POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2279, 22 September 1899, Page 7

POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

The Premier says that there is no possibility of any legislation dealing, with the liquor question being passed this session. The butchers of [nvercai'.i I and Dunedin

are petitioning against proposed .. menuiee -Is to the Abattoirs and Mm h'-Jile uses Ac", which Wii'dd piev-iit mucker.■, from appoi:,!ing their owe si uigh'orne n tosla i.liter their own stock and confer on local aulhui i:ies the ri'.dit or power to appoint men for the abattoirs under their control. Mr G. Hutchison on Thursday evening, when in..k9ii•_■ : '.me remai ks as to how the business of P.iiliament is done, said the experience of the session had shown that the work of legislation was left to the Opposition, the Left \\ ing. and the Premier. It is very noticeable (the Dunedin 'Star' reporter says,) that when the more serious business of Parliament is under consideration, the burden falls upon the members mentioned. Occasionally, it is true, meinhers of the Government party assist with a nuasure on a subject in which they are speci lily interested, but, as a rule, the Premier receives from his opponents more assistance in knocking his Bills into shape tli.Mi he does from his own following. The Premier remarked incidentally on Friday afternoon that he expected the North islatid Trunk Railway to be completed and opened iu five years. The 'Southland News ' rep irter says that this may, p.-rh ips, be taken as a stiaw showii.g the way the borrowing wind is blowing, for, at the present rate ot construction, it would take three times that peiiu.i to join the two ends of the line.

In answering Mr Lewis'question last week re Federation, the Premier availed himself of the opportunity to clear himself of the innuendo that he was an anti-Federationist. He said he had never expressed any opinion on the subject, good, bad, or indifferent, and no journal had any to say that he was opposed to it. His mind on the question was perfectly open, and he intended to come to a conclusion only after going carefully and fully into the whole subject. He kuew the responsibility that was cast upon him, and decliued, without carefully considering the surroundings, to express opinions for which he might afterwards be Sorry.

On Tuesday night while the F.-timatcs were uodor discussion in the House, Mr Piraui moved that the salary of the matistrate at Lawrence, £475 le ndmed by £5, as an indication that the H juse was not satisfied with that officer. The motion was lost on the voices.

" Viewed in the light of the recriminations, and the unchaiitahlenens, and tin venom that are often displayed 31> this House, the beautiful prayer with which we open our proceedings every day is simply blasphemy."—Mr Field.

Mr Joyce on Federation :—With our Customs revenue taken away, and with our post office and all its emoluments vanished to Australia, our education system would be the next to go. That would pass away for want of local revenue. It is abundantly evident, remarks the

' Taicri Advocate ' correspondent, that there is scarcely any work likely to be done this session. The last session of triennial Parliaments is usually a barren one, and the present session is not likely to prove an exception. Members show no particular inclination to woik, and I shall not be surprised to see the curtain rung down iu about three vvt eks,' ! inie.

The Hon T. Fergus is mentioued by the 1 Wyndham Fanner ' as a probable Opposition candidate for Wallace.

The Estimat' s on Tuesday were responsible for the first all-night sitting of the House of Representatives this session—hon. members and the unfortunates coucerned with the proceedings going home in daylight on Wednesday morning. There was no organised stone-walling, but th? miscel laneous votes of the Colonial Sei retary's Department excited the talking power of the House.

Auother way of attaining the object of the Electoral Bill is proposed by Mr Pirani in the amending of the Act so as to prevent electors temporarily ab-ent from the colony being struck off the rolls without being given an opportunity to defend their rights.