POLITICAL NOTES.

North Otago Times, 7 August 1903, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

By Telegraph, (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, August G. —Bunk of New.Zealand.— I learn it from an authoritative source that the Chairman of Directors will,, at tho meeting of tho proprietors of tho Bank of New Zealand tomorrow, move the adoption of tho report, which will recommend the payment of a live per cent, dividend. It is also averred that the Chairman will rebut tho assertion that tho Bank of New Zealand wei'o the underwriters of tho recent three percent, Government Loan, it is believed that iJießank were only underwriters for a sum considerably'less thpn one half the loan; ; that in roviowing llio Bank's position it is expected that Mr"Motet \vijl,"draw attention to tho I fact that the Bank,'since it was set lon its legs, has paid away nearly one million sterling out of the profits to the Assets Board and to wipe out deficiencies. Tho Bank is altogether in a very strong position, and the fact is due to prudent and safe management.

/-Taxing Dairy Factories.n ln .reply to fc, question from Mr Buchanan, who urged the necessity for taking steps to relieve dairy fee ttU'os from the unfair taxation imposed. „n them; tho'Premier said that iCo-opevaUvo dairy companies'' were now exempted from taxation on all P'onts distributed amongst shareKu / fh f D hecn to devise any scheme which woulu give relief or place capitalists ho put their money into dairy com--5 B - ?' be tel '' footin S than clip. invest th& money In other, enterprises. ' ' "'• ?' '

-Labor.savfth o^ I '!' ° f , th ° L aborßepartment n • ? has been ""arked progress P S' a^ d '^, fcn »'<> .absence of the uri. employed d fflculty, Since the iricep. ion of VDepartment '» «?< vL l be ° n , all -that could be dom oSfZ? *i S Peop, ° can be "'^r SriniS ? 01 ' S , In factorles increased Sem,- ft° PS and oflte Act - Mf "egoai, the secretary, for Labor chilSSh'^ whichi * as errand 2 i- 57' Se ' a,ld tl,e Minimum £ °"l da,SO b0 toed for young that there should bo no we My time for shop awtaUnte. KJT'* ft , da y' ta sufficient fon girl to woric-orW jo stand. Ho 'recommends that shops ; " ow cxcmptetl from clo<% (flshmon- ! gers, fruiterers, etc.) should be mado ; to siiut on an appointed day in the r? oy';w«lnesday.ilr Ticgcav iiirlhDiv, recommends jKat'an amend- . mont, of the Arbitration Act is do,saW*:; (j6', aa fp a #i'o! a. tetter

(.lass of workers earning a larger wage than the minimum it employers lire agreeable. , -Concerning Servant Girls.Mifl StaVclcy of the Labor Depart ment in her annual report, observes, ihati the scarcity of Competent servants of all classes still continues. Good servants seldom change their places she says, except to leave the homo of their employer to go to omi of their own, and in many oases they still retain the friendship hud respect of their former employers* There is a constant demand for South Is'land girls, who-as a. rule are excellent sen ants, and get places immediately on their arrival .here. During tile last few months tome servants • have arrived from Australia ami ih ( >, rowing has proved a boon to uiistiesses, who have been.' waiting in vain for help for months past. 1 feel sure that in time to come domestic duties will form a bond of union between mistress and maid .which will cause a happier state of afi'airs in domestic life generally, for it tannotbe denied that much of the comfort of the people they servo depends on the way in which the maids pel form their daily work. Most mothers, no- matter to what class of society they belong, are now beginning to see how essential it is for their daughters to be instructed in housekeeping and'tho ' details of domestic work, for what is more essential for the maintenance of good health th'an properly cooked food, cleanliness, order, etc? —Jottings.—

In tho Houso to-day petitions wore received in favor of making the Dank Of New Zealand a State Dank, Mr Hogg wants to know if the Government will provide work for the unemployed by a vigorous public Works policy? New regulations arc being prepared by the Railway Department to meet many difficulties that now occur in the working of the Classification Act.

The Ministu- of Railways says the capital cost of open lines is £19,081735. As is shown in the Railway Statement this included the cost of railway workshops and all rolling stock charged to capital. His Excencncy the Governor, Countess of Ranfurly and party from Government Houso go south tomorrow. They are to attend the Grand National Steeplechase meeting at Cliristch'urcltj ,