POLITICAL NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10513, 22 July 1910, Page 2

POLITICAL NEWS.

By Telegraph. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, July 22. —Amendments. — The question of amending the laws with regard to bankruptcy and patents is bein"- dealt with by the Government.

—The Pig.— j The Government is considering the advisability of allowing" the slaughter or pigs to go on only under the Slaughtering and Inspection Act.

—The Price of Oysters The price of State rock oysters, lis Cd and 12s <>d a sack, is said by the "Minister of Marino to !>.- much loss than that charged previously by private dealers, and it is not intended to further reduce the price as the profits are being applied to replanting depleted areas.

—•'Making Prisoners' Boots The Prime 'Minister says that it has been decided to make all boots and shoes' for the use of prisoners, patients in hospitals, and inmates ot industrial schools in the gaols. The matter is m the experimental stage, but it is not intended that prison industries shall compete unfairly with local manufacturers.

—.Tersev Cattle. — The Minister of' Agriculture says that the Government has purchased the best descriptions of Jersey and Holstem cattle in New Zealand, and is arranging to Via"- from the Old Country fresh Jersev and Holstein strains of reliable milkii-."" quality. When the herds mcrease'small farmers will be given an opportunity of securing their progeny at a reasonable price. —Teachers' Superannuation.— . The Minister of Education has informed Sir AYm. Steward that it has not been decided to introduce this session a, Bill to amend the School Teachers Superannuation Act with a view to enabling teachers who were prevented bv circumstances from ioining the fund within the time limited by law.to come in now upon payment of arrears plus interest on them. —The Census. —

The census to be taken early next year has been anticipated in a request by Sir AYilliam Steward that the enumerators shall ascertain and record the population of each municipality of, say, fifteen hundred or over residents within a fixed radius from the centres or within a fixed distance from the boundaries of the-borough. The Minister of Internal Affairs savs that it is not desirable that the plan should be followed as a rule, but an instruction will be given that where there is an appreciable suburban population to any borough of fifteen hundred inhabitants or more the number of such suburban nopulation must be shown separately, the area, included to depend upon the circumstances of each case.