POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15649, 1 July 1914, Page 11

POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES

BOY IMMIGRANTS. AGREEMENTS WUxl EMPLOYERS. [BY TO-KSIUm--SraCIAI. CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday. An amendment is to be made in tho Masters and Apprentices Amendment Bill in regard to boy immigrants for farms. As minors the boys have hitherto pot been legally bound by any agreement, and the present Act requires paronls to sign any agreement of apprenticeship. As .his, of course, could not be effected in the case of tho boys in question, the Bill provides that the Minister for Immigration shall act in place of a parent, making any agree" ment between master and apprentice in reference to boy immigrants for farms binding. The amendment will apply to boys who come to Now Zealand upon the aitiativo of tho Government, or of such persons as Mr. Sedgwick. PROPOSED REFERENDUM. A petition signed by Thomas A- Hunter and 21 others, protesting against the proposal to take a referendum on the Bible-in-Schoois question, was presented to the House of Representatives to-day by th* Hon. A- L. Herdman, Minister for Justice. The petition makca the following requests :— (1) That the present national i system of education has conferred great benefits on the people of New Zealand, and .that its main feature, viz., its free, compulsory, and secular character should ou no account be interfered with.

"(2) That no religious question can be dealt with by the will of a majority and to take a referendum of such a question would be to interfere with religious liberty. Therefore your petitioners request jour Honourable House to maintain a national system of education on its present basis, free, secular, and compulsory, and to protect the regions liberty of the people of New Zealand against the encroachment of those who propose, by means of a referendum, to compel the teachers of our public schools to give religious lessons to the children." A further request is made by the petitioners that they may be heard on the qi-estion before the Education Committee of the Homo of Representatives. GOVERNMENT CAUCUS. The Government Party met in caucus this morning, when there was an excellent attendance. The proceedings were most unanimous throughout. The programme for tho session was discussed and generally approved. COMMITTEES FOR THE SESSION. The following are the principal Committees that the Government proposes to set up this session:—

Lands Committee: The Prime Minister and Messrs. G. J. Anderson, Buddo, Coates. Forbes, Guthrie, Macdonald. New. man, Nosworthy. T. W. Rhodes, Robertson, Smith, Statham, and Witty. Agricultural Committee: The Prime Minister and Messrs. J. Bollard, Sir W. C. Buchanan. _ Buddo, Buick. Buxton, Campbell, Dickie, Forbes, and Sykes. Education Committee: The Hon. Jas. Allen and Messrs. Hanan, McCallum, Malcolm, Poland, Sidey, Guthrie, Statham, G. M. Thomson, and J. C. Thomson.

Labour Committee: The Prime Minister and Messrs. Anderson. Atmrire, J. B. Bollard, Bradney, Clark. Davev, Glover, Hindmarsh, Millar, Okey, Scott, Veitch, and Wilkinson.

Mines Committee: The Hon. W. Fraser and Messrs. R. F. Bollard, Sir W. C. Buchanan, Colvin, Lee, McKenzie, Poland, T. W. Rhodes. Scott, Scddon, G. M. Thomson, and Webb,

PLEASANTRIES IN VhE HOUSE. When tho question of getting aside a day for the discussion of the Forestry Commission's report was raised in the House to-day, the' Prime Minister said that he had no objection to setting aside a day for ♦his purpose, but the trouble was that the Government had. a certain amount of work to do and when that was done, members would, no doubt, be anxious to get home. Sir Joseph Ward: A good many will be anxious to get homo before you are through with your programme. The Prime Minister: No doubt the hon. member is anxious to get away. Like a good many other members he is anxious about what is coming on in his district. No. I am not, said tho Leader of tho Opposition, bat his denial was almost drowned in hearty laughter. MISCELLANEOUS. The Hon. A. L. Herdman has reintru duced his Defamation Bill, which was before the Statutes Revision Committee last session. It is proposed to repeal Part 3 of the Civil Service Act, 1908 (relating to oflicers' guarantee), also Section 8 of the State Advances Act, 1913. The Government propose to increase the amount that may be advanced under th« Fruit Preserving Industry Act, 1913, from £3000 to £9000. Mr. G. J. Anderson gave notice to ask the Government if it will consider the advisability of removing the duty from imported hardwood timber. Notice was given by Mr. Forbes to ask the Government if advances have ueen made to leasehold tenants of the Crown so as to enable them to take advantage of the freehold provision of the Land Act. The Trades and Labour Council proposes to go to the Prime Minister as a deputation to urge _ the Government (to make statutory provision for a universal six oay week for workers.