POLITICAL NOTES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXI, Issue 8832, 12 July 1905, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

By Telegraph. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, July 11. Gaming and Lotteries. It is quite on the cards that when the Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill comes on for discussion in Committee itmay be challenged oil the short title, in which case a division of the House would quickly throw light upon the ultimata fate of the measure. The Electoral Bill. The Government intends to bring down its Electoral Act Amendment Bill shortly, and it will be pushed on in the earlier stages of the session. The measure will be a lengthy one, and is likely to have a rough passage through Committee. Old Age Pensions. The member for Ellesmere is not easily disturbed as a rule, nOr is it easy to taunt him into retaliation, but he fell foul of the Premier at an early hour of the morning, when the debate on the Old Age Pensions Bill was proceeding. The Premier, taking exception to something Mr Rhodes had said, remarked: "The hon. gentleman is probably thinking of foot Tot or scab. He had probably apply it to sheep or cattle, but not to the old age pensioners of this colony." Mr Rhodes objected to this expression, and the Premier, after a short interchange of interjections, summarily disposed of his position by saying: "You'd better hold your tongue." The Speaker interposed with a demand for order, and the incident closed by Mr Rhodes remarking: "Xo man has a right to speak to me lie that."

Prison Report. The Rev. Mr Smaill this morning had an interview with the Hon. J. M'Gowan •oncerning prison reforms. The interview ivas not a public one, but Mr Smaill made representations touching the necessity of unending the law as it regarded the treatment of first- offenders, the punishment for importuning, and the treatment of prisoners awaiting trial. He also brought under the notice of the Government the question of making youthful offenders subject to reformatory treatment, rather than to gaol imprisonment. Mr Smaill received an assurance from the Minister that on many noints he was quite at one with him, and Mr M'Gowan complimented him upon the work which was being done in the matter of social reform in this colony. The Government Insurance Department. The annual report of the GovernmentInsurance Commissioners states that, during the year, 4010 proposals were received for a sum of £891,298 and 3227 policies assuring £694,556 were completed, carrying new .mnual premiums of £23,487. Twentythree annuities were also purchased at a cost of £13,372. The result for the year was an increase of 1067 policies for £199,300, "figures which indicate an increasing stability in the business obtained by the Department." The total business aow in force is 43,873 policies covering £10,259,562 (and £1,001,518 bonuses) at 3eat-h and on maturity, together with immediate and deferred annuities for £44,664, ■ the whole bearing an annual premium income of £312,396. The income for the year was £480,716: claims of death amounted to £140,959 and by maturity to £80,241. The Department has now paid away since 18 fO £2,792,219. Surrenders show a decided improvement- and the ratio iof expenses to premium income has been | brought down from 20.8 per cent, to 18.8 jper cent. '"The progress of the Department during the year," concludes the tb- ! port, "has been of a thoroughly satisfactory character. The chief points to be obj served are a well-maintained new business, | large increases in income and accumulated funds, a striking diminution in lapses and surrender, and a marked decrease in the expenses of management." lie premium income in the Government Accident- Insurance Department for the year amounted to £23,768, against £24,381 in the previous year. The claims amounted to £12;105, and the expenses were £6665. The reserve fund now 6tands at £9,508. The report states: "Tt is too soon at present to judge of the effect of the changes' made in the Workers' Compensation Act by the successive amendments of the law. The experience of the Department as a whole during the year just- elapsed has not-, howeveT, been unfavorable."

Questions. Mr Arnold is to ask the Government if they are aware that, in addition to the millers' combine, a number of American trusts are now doing business in the colony, and that the existence of some of our local industries is threatened, and if so. will they introduce legislation to deal with this matter? Mr Herdman is asking the Premier (1) if it is the case that a sum of £250 was paid to Mr R. O. Carrick for a publica : tion entitled "Historical Records of New Zealand South"; (2) whether if is the"case' 'that each publication is fall of inaccuracies

and, as a.'fcistorical nicord, is absolutely worthless; (3) whether it is true that the Government, after paying for the production of this book, took steps to stop its circulation; and (4) ha.ve the Government any copies of this publication in stock ; if so, to what use do they propose putting them? Mr Ell is to ask the Colonial Treasurer (1) why the Government Life Insurance Department is made to pay about £9OOO per annum by way of income tax, and (2) does the Colonial Treasurer not think that it is altogether unsound and wrong in principle-that- life insurance—a humane institution intended to make provision for the widow and the fatherless—should be made to contribute to the public revenue? Mr Davey is to move that there be laid before this House a return showing (1) the amount of money spent on all public works in every provincial district in the colony, and (2) the number of men employed on similar works in every provincial district, the return to cover a period of two years. Mr J. Allen is to move that there be laid before the House a return showing the laws on the Statute Book which, according to the statement of the Right Hon. the Premier in a speech on the second reading of the Shops and Offices Bill, "110 Government dare give effect to." Mr Arnold is to ask the Minister of Education if he will abolish the age limit so that the high schools may be open to every child who passes the Sixth Standard, and thus remove the restriction which at present prevents a large number of children from received higher education? Mr Herdman is to ask the Premier whether he will this 3ession introduce a Bill providing for an independent Public Service Board, in view of the fact that the existing system of managing the Public Service of the colony is unsatisfactory as regards the police force? Mr Moss is to ask the Premier if he will introduce legislation to amend the Old Age Pension Acts (1) by exempting house property to the value of £2OO, owned and occupied by an old-age pensioner or the husband or wife of an old-age pensioner, from being considered as property; (2) by exempting the earnings of a pensioner to the extent of £52 a year from being considered as income; (3) by exempting gifts of money or articles from relatives or friends during their lifetime to an old-age pensioner from being considered as income?

Mr Witty is to ask the Government if they_ will, in the interest of the general publje, this session introduce a Land and Estate Agent Bill, which will compel all land and estate agents to register and to come under the same laws and regulations as auctioneers with regard to trust moneys, and which will provide that no person be granted a license unless he can satisfy the registrar that he is of good character?