WELLINGTON GOSSIP

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11592, 19 July 1900, Page 3

WELLINGTON GOSSIP

[FROM OUR BPEOUL COBHEBFONDENT.] °" L BT TEIiBSBAPH.] ig Wellington, Wednesday. it. A SULTRY CHAMBER. The Premier this afternoon drew th Speaker's attention to the faot that most unpleasant Bmell pervaded th le Chamber, which he attributed to id deficiency in the ventilating arrange le ments. Sir Maurice O'Rorke at one 36 promised_ to send the t le inquire into the matter. Mr G. TV n Russell also said the portion of th >f Chamber where he sat (below the gang d way) was rendered almost unbearabl; is warm by the hot water pipes, which an c fixed all round the House for heating pur poses. ThePremierremarked signifioantl: that that was generally a " warm corner, 1 referring to the time, no doubt, when M: Pirani, Mr T. Taylor, and Mr J. Kelly sa i- in its vicinity. Mr Russell retorted y amidst laughter, "Not now." Neithei I, Mr Taylor nor Mr Kelly have seats in the > present House, and Mr Pirani now siti with the regular Opposition. THE MANGATORO ESTATE. Mr Hall to-day asked the Minister oi Lands whether he will give effect to the petitions that have been sent to him from time to time praying that the Government would acquire under the Land for Settlements Act the freehold portion of the Mangatoro estate now in the hands of the Bank of New Zealand Assets Realisation Board. Mr Seddon said that some time ago the Assets Board came to the conclusion that as soon as the land could be partitioned a further offer should be made to the Government. The Government were now moving the Native Land ■ Court to get a partition of the land, and ■ they hoped to bo able to acquire it for ' settlement purposes shortly at a fair 1 price. In reply to Mr O'Meara the Premier said it would be better to offer the estate as a whole, and they would have due regard to fair value being received for the price they paid for the land. CLUB CHARTERS. Mr George Fisher, this afternoon, raised the question of charters being issued to those olubs which have applied for them uuder the provisions of the Alcoholio Liquors Sales Act. He was aware that the Government had some time ago decided not to issue any more club charters, but this decision had given rise to great dissatisfaction in some parts of the colony. Mr Ward, in reply, said that in the Alcoholic Liquors Sales Act of 1896 clubs were included, and the bill, as it left the House, contained a provision that all clubs Bhould be under police supervision in the same way as hotels. The Legislative Council, however, Btruck out this proviso, and the reason why the Government had not moved further in the matter was because the decision of the House of Representatives had thus been Bet aside. He hoped, however, that dome opportunity would be afforded of reconsidering it, as he recognised that some portions of the colony deserved a favorable consideration. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. Mr T. D, Browett, inspector of factories, Napier, reports to the department as follows for the year ending 31st March, 1900 : — '" The labor market at Napier has been fairly satisfactory, those engaged in the various factories and workrooms having had good steady employment throughout the year. The building trade, though not a"o brisk as last year, has been busy, but with the exception of two shipping stores and one retail shop all the buildings erected are dwelling-houses. Unskilled labor — The conditions that control this class of labor vary very little from year to year. The work comes in rushes, and is practically confined to seasons. Aa the winter approaches work in connection with the shipping and in the country districts becomes scarce. The feezing works slacken down, and aa a consequence the unemployed appear. However, I had comparatively little difficulty in dealing with the genuine unemployed and those that really wanted work got it. Fifty-five men were sent to road works and 18 to private employment, making a total of 73. Of this number 22 were single, and 61 married, the men having 192 persons depending upon them for support, this being nn increase of 12 men, as compared with the previous year. In selecting men for employment, due regard is paid to Hastings and the country districts. This year 112 factories and wookrooms have been registered under the Factories Act, employing 1001 persons, 817 males and 194 females. This is an increase on the number registered last year of 11 factories and workrooms. The increase is accounted for by the inclusion of the Taradale district. Permits to work 2233 hours overtime were granted during the year. This was principally in the dressmaking and tailoriug trades. This represents an increase of 661 hours on the figures for last year. In no instance was the legal limit of hours exceeded. The Act is working well, and proseoutions have not been necessary in Napier. Six informations were laid in Hastings, convictions being secured in each case. The Shops and Shop Assistants Act continues to give general satisfaction, both to employer and employed. The hours are well observed as regards the shops, but with banks and offices it was difficult to find whether the hours are observed or not. Permission was granted to work 208 hours' overtime during the year, which is a considerable decrease on laßt year's returns. I was compelled to lay several informations to enforce the provisions of this Act, both in Napier and Hastings, securing convictions in each oase. Unfortunately, I waa unable to pay the attention to tho Shearers Accommodation Act that was necessary, as the time for visiting these shedß clashed this year with my duties as Registrar of Electors. However, I visited six stations, four of which were quite satisfactory, and notices were served on the occupiers of the other two to build accommodation. Next season I hope to be able to visit each station in tee district. The Servants' Registry Offices Act works very satisfactorily. The offices are in the hands of respectable people, and there is no overcharging." STATE COAL MINES. Mr G. W. Russoll (Riccirton) is a thorough believer in the Government assuming control of the coal mines of the colony. Referring this afternoon to the threatened coal famine alluded to by Mr Ell (Chnstchurch) he strongly urged the Minister for Mines to take some steps to secure the coal mines in the public interest. He said that if the Government had displayed as much energy in cheapening coal as they had in knocking down the high rates of interest, they would have benefited thousands of people who reaped no advantage whatever from the cheap money scheme. Mr Rußsell reminded the Premier that he had at present a party supporting him who were quite strong enough to carry any proposals they might bring down to reduce the price of coal, and he hoped the Minister for Mines would rise to the occasion. In his opinion the price of coal in the colony at present was a positive scandal. A TRUANCY QUESTION. Mr A. L. D. Fraser to-day gave notice to ask the Minister for Education whether his attention has been drawn to certain cases brought by the truant officer at Napier before the S.M., applying that parents of Catholic children be compelled to send them to a public school. JOTTINGS. Mr Hales, Government engineer, leaves for Napier on Monday morning to report on the Western Spit protection works. Aocording to the report presented by the Minister for Labor (Mr Seddon) today, the past year has been generally one of great prosperity to the workers of New Zealand. Labor has beon in unusual demand, a demand that has in some districts exceeded the supply.