LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CHARITABLE AID.

Otago Witness, Issue 2168, 12 September 1895, Page 21

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CHARITABLE AID.

Mr Houston asked the Premier tbis afternoon whether, in the event of tho Local Government Bill not passing »nto law tbis session, ho will introduce some measure to relieve local bodies from the incubus of charitable aid. Mr Seddon said it would be useless to introduce a special measure dealing with charitable aid when it would have to be reptakd by tbe passing of the Local Govern tuent Bill uexb session A member interjected that he un<3cf*tood the Local Governmint Bill w*a to be p««ed this session. Tie Premier replied that tha 1 , was what he me*).t by passing tbe bill this session. They would have to repeal ntxb tesiion the measure suggested by Mr Houston. As members appeared to be inclined to rem»iu till Christmas there should be time enough to deal with the local government qiuetion. Tnis joking report of ttie Premier, taken in connection with tbe vast amount of olher I>usitießs yet untouched and the general feeling upon the sabj^ct, m*l«6 it almost certain that tbe Local Government Bill has no cbunce of getting past the second reading stage this session. FRUIT DISEASES. In order to provide against the intruduction of fruit dise*stMi into the colony, Major Steward suggests that the Minister for Agriculbure should take steps to iutivduco some system of ■quarantine for trees aud fruit. The Minister says that the department h&ve had the natter under consideration for some time. At present the law doea nob authorise the department to make quarantine regulations of tbe nature indicated. However, a bill was being prepared to deal with the problem, and though the Minister doubts whether Parliament will pass it, he t> ink* it is only right to give members an opportunity of expressing their viewß upon tLe matter. RETIRING ALLOWANCES. The following civil servants become entitled, UDder the provisions of the Civil Service Aot, to pensions at the under-mentioned dates :— Charles John Hill (Post and Telegraph), £62, February 9, 1895; R. C. Cooke (Trade and Customs), £160 14s 4d, September 1, 1895; R. Thampson (Trade and Castoms), £220, January 1, 1896 ; W. Laipg (Tr«de and Cuotfena), «82i2, February 1, ISWj G. Millw

(Pont and Telegraph), £68 Us 5<J, November 1, 1895. .