POLITICAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12620, 1 October 1901, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Our Special Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Sept. 30, THE LICENSING BILL. . Some amendments of a sweeping character are to- be- moved by Mr Hutcheson when the Licensing Bill gets into Committee. These provide that the granting and refusal of licenses may be carried by an absolute majority, licensing committees being at tho same time empowered to refuse any license wbicb, in their opinion, is not required, and that the results of the licensing polls throughout the colony shall be tabulated, and if the total number of votes is against licenses, then no licenses shall. bo granted in the colony. THE ESTIMATES. Consideration- of the Estimates will be resumed to-morrow, but the remainder of the week will be devoted to Bills, in, order to provide work for the Legislative Council. NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY ACT. The New Zealand University Act Amendment Bill, of which the Hon W. Hall-Jones has charge, sets out in the preamble that it is desirable to reconstitute the Senate of the New Zealand University with a view to connecting it more closely with its affiliated institutions. . The measure proposes ‘that the Senate shall consist- of twentyfive members, appointed as follows: —Four members appointed by the Governor-in-Council, eight members by the governing bodies of. the four affiliated institutions, namely, two by the University of Otago, two by Canterbury College, two by the , Auckland University College, and two' by Victoria College; one member by each of the Professorial Boards or Councils of the four affiliated institutions; eight members by the Court of Convocation, with the In-spector-General of Schools as a statutory member. The Chancellor and Vice-Chan-cellor are to hold office for such a period, not exceeding two. years, as the Senate fixes, and are- to be eligible for re-election. Out of the members appointed by the Governor, the governing bodies of the affiliated institutions and the Court of Convocation, one-half shall retire from office on April 30 in each alternate year, beginning with 1904, and the members appointed by the Professorial Boards or Councils shall retire on April 30 in each alternate year, commencing with. 1904. All members shall be eligible for re-appointment. Subject t'o these provisions, the ordinary term of office is to be four years.