PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15827, 28 July 1913, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

NOTES FROM THE PRESS GALLERY. (From Our Owx Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 25. The annual report on the Hauraki Plains drainago works for the year ended March states that the turn expended on the schemeduring the vear was £26,608, making a total of £137,773. There are. now 199 settlers on the plains, their holdings aggregating 30,110 acres. The report on the Rangitaiki Swamp (Bay of Plenty) drainage works shows that dunng the past financial year £15,203 was expended, making-'a total expenditure to date of £27,343. The total area affected by tho scheme is 87,100 acres. ' A HUGE PETITION. What must be almost a record petition wes presented to the House to-day by Mr Bradncy, The signatures totalled 10,000, and the lists comprising themmado a most formidable pile. The petition dealt with the half-holiday question, and in presenting it Mr Bradney moved that it bo TCad by'the clerk of the House. The Hon. Mr Fisher: What! The names too?—(Laughter.) The petition set forth that following on the change in the statutory half-holiday from Wednesday to Saturday great inconvenienco had been caused to the public and shopkeepers of Auckland. The option of closing on either Wednesday or Saturday would remove the inconvenience, and obviate the loss, which was a serious matter for many business people. The petitioners therefore ■nrayed that the Shops and Offices Act might be amended to give the option asked for, or alternatively that all exemptions be extinguished, including public-house Ixurs within a radius of 10 miles from the chief pfcet office.