Political Notes.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7091, 27 August 1901, Page 4

Political Notes.

:'Dr; Oaihiil,; wKdhas been for the past few,days-in attendance on Sir Maurice' Q'Rorke,: reports that he will be unable to resume the'disoharge of his duties as Speaker for another ; week. . - : .'•■•: :t • : The-EairangaCounty Bill,. .which.Mr Pirani is: introducing, proposes to abolish the Mana watu and •: Fitzherbert ■ Road Districts, and. establish the Kairangi County in their place, ." : , r ;<-■;•■ v . One -important .decision - whioh :;the Legislative Council arrived at in considering: the Shops:and '■. Offices Bill: was to strike ; out a proposed new seotiqn^at clause 24.- The new section, if earriedj would, have fixed a rate of payment for overtime and the day for its pay men £•.. ■};■' ://-:\-:----y> (N;Z. Times;) y^y\%:'- ---.;;; " Why; don't f these, men (b'aiiF clerks) come forward and > say they ' ,want ;tnis Bill;?' r the i Hon A; L; Smith.1 of.' the Legislative; Council.-,., The.Minister of Education; assured^Mr Smith that it was be-' pause the clerks were in the clutches of the.horrible r commercial octopus. "Ten years ago;" the'Ministeradded: later on in' the evening, " every;bahk in' ; the colony '.was an absolute Yin--1 ferno. And the reason why things had in a measure . improved; ;wasbecause of the; fear: that legislation" would be brought down to meet the ■ case."- '.; -'s.-..:../;.;: -.;'■ ;...'.: : . ■-~'■■'{'■ V "I believe ifthe bank clerksvoniy had the: pluck 'to ask for increased wages they could force the banks.;to pay them anything which in reason' they liked to ask for."—Hon. WfO. Walker^. f;_.;v,:-..,_ } ; ;.;-: ■. .[^.: ;:",If the bank clerks are too aristorcratic 'to -come forward and take ;;advantage of"the. labour laws of .the : ' colony, let theni alone," says the: ! Hon J. Twomey. .."Parliament," hesays,"" had no needto.go fishing fori things to legislative ior. If the bank; clerks were men they-would take, advantage of the. Arbitration Act to remedy their troubles." . V -; : • In concluding his speeoh in. the■ financial 'debate; ■Captain Russell spoke of the sceptic and,libertine! Don Juan in Mozart's' "Don .Gio-; vanni," and said the Premier was a political Don Juan, who in ;view of the fact that he had a Public Works expenditure of £1,950,000, insulted the memory ..of his. former leader.' He feared lest, .like' the statue in " Don Giovanni,'' v the statue which glimmered in the,, moonlight outside Parliamentary Buildings* should descend from its pedestal, and enter the Chamber, seize the Premier, and carry him; away "enveloped in blue flames.; : The: suggestion^ that the Premier should•', disappear from Parliament in, blue flames tickled the Hoiise greatly, but there was a roar of laughter when ■Mr : Seddon exclaimed, "It would have something to carry." »