Somo Bills.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 2 July 1891, Page 2

Somo Bills.

.« Pay after day eovno enthusiastic legislator introduces a Bill into Parliament for tho amelioration ci the people. Their purpose is good if their Bill may he bad. At present the House is beating ont the Financial proposals of the Government , and until the result of that is known these different Bills will . not progress much. It has been said that the Premier will have to modify his taxation proposals after'the criticisms they have been subjected to, and if he does, he will probably have an opportunity to permit his Government introducing the Bills they have been preparing to comfort the people. We notice that the Hon Mr Buckley has six Bills, one to .-repeal diver's Acts or parts of Acts which have ceased to be in Force or have become unnecessary ; the Criminal Cod© BilL which appears to ,he a most useful measure, incorporating many Acts under" one cover ; then he has the Legislative Council to improve, by declaring that no person shall be summoned to it who shall not be of the full age of. twenty one years! What did he fear his party were likely to do ? He also desires to make the term of office seven' years in place of for life, as now. In connection with this we notice the Councillors are trying to add three years to the proposal, thus making it ten. This is only natural as they "hold the fort*' but the Members of the House, desirous of changing places, will most probably think seven years a sufficient in-, ings. The Hon Mr Buckley has also in charge a Bill giving to Companies further powers in respect to instruments under which they may be constituted. The powers and duties of Trustees are the subject of another • little Bill, and one to amend the law of partnership. The Premier has, as yet, only two Bills, one to consolidate the law relating to the Registration of Electors and the Election of Members of Parliament. In this measure the clause granting a vote to women by the Irish plan of not forbidding It, yi\\\ appeal hpfnvp t.h<? tWvd wiinpf

is chronicled. The other Bill is just one to consolidate the votes of the electors at Wangamri for the sitting member, and is entitled " The Wanganui Heads Signal-station Reserve Exchange." The Hon. Mr Seddon is prepared to do his duty, and has charge of four Bills, three, the Aliens, Official Defences Secrets, and Directors' Liabiity 3 Jills are short, but the Mining Bill, with which work the Minister is well acquainted, is a ponderous measure of 842 clauses. This means heavy work in Committee. . The Bl'on. Mr Ward has an Adulteration Bill, and has seriously felt that the baker's " fancy loaf "is the one least fancied by the father of a; family, and therefore he proposes to cut away th 6 old loop hole for light weights and enacts that the loaves must weigh either a' pound or any number of even pounds up to eight. There is still left a margin of profit to the poor baker, as he may sell French or fancy rollß or twists of any weight oi* size as he shall think fit. We do not see,\vhy any. such exemption is needed, as if all bread Avas sold by weight, the more expensive fancy bread could easily be charged more for. As J at' present this is his only "Hill he may porh'aps think it out, or let the matter be tried for a year, ancf then introduce a further amendment. The only question i>s, will his' Government' bo then in office? . . Ihe lion Mr 'adman has two Bills both dealing with lunatics. The Hon. Mr Reeves is entrusted i with Ahe- " Policy "' Bille of the Government, viz., the Truck, Factories,' Industrial Conciliation;, Shop Hours,, and Employers' Liability. He also introduces the School Committee's Election, and the Juries Act Amendment- Bills,. .Wo may have more to ■ k\y en the.' Shop Hours, but ayo may just point our that- arithmetic is not '•a strong point in it, afi,, referring <to women and persons; tinder eighteen yeaiN cf age, the Bill sets out that they must not be employed niore than 58 hours in the week, including meal times ; yet the .Bill permits the shop to be open 4 days a week to G o'clock, 1 day to 2 o'clock, and 1 day to 9 o'clock, and to make an even time it must be supposed it Avill open at' B o'clock, Jf bo there will bo 59 hours work, with meal times permitted ; but women and persons under 18 are not allowed to be employed so long I It can be put right