POLITICAL NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 6780, 24 August 1900, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

(H.B. Herald.) DECEASED HUSBAND'S BROTHER. ?Jr Lawry informs me that the Hon. Mr Feldwiclr will again take charge of the Deceased Husband's Brother Marriage Bill in the Legislative Council, and lie will move the following new clause :— " Any child born of anywomaii and her deceased husband's brother befnv the marriage of his or lier parents, whose paienf.s have intermarried or shall hereafter intermarry, shall not be excluded from the operation of the Leaitimation Act, 1894, by reason that there existed at the biri.h of such child a legal impediment to the "}nrrii «gfc of the parents of such child." Mr Lawry considers there is every lilielilsood of the bill passing through the Oouneil this session, as the last time "it ran the uauntlefc "in the revising Chamber it was defeated by the Speaker's casting vote. TARIFF REDUCTIONS. The agitation against the reductions made in the Customs tanif still continues, and mysterious hints are heard. They may have an important effect on the very existence of the [Government. I understand members are literally besieged with telegrams of protest from (heir constituents, .to-the-effect that thetariff concessions are causing destruction to many'lndu'stries,'and they are undoubtedly rhaving the desired.

effect. I hear that 25 Ministerialists are dissatisfied with the reductions made, and a meeting was to have been held to-day of the disaffected section of Government supporters, but as so many committees were sitting the meeting lapsed. The Opposition are said to be in some difficulty as to the attitude they will assume on the tariff reductions. Mr Seddon has undoubtedly stolen one of the chief planks in their platform, and one can hardly imagine such pronounced freetraders as Uaptain Uussell, Mr James Allen, and others of the party opposing the reduction of taxation on the necessaries uf life. The present position is, therefore, a complicated one, and the financial debate, commencing on Friday next, is looked forward to with more than usual interest. "WOMEN'S DISABILITIES. Mr M'Guire (Hawera) asked thp Premier this afternoon whether lie wi'l introduce a bill, and endeavour to have it placed on the Statute Book, with the object of renewing all the civil and political disabilities of women. Mr Ward (ia Mr Seddon's absence) said this was a very big order, but the Government wouid not deprive the hon. .gentleman of a grievance by taking it. up, largely out of consideration for the honorable member himself The Government, he said, had no intention of introducing such a bill. Mr M'Guire contended that the women were entitled to the privilege, to which the Minister for Railways replied tliat the majority of women were against it, but in the meantime the member for Hawera might educate.r.hem; " BROTHER BILL." It was generally expected that the Deceased Husband's Brother Marriage Bill would have afforded the Hous3 a couple of hours' fun to-night. The bill, however, passed through committee without alteration in ten minutes. Mr James Allen asked Mr Lawry, to explain the operative clause of the bill, but the member for Parnell merely stated, amidst laughter, that he had done so already a hundred time?, and the clause permitting marriage with a deceased husband's brother passed by 34 votes to 11. The bill has passed the House several times in previous sessions, and last year was thrown out in the Legislatiye'Council only the casting vote of the Speaker.