Political Porridge.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 15, 3 August 1895, Page 2

Political Porridge.

» Mr Smitb, member for Ohristchurcb, received a telegram stating that the boot Trade Council of that city is disgusted with the now tariff, and complaining that the trade's evidence before the Tariff Commission bad not been considered by the Government. An extensively signed petition from Tapanui and the surrounding districts was presented by the member for Clutba on Tuesday, praying for an amendment of . the Education Act so as to permit school committees to sanction the daily reading in the. public schools of the Scripture lesson books of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland. Mr G- J. Smith wants. Parliament to adjourn from August 28 to September 2, to enable members to visit the Christchurch Industrial Exhibition. Mr Guinness is asking whether the Government will abolish postage en newspanprs. The Waste Lands Committee have do recommendation to make as to the petition praying for a revaluation of the Fomahaka estate. The Petitions Committee recommend the petition of the Women's Christain Temperance Union for the establishment of inebriate homes to the Government for favorable consideration. At the instance of Mr Pirani, special railway concessions have been promised for students of dairy schools. Mr G-. Hutchison is to ask the Colonial Treasurer when the correspondence relating to the 3 per cent. L 1,500,000 loan promised to he laid on the table, may be expected. The Premier and the leader of the Opposition have agreed that the financial debate shall begin on Tuesday evening. It is probable that either the Hon Mr Mitchelson or Mr Duthie will lead off on behalf of the Opposition. The following are some of members opinions on the Financial Statement. Sir Kobert Stout : — "I think it is exceedingly longthy, and on the very thing which it ought to be very clear it is not as clear as previous Budgets." Mr J. Allen, member for ■ Bruce : " "Wy lengthy, dry, and horribly dreary." Mr John Duthie, member for Wellington: "The Budget speech was tedious. It could have been made much more lucid if condensed by quite one-third. Its contents are extremely tame, and fell flat on the House. It is dul', and fails to suggest a ray of hope of relief from the depression that hangs over the colony." Mr Saunders, member for Selwyn : " The Colonial Treasnrer has evidently learned much by his intercourse with really sound financiers, and has dropped all'the alarming proposals of last year's Budget. He now wants to go Home again and learn as much from the Freetraders." • Mr Cornell's bill fpr : the abolition of the totalisator provides f hat the machine shall be deemed an instrument for gambling within the meaning of the gaming acts, and may be seizsd and destroyed by the police. Anyone having a totalisator on a racecourse or any public place, or keeping a house in which one shall be found, shall be liable to a penalty o£ LSO, ~ or imprisonment for six months. " The Coroners' Inquest Sill, providing, among other things, for tha payment of '_ ' Corenors' Juries, has been rejected bY th 6 Legislative Counpil.