POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 2928, 18 September 1896, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

For a definition of your Independent member see Ouida’s “ Cecil Castlemaine’s Gage,’ writes a correspondent.

It is practically settled that the report of the Legislative Council Banking Committee will bo brought down this afternoon.

It is understood tb it Mr K. MacSkimaiing uu oU pupil of Sir R. Stoat, will be a candidate for tho Waihcmo seat.

Monday evening next will, by arrangement of the Premier, be devoted to considering local Bills.

Mr Pirani has given notice to ask the Premier whether it is the intention of the House to carry out the recommendation of tho Petitions Committee in reference to Mr 0. C. N. Barron, late chief of the Hansard staff. Tho Picton paper says, referring to the Wairau electorate :—Uur own honest belief is that an Opposition candidate will, under any circumstances, be at tho bottom of the poll.” ► Mr J. D. Cameron, who has definitely announced himself as a candidate iu opposition to Mr Hogg lor the Mastertou seat, was refused by tho National Conservative Association as a representative. Is Mr Cameron also among the Independents ?

At a meeting of tho Liberals of Wanganui it was decided tc form an association to be called tho ” Ballance Liberal Association of Wanganui.” Considerable enthusiasm was shown by those present, and a large number of members was enrolled. One speaker, who outlined the Liberal policy as one of progress and reform, was loudly applauded. Xnere are a number of prominent and influential uacn allied on the executive, and the Association promises to be a very formidable organisation in the future. The electors of the Colony will note with extreme pleasure the fact that the Leader of the Opposition showed in an unmistakable manner last evening iu the House that he, at auyrate, not only does not sympathise with the tactics of Mr G. W. Russell, but that ho holds that member’s conduct in contempt. What the Riccarton electors will say of it we shall know when Mr Russell finds himself unable to return to Wellington in tho capacity of a member of the House of Representatives. The present member tor Riccarton might bo considered an ornament to tho Now South Wales Assembly. In tho New Zealand Legisturo he is painfully out of place, Tho seizure by the member for Riccarton of the committee chair on Wednesday night led to an amusing incident. In tho, old Maori days when there was trouble between two parties who had fought a battle, and a kororo had been arranged, a chief was always duly appointed to lead the talk. If any of the rank and file usurped his position at any time tho etiquette was for his own side to tomahawk him at once. If that duty was neglected any chief on the other aide that chose might step forward and do the tomahawking, and thereby acquire the vuuui of tho meeting. Me \Vi Pore, observing Mr G. W. Russell in tho committee chair after the Premier had vacated it, wanted to know who ho was, and what he was doing there. He was informed that he was doing a most improper thing. Wi reflected for a moment, saw no tomahawk handy, and presently called out with emphatic decision, ‘' Bring me a gun,” Mr Russell is now aware that British love of fair play has a very strong support in ancient Maori custom*

A deputation from tho Workers’ Union waited upon Mr J. W. Kelly last night to discuss the establishment of a death benefit fund in connection with their Union. The question of amount payable at tho death of a member was discussed, and also tho mode of payment to the fund, either by a levy at death or by weekly contributions. The question of establishing a sick fund was also discussed, and it was agreed to bring the benefits mentioned prominently before at the next half-yearly meeting of the Union. Mr Kelly fully explained the working of thd death benefit fund in connection with the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, which at present yields .£7O upon tho death of a member of tho Union who up to the time of death was a contributor to the death benefit fund. The deputation are all favourably impressed with tfiis scheme, and are determined to do their best with members of the Workers’ Union to institute a similar scheme, even if it should bo upon a modest scale at the beginning.

*lruly tho lines of a Premier are not cast altogether in pleasant places, when, in addition to his ordinary work, ho is deputationisod oven during What should be his moments of leisure—which arejqnly too few at the best of times—one can easily imagine that tho pleasures of office begin to,’ pall. Take yesterday for instance: Banking Comaittco all morning, no timo for Iqhqh; House . 2,30 and discussion of political situation, after House had adjourned for that purpose for remainder of afternoon; no timo for dinner. House again at 7.30; important Ministerial statement to bo made, and then pilot a Bill through committee. One would naturally think ho would like to be let alone during the supper adjournment after such a harassing experience. But no; deputations must be seen, and when the last of these files out of tho Cabinet room, the boll rings calling tho committee together, and until tho House rises ho must stick closely to work. Suoh constant devotion to duty is calculated to wear out tho most vigorous constitution. Representatives of the Women’s Democratic Union waited on the Premier last night to submit to him certain resolutions passed by that body in regard to tho Juvenile Depravity Suppression Bill. Their suggestions wore that women inspectors should bo appointed to take charge of children found in the streets after 10 p.m., and to make subsequent nuaniries with regard to them, as the BUI now pl-icod too fnarih *>u*yo r in tho hands of the police. They further suggested modinoations of the clauses providing tho manner in which children found out late at night should be dealt with. They disapproved of whipping delinquents, and suggested thAt the women inspectors should have the assistance of tho police, Tho'Preifiier said ho had come to the conclusion to take some suggestions made by Mr Saunders to utilise women in carrying out the Act. That meant practically recasting the whole Bill, and having to recast it, it was very questionable whether he would bo able to get it through this session; bht at tho present time it was in the hands ‘of tho law draughtsmen, 'and wfis being recast practically dn the lines tho deputation’ qdff’ gested. Tho matter wdtila roqoiyel t,h,o fullest consideration. 1 Tho. thanked the Premie;* qnd withdrew, A deputation of trades unions, comprising tho Seamen’s Union, Workers’ Union, Society of Carpenters and Joiners, and Trades Council waited on 'the Premier last night a request that he would reintroduce,Private Benefit Societies Bill, v/hveh' ‘\yaa recently killed by the Lcg^aUVo'Council. The Premier, in v-dpbv said the Lower House had done its duty to the workers in respect to tho measure; tho representatives of the people had passed it five times, and tho Legislative Council had rejected it. There wqs no. doubt the workers had not been fairly. heated in this matter, and#time would bring it forward agaiq tips sosaldA. Members, however, to got to their constitpenaies, tho Opposition would fight the measure if it came up again, and although they were in a minority in the House they hat a majority in the Legislative Council, who had repeatedly thrown out this. liill. j (a voice : You had done so, nT Rccrqaq to him that as soon r.s Liberal gut into the Legislative ConqciV ho became a Conservative. (A voice i Put in Labour members.) Many of tho Labour members had not reflected credit on the Government, because on momentous occasions they had not acted as tl\oy CiUghjt to have acted. However, hqoause, two did not exactly up’ 1 Iq tha m ar k he was uqt to, co.ndoipp o\\ , On the whqlq,' ilicre \\&s pqt ipqoih to complain of. He would place thq request of tho deputation bcfqro Cqhmct, and if they could get their othor work through, ho himself would like to see the measure put on the Statute Book, The deputation accorded tho Premier a heartyvote of thanks for his courtesy in them and withdrew. * J .