Political and Parliamentary.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1833, 21 August 1891, Page 3

Political and Parliamentary.

A wag on the Opposition side of the House intends to move an amendment in the Payment of Members' Bill to fix the honorarium on a graduated scale on the same principle as the Land and Income Tax—new chums, £2O a mouth, and other members £25 to £SO per month, according to the length of service in the political arena. Ou the subject of payment of members Sir George Grey has asked the supporters of the increased honorarium to prove to his satisfaction that the sum asked for (£240) was necessary to enable them to properly support themselves and their families. He allude Ito the fact that in Auckland he had been caricatured as having originated the movement for the increase , but he stated emphatically,that that was not the case, he having in the first instance expressed himself strongly opposed to the proposed increase. The Hen. J. G. Ward has consented to permit miners' rights and business licenses being issued at money order offices, and provision will be marie by the Hon. Mr Seddon in the Mining Bill to give effect thereto. Mr Joyce intends moving the Minister of Defence to *llow drilled artillerymen and A.C. officers, with the consent of Education Boards, to instruct public school children in drill, each man to attend a school within a radius of 15 miles of any of four centres, and that once a year the fifth and sixth standard boys be massed for battalion and brigade instruction.

Some rather novel provisions are embodied in the Workmen's Lien Bill, which was put before the House for the first time on Saturday afternoon. It proposes to give all contractors, sub-contractors and workmen liens upon land and chattels upon which they are engaged to the value of any work done by them. The lien of a workmau is not to exceed 30 day's wages and the total liability of the property owner in respect of all the various classes is not, except in case of fraud, to exceed the original contract price. A sub-contractor is to be entitled to charge upon money payable to the superior contractor, and a workmau to charge upon money due to any contractor or sub-contractor by whom ho may be employed. Mortgages are to have priority over liens, if duly registered previous to the date of contract under which a lieu arises, unless the mortgagee is a party to the contract, in which case the lien will come first. Liens and charges for wages will take precedence over those of sub-contrac-tors, and the liens and charges of contractors will come next in order, but as between themselves all classes are to rank equally. One of the newest features is that, besides applying to building works the bill is to affect mines, quarries, excavatious, and the erection of machinery. Yet more novel is a proposal to give all persons employed ou agricultuial or pastoral pursuits, a lien to the extent of six months' wages. It it accrues in respect to fencing or clearing land, the lieu is to attach to the land ou which it is done aud all land enclosed by it. If the work done is the tending, driving, etc., of sheep or cattle, it is attached to the live stock. Any such lien is to be enforced against a mortgagee M well as against the owner. The Goverumenfc intend to go thoroughly into the whole question of charitable aid during the recess.

At the second reading of the Marriage Act Amendment Bill, the Premier stated it was intended to allow officers of the Salvation Army and ministers of minor denominations to perform the marriage ceremony. Sir Johu Hall said he would move an amendmentin committee to the effect that every marriage certificate shall be signed by at least oue clergyman of the Church of Englaud. Mr W, Hutchison (Dunedin) supported the Bid, and saw no reason why the Army and members of small religious bodies should not be allowed to perform the marriage ceremony. In committee on Thursday on the Factory Bill a good deal of discussion arose touching the clause fixing the minimum number of hands employed in order to constitute premises a factory or workroom. It was at last agreed to fix the number at three for country districts and one for towns. Mr Fisher moved that no girl under 18 years of age shall work as a typesetter. He said the occupation was a very unhealthy oue, and that all the master printers in Auckland save one were opposed to the reduction of the age from 18 to 16. He could say from experience that type-setting was a very trying and unhealthy occupation even for men. The Hon. Mr Bryce said there was no tenderness for women in the question. What certain members wanted to do was to prevent cempetition.—Mr Fisher's amendment was lost and 16 inserted. The Distillation Bill, whi'h has passed through committee without amendment, only provides that owners or occupiers of vineyards shall be permitted to use a still if not more than of fifty gallons capacity for the manufacture of spirits to be used only for fortifying wines, the wines wheu so fortified not to coutaiu more than id per cent, of proof spirit. Ou reconsideration of the Petitions Committee upon Mr Thomas Quills' petition for the death of his son William, who fell over a cliff whilst endeavoring to find a pass to Milford Sound, the committee have recommended that an allowance of £oo be granted. The one-man-one-vote or rather one-ratepayer-one-vote principle, proposed in the Counties Amendment Bill by Government, is sure to be struck out in committee. It is said that Mr Jackson-Palmer will endeavor to get a permissive clause inserted which will empower county councils to levy an increased rate upon lands which are held for speculative purposes. Mr Meredith very strongly opposes Sir George Grey.s proposal to exempt church property, holding that in Canterbury the Church of England was being richly endowed. Churches had no busiuess to claim exemption. Among the bills received from the Government printer is one fathered by Mr MeGuire, which provides that it shall not be lawful to import iuto the colouy any intoxicating liquor of any kind whatsoever except for medicinal purposes. The penalty for beiug concerned in any breach of the Act directly or indirectly is not less thauJE 100, nor more than £SOO with costs, to be recovered by the informant.

With regard to the claim of Major Mair, late judge of the Native Lands Court, (one of the retrenched, and an old civil Bervant who has done valuable service for the colony) the Public Petitions

Committer of the Legislative Council report as follows -.—Your committee are of opinion that when the exigencies of the public service require the retirement of an official of exceptionally long and meritorious services, such services are entitled to special consideration, and that an officer of repute, who has performed difficult and responsible duties throughout a period of 28 years in a most exemplary manner, has moral and equitable claims upon the colony which cannot be adequately met in the ordinary way. Your committee therefore desire to recommend the case of the petitioner to the Government for their most favourable consideration."

The Joint Committee on the Bankruptcy Bill having made certain amendments which, while they leave untouched the principles, are interesting as matters of detail. For example, one amendment defines day, cash, and ledger are the books u iiich every trader must keep, and in which all his transactions must be entered ; another, that preferential claims for rent be increased from si i to twelve months. Fraudulent preferauce (the committee hold) should not be charged unless fraudulent intention is clearly proved. Obtaining credit by means of bogus balance-sheets is made punishable with two years' imprisonment- The committee deal also with cases of men who build on laud belonging to their wives and bid defiance from these castles to their creditors. They recommend that the Bankruptcy court be given power to charge the value of the building upon the land. Should the wife refuse to pay, the Court may sell the whole property, paying wife the value of land, and dividing the halance among the creditors. It has transpired that the Government have been unable to induce Mr Hamerton to resign his office of Public Trusteeand aecept the modified pension of £154 per annum, recommended by the Public Accounts Committee. Mr Hamerton declines to re4 tire voluntarily unless he receives a pension of £4OO which he would be entitled to if his full term of service was taken into account. Ministers have therefore decided to take steps to have him removed byajbill of which the Premier has given notice.

They will, however, introduce a spcial prmj.'i.g for the payment of his pension at the rate of £154 per aimuin. Postmaster-General Ward, being anxious to consuit the convenience of the mercantile and business community, h.is given instructions for the issue "f a cr.l uhi.h will u'ive prominently th- nnu-b r* «f the principal business houses and public offices that use the telephone iu each of the centres of population* The parliamentary reporter of the Dunediu Star, under date 17th instant, says:—The Legislative Council Committee will uot present their report on the Sh«p Hours'Bill before Fiidav, as m-ie evidence has to be taken on Wednesday ; but the measure is "dead" to the world. I have the best authority far saying that the majority of members are antagonistic to its passage. The Opposition will give an absolute block vote sgairat the Payment of Members' Bill, while of the Liber members, Messrs Caiinoross ami J. Kelly will strongly resist the proposal to increase the honorarium to £240, though agreeing with the principle of an annual payment, independent of the number of sessions held in a year. A northern contemporary, writing on the taxation proposals of the Government, gravely says that the Premier " is tempering the ivool to the shorn lamb " by letting the banks off so easily. Is this a mysterious joke ?