POLITICAL NOTES

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIX, Issue 8583, 10 September 1904, Page 1

POLITICAL NOTES

By Telegraph.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, September 9. Mr Wilford is to ask the Government whether the time has not arrived when, in order to assist the languishing caudle industry, the duty should be removed from paraffin was.

Mr Witkeford has a big order. He is to ask the Government whether they, to encourage manufacturers, will make representations to the British Government with a view to raising the standard of labor throughout the world and prevent the making and distributing of "sweated" goods in any part of the British Empire. This'is done with the hope of ultimately getting all the Powers to unite to prevent "sweating" and improve the conditions of Earopean workers, without which the efforts of a single British colony are comparatively ineffective, eveni with a colossal preferential tariff. Mr Witheford will also ask the Government if they will suggest to the Home Government the desirableness of holding a conference or setting up a commission between representatives of the Motherland and self-governing colonies bo give effect to the above. The second reading of the Licensing Bill was a surprise. Though the Prohibition people were not going to oppose the second reading so far as to call for a division they, they and others with them, were determined to talk. Thus the House met prepared for a long, debate, but under the impression that the debate would not come on till Tuesday The unexpected happened, the debate coming on early this afternoon. When the order of the day came up Mr Hanan, who had moved the adjournment the night before, was absent. If there had been a Court crier here to rouse the galleries with stentorian cries of "Hanan," the "member for Invercargill might have been seen hurrying up to the front in the exhausted condition of a Melbourne Cup winner; but, as the procedure is limited to a rapid glance of expectation, there was no Mr Hanan. After that decorous pause the mover was called to reply, which he promptly did with a smile broad enough to cover the position. The question was put, the second reading was carried on the voices and then "Will" was seen hurrying in with fourteen cartloads (more or less) of referential, ponderous authorities. Instead of witching the House with noble oratory, he had to enact the' part of Wolsely in his great part in the Gordon-Khartoum drama of "too late." The House faded away into the Estimates. The lunatic asylums vote came up, and Mr Davey moved a reduction for the purpose of getting at Dr Levinge, •of Sunnyside, and his methods. Mr Taylor made some lurid observations and things looked ser-ious. A long discussion ensued, and the Estimates were stuck up, but ultimately things righted themselves and there was progress. Among the formalities were many notices of questions, of which two are important enough to bo particularised. Mr Jennings is to ask the Minister of Mines when a geologist will be appointed to fill the position vacated by Sir James Hector, and in filling such position will he take into consideration the applications of suitable persons now residing in this colony. Mr E. G. Allen is to ask the Premier if ho wdl inform the House before the end of this session when th° Royal Commission, on land settlement and land tenure will commence their duties and also as to tho personnel of lbs said Commission. This last is considered a bit rough on the Government so soon after the land debate, but there is an idea that it may be by arrangement.