PARLIAMENTARY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume IV, Issue 553, 13 June 1882, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

[By Telegraph.] [from our special correspondent.] Wellington, Monday. MAJOR ATKINSON’S ILLNESS. An official statement has been made to the effect that the Colonial Treasurer’s health is steadily recovering, but that he has not yet regained the use of his voice, so that unless marked improvement takes place before to-morrow evening, the further postponement of the Financial Statement is inevitable. THE NEW LOAN. A rumor is being circulated that the Government will this session propose a four million loan but I have best reason to believe it unfounded. The course pursued will be that already indicated, namely, an early session in ISB3, and the proposal of a five million loan, tlm expenditure of which to extend over five years, not more than one million to be expended in any one year. THE EIGHT HOURS BUSINESS. A correspondent of the Post, dealing with the discussion on the Eight Hours Bill in Parliament, points out that owing to the utter want of consideration on the part of members, the average working time of the staff of waiters is 12 and 17 hours alternately on week days, and about 14 hours on Sundays, and by no means easy work cither. He adds, “I have nothing to say against the hours on week days, although they are very severe, but I cannot think for the life of me why a staff of 14 hands should be kept on until 11 o’clock on Sunday nights, merely to satisfy the fancy of one or two gourmands. Surely once in the week they ought to be satisfied with easier fare.” From my own observation I can add that two of the so-called “waiters ’’aremere children, whose stunted growth and worn-out appearance are pitiable in the extreme. These two have been employed for the last three or four sessions, and each session makes it clearer that they are being slowly killed. PUBLIC OFFENDERS DISQUALIFICATION ACT. The Bill amending this Act provides that persons who have been convicted of felonies, not being capital crimes, and have suffered punishment, shall be restored to full civil rights at the expiration of their sentences. BANKRUPTCY. The Bankruptcy Committee has under consideration the recommendation of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce that bills of sale given within six months of filing be void as against a public Trustee ; also recommendations of the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce that, save in exceptional cases of misfortune, no discharge be granted until ten shillings in the pound is paid. Both recommendations were approved, and will be embodied in an amending Bill.