POLITICAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13891, 27 October 1905, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

[Feom Otjb Cobbespondent.] WELLINGTON, October 26. OLD AGE PENSIONS. The Premier, in reply to Mr Davey and Mr EH, states that the necessary steps will be taken to see that the old age"pensioners in the Jubilee Memorial Home are considerately treated. "When the pension was £lB the Board was in the habit, when applying for the monthly warrant to draw the pensions, of stating that the monthly cost of maintenance was £1 16s. When, however, the pension was increased to £26, it was discovered by the Board that the monthly cost wias now £2 8s 9d. The question of the allowanice to pensioners maintained by charitable institutions has already been before the Piremier, and he has given instruotkwiß for a report upon the subject to be furnished. NEW ZEALAND STOCKS. Mr James Allen asked the Colonial Treasurer (1) Whether he was correctly reported in the Dunedin " Evening Star" of May 25, 1905, as follows: " Since the payment of the interest the New Zealand stocks had begun to rise again, and, with a surplus or £761,000, he was looking. forward to them going up further still." (2) As New Zealand 3 per cent stock on May 12, 1905, stood at 87-}, and in September, 1905, at 87, and on October 13, 1905, at would he explain the reason for the continuous fall, and why the so-called surplus of £761,000 has not caused the rise he anticipated ? The Premier's reply was as follows: —•" Circumstances over which the Government of New Zealand and any other Government have no control have resulted in the present position. The following is a comparison of New Zealand consols with those of the Australian States as at October 16 last: — " New South Wales 3 per cant 85, 3£ per cent 99, 4 per cent 109. "Victorian 3 per cent 88, 3£ per cent 98, 4 per cent 105. " Queensland 3 per cent 87; 3i per cent 98, 4 per cent 106. " New Zealand 8 per oent 66J, 3| per cent 99, 4 per oent 107. "On October 21 th© figures were:— " New South Wales 3 per cent 85.5, 3J per cent 98, 4 per oent 108. " Victorian 3 per oent 86, 3J per cent 98, 4 per cent 105. " Queensland 3 per cent 87,' 3 J per cent 98, 4 per cent 106. "New Zealand 3 per cent 86, 3$ per cent 99.5, 4 per cent 107. " The slight fall in the New Zealand 3, per oent can be accounted for, seeing that the interest was payable this month, and it should not be forgotten that only one-sixth of our debt is at 3 per cent, one-sixth at 3J per oent, and four-sixths at 4 per cent. There has not been a continuous fall, and some of our stocks have, as I anticipated—and probably the surplus of £761,000 may have boon an incident—risen since the date I spoke in Dunadk, May 25 last."

RAILWAY EXPENDITURE. j Mr James Allen asked the Minister ! of Railways whether it was correct to say that for the year ending March 31, 1905, there was voted out of the additions to the main line money £23,704 for Canterbury and £405 for Westland; if it was correct to say that of additions to open lines money £49,338 was • expended in Canterbury and £6099 in •Westland; and Would he point to the votes on the Estimates 1 for the £23,704 and £405 above-mentioned. The Minister of Railways replied that he was unaware of the manner in which the. figures £23,704 for Canterbury had been arrived at. Th© sum of £405 was, however, voted for West-, land, and £49,338 was expended in Canterbury and £6099 m Westland. The items were included in Vote No. 86, Class XXV., appropriations for Public Works services. They included charges which were shown under the heads of " Rolling stock," " Interlocking signalling gear-" and " Fixed signals." The actual sum spent out of the Westland item of £405 was £313 17s 4d for sidings. This amount, with charges under "Rolling stock" and " Interlocking gear," made up tho total of £6099 referred to. THE SOUTH AFRICAN SERVICE. Mr Duthie asked the Postmaster-Gen-eral whether he would ascertain whether either of the shipping companies engaged in the trade between Australia and South Africa would, on reasonable terms, include a monthly visit to New Zealand? The Minister replied that public offers would be invited, and all shipping companies, including those referred to, would be given the opportunity of providing a suitable i service on reasonable terras. . A' COMMITTEE'S WORK. The Labour Bills Committee of the House presented its final report to-day. During the session it has considered and reported on five labour measures. Twen-ty-one petitions, with 1603 signatures, were received by the Committee on the Shops and Offices Act Amendment Bill, and nineteen with 10,857 signatures, in connection with the Harvester Trust, a total of forty petitions, with 12,460 signatures. Thirty meetings were held, while 239 witnesses attended. ' RENTS. The Premier, this afternoon, laid upon the table of the House a return showing the average rents paid in the four chief centres of population for cottages. The figures are as follows: Auck-Welling-Christ- Dunland. ton. church. edm.

COMMUTATION FARES.^ The Education Committee reported to-day in regard to the petitions received praying that the privilege of travelling at school commutation railway fares .should be extended to .the Supils of Mr 0. H. Gilby's Commercial ollege, in Chrlstehurch. The committee rej«xrtis. that Mr Gilby's School

is worthy of special consideratioai, andrecommends that he should make ap- . pMeation to the controlling authority for such recommendation as wall justify the Minister in recognising his classes. ; : THE EXHIBITION. . A voluminous report from Mr T. E. Donne regarding his trip to <*"** Britain in the interests of the Exhibition was laid upon -the tahle of the ■ House this afternoon. The report m about Wo inches in thickness and several pounds in weight, and it coveis his trip in detail. It was ordered U be printed. LABOUR LEGISLATION. The Labour Bills Committee of the House of Representatives has made a series of amendments in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill. Clause 12, providing' regulations for the issue of permits t<t work at less than the minimum wages, has been struck out entirely. A similar fate has befallen the final clause (14), providing that proceedings for the enforcement of an award shall be heard before a Stipendiary subject to appeal on points of law, or if thai amount in dispute should be over £SO. Clause 2, relating to the amalgamation of industrial unions, has been amended to provide that when two or more industrial unions are amalgamated, where there is more than one award in force' relating to that industry within the same industrial district or any part thereof, the Court, on the application of any party to any award, may, by order, adjust; the terms of such awards and the order shall take effect as if it were' a new award. Until such an order i. made, no amalgamation shall have effect. The "Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, as. originally introduced, provided for a minimum weekly compensation for total or partial disablement, of £1 per week, in every case where the rate of pay was not less than 30s weekly. This has been struck out by the Labour Bills Committee, and the only operative i clause remaining provides that compen- ' sation for total or partial _ disablerneniJ I may be paid in a lump sum instead of by i weekly allowance. £vo amendment was I made by the Committee m the Eac- | tories Act Amendment Bill, providing I for a minimum wage of 17s for factory I employees over twenty years of age with four years' experience.

s. a. s. d. 8. d. s. d. [Three rooms G 6 11 8 e s 7 6 Four 2TO01U3 . 9 6 16 3 10 0 11 0 Five rooms . 13 0 20 7 14 0 14 6 Six rooms . 14 0 26 0 17 0 17 6