-, an ! -imfi ; cost the smokers an average of ICs lid per head of the population lor the mar, up in* ! crease of 7|d pur head on He- previous . year. Gotfec, cocoa, end chicory were , drunk to the extent of 5M.0021b. and 110,537.8751b of sugar were. ion.-t.jn- d. ! lie ' fhnircis relating to ale and beer given r-bove j <i:> not refer to New Zealand b.eue,] b'-er, j 9.399.440 gallons of which were consumed. ! or at the late of 13.1 gallons p: r head of j tlic population over 1.5 years of age. On j Die sune Klein of calculation the duty per . head was 3s 3J,d.