POLITICAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13888, 24 October 1905, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, October 23. THE WALTHAM ORPHANAGE. In the House this morning Mr T. H. Davey asked the Premier whether his attention had been drawn to the report of a mooting of the North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board, held on October 18, when it was alleged by some members ; (1) That two young Catholic girls, Emma and Gertie Andrews, had been wrongfully treated by the matron of the Waltham Orphanage; (2) that tho said children had been subjected to what was described ns “ silence treatment” for weeks; (3) that they had been kept in solitary oonlinement for some- weeks; (4) that they were offered dry bread to oat; (5) if tho Premier will cause inquiries to bo made as to the management of the said Waltham Orphanage. Tho Premier replied that he had road tho report of the proceedings in the Press, and there seemed to ho cause tor an inquiry. Tho Government would take stops to £_ee that an inquiry was held in the interests of all parties. THE EXHIBITION EMPOWERING BILL. This evening the New Zealand International Exhibition Empowering Bill was introduced by Governor's message. The measure proposes to give the Government power to apiioinit an executive commissioner, in whom the control of the land tor the purposes of the exhibition is to be temporarily vested. The commissioner will take alii necessary measures for providing, erecting, altering, lighting and maintaining the buildings and premises required for tih© exhibition, and tor providing access thereto, and for securing and obtaining the most effective dipplay; oif all articles Veceived tor public exhibit. The Government will have the right to make regulations in connection with the management q‘f the exhibition, the temporary admission or exclusion of the public or of any individual, the sum to be paid for admission, and tho manner in which all moneys received by the commissioner shall be applied to the purposes of public instruction or entertainment. Every parson who commits a breach of such resolutions shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £lO. Exhibits may be admitted into New Zealand free of Customs duties, and the Government may, by Order-irvCcnncil, declare that the provisions of tho Faetorieis Act, 1901, the Shops and Offices Act, 1904, and the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Acts shall not a-pply_ to the exhibition. The Bill also provides the promised authority to local bodies bo defray from their rovenno jh© cost of making exhibits illustrating the industries of their districts. «