WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11887, 10 May 1899, Page 6

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

■v ' ■ TPbb Press Association.! ■ WELLINGTON, May 9. It will to remembered that towards the ‘ , "teloae of'list session of Parliament, the v ’/i- Premier, introduced a Bill having for its ' object the suppression of private debt ' collecting agencies, but the measure had ' to be dropped owing to the opposition . shown towards it, and the shortness of time available for dealing with it. I hear, however, that the labour organisations are moving with .the object of strengthening ■ the- Premier’s hands in passing a similar . measure next session. Probably the action : of the labour bodies ■will take the form of a mpnater petition, which, I believe, has ■' .already been drafted. It is confidently • that several,’ thousands of signatures will be obtained. Some remarks- in the “ Post ” last night, condemnatory of the State Farm at Levin, are strongly resented by many' persons * • here-who are acquainted with the working , ’of The institution. As to the unfavourable comments attributed to the Victorian : ‘ ' Commissioners, Messrs Best and Trenwith, J and which have been disavowed by those. ■ gentlemen themselves, I learn on good ■ authority that the Commissioners remarked that fhere were many features which came ■ under their observation at, the Levin , .v*. 'Farm, which are well worthy of adoption at Leongarfcha, in Victoria, especially the housing of -married couples. The-inmates of the Victorian institution are men only, and live in barracks, some of the associar tions of , which are of a highly objectionable character. ' It is- generally understood that Parliament will meet about June 22. 1 . , No damage has as yet been officially reported on any of the Government railway -. lines dr works, resulting from the heavy and almost continuous rains of the past ' v two 'days, but if the steady downpour continues during to-night floods may be expected.’ v- . : Numerous inquiries . were made at the "Government Buildings to-day regarding the condition of the Hon A. J. Cadman. Mr Blackmore, the viticultural expert, . has reported that he has not found any indication of the existence of phylloxera in the South Island.