POLITICAL NOTES AND NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12409, 23 October 1903, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES AND NEWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] "Wellington, Thursday. THE GOVERNOR. [ In answering Mr. Witheford's question suggesting that an address should be presented ; by the House to Lord Ranfurly prior to . his departure from the colony, and that the , House should consider the advisability of j reducing the salary of the new Governor, , the Premier said had the first part of the , question been submitted separately it would , have received the most earnest consideration ( of the Government, but it would be a lefthanded compliment to express a universal , feeling of satisfaction respecting the Governor during his sojourn in the colony on the eve of his departure and at the same time to propose to reduce the salary and allowances of his successor. THE PREMIER'S CABLEGRAMS. Mr. Duthie asked the Premier whether, on ■ his visit to Cape Colony, lasting two days, he despatched 70 cablegrams, costing, as reported by the Public Accounts Committee, £165 9s 6d, and whether in view of this excessive amount and the criticisms in the Cape Parliament on so large a disbursement, he will now include a. vote on the Supplementary Estimates of a sum to reimburse the Cape Government on this outlay. The Pre- - mier said he had no record of the cablegrams referred to. Many were sent after visiting the various, hospitals to relatives in the colony, especially to relatives of those who suffered in the railway disaster to the Eighth Contingent, No communication had been received from the Cape Government on the subject. The Premier had hot seen the account of the proceedings referred to in. the Capo Parliament. To offer to reimburse the Cape Government might be considered an act of discourtesy. When the Premier had seen the criticisms referred to, and if he thought that owing to these criticisms this colony should reject the compliment paid, he would ask Parliament to place him in a position to make the necessary reimbursement to the Cape Government. WOMEN'S WAGES. In reference to a question by Mr. Taylor as to whether women workers of 20 years of ago and upwards are being employed by certain firms at a wage below that fixed under the Factories Acts for women under 20 years, the Minister for Labour states the "Department has not hitherto recommended any minimum rate for women over 20 years of age. It has been considered that adult women were capable of arranging their own rates of wages with employers. Few women outside the protection of unions commence to learn dressmaking, etc. _ (except, for private advantage) after attaining 20 years, while if trained hands they can arrange satisfactory terms. THE FERTILISER BILL. The Joint Stock and Agricultural Committee reported the Fertiliser Bill to the House to-day. The committee has made a large number of amendments in the Bill. The clause providing for a tag, describing tho contents, being attached to bags of manure has been struck out, and in its place has been inserted a clause providing that an invoice must be sent to the purchaser stating the class of fertiliser, the statement to be in accordance with entries in a register of various classes of fertilisers, to be kept by the Secretary of Agriculture. The powers of inspectors to enter premises are struck out, and the power limited to purchasing samples. A new clause has been inserted providing that within 10 days after a purchase the purchaser may have" a sample taken by an inspector from his purchase for the purpose of analysis. A GOVERNMENT CAUCUS. The action of the House last night in throwing out one of the Government Bills will evidently have some effect in the direction of shortening the session. At all events, a caucus of the Government party will probably be held to-morrow. No doubt at this caucus it will be determined which Bills shall be gone on with and which shall be abandoned. Members are undoubtedly getting very restive. We may, therefore, expect to hear the details of the first "slaughter of the innocents" at an early date. STATE FIRE INSURANCE BILL. The Premier reported to the House tonight that the conference between the representatives of the House and the Council had failed to agree on the State Fire Insurance Bill. He regretted it, because the Bill was an important one. He moved, " That a second conference be asked for, and that the new managers be Messrs. James Allen, McNab, and himself." The motion was agreed to. JOTTINGS. Mr. Massey, the Leader of the Opposition, will be tendered a complimentary banquet by the members of the Opposition party on Saturday evening. Air. Moss presented a petition with 250 signatures, praying the Government to take steps to keep the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers open for navigation. The Minister for Justice has informed Mr. Moss that the question of a grant being made for Mackaytown Domain, is under the consideration of the Government, Some 50 members, Mr. Twomcy informs me, have signed a requisition, asking the Premier to pass his Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Act Amendment Bill. Mr. Harding presented a petition from 36 lessees of sections in the Tokatoka swamp. Northern Wairoa, praying for a Government grant to drain the swamp. The Mokau River Trust Bill emerges from the Local Bills Committee with the clause empowering the Governor to set apart land as an endowment for the trust struck out. "I hope there will be no attempt towards the end of the session at legislation by exhaustion," declared the Leader of the Opposition. "If there is the business of the session will not be expedited." Mr. Hemes has given notice, to ask tho Minister for Public Works whether he will make arrangements .for visiting the Bay of Plenty district during the recess, with a view of seeing for himself the requirements of the district with regard to railways and roads. '"The time of the House has never been wasted as it has been this session," declared Mr. Massey. " Who is responsible ':" "The Leader of the Opposition," smartly interjected the Premier." "No," said Mr. Mas.«ey, " it is the Premier of the colony, and the colony knows it." " It seems to me," replied the Premier /"that the business of the country cannot-go on unless I'm here. When I'm away you are like so many schoolboys."

Sir Joseph Ward, answering a question by Mr. Hemes, said the kinematograph views taken at the time of the Duke of York's visit to Rotorua are in the hands of the Government, together with the necessary appliances for exhibiting them. The Government i;; now considering the advisability of sending some qualiiied person through the colony with these to give free exhibitions to the several public schools and institutions. It would be unwise to allow these films to be used by private individuals.