POLITICAL NOTES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6785, 23 September 1893, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES

» (Parliamentary Reporter. ) Wellington, last night. — The Privileges Committee have brought up in the Council their report, which was to the effect that Mr Speaker should retain control of the officers of the Council and the estimates thereunto bslonging. The report is to be considered by the Council on Monday. Further havoc lias been made by the Council with the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill. The general impression is that the election will take place about the first week in December. The Premier tells the House that the new rolls will be issued an the 9th October, bearing all claims sent in by the Bth. Any claims received after that will be put on the supplementary roll. Forms of claim will be sent to all post-offices, all offices of public bodies, and, in fact, wherever the public can get them. When the Electoral Law Amendment Bill is in Committee, Clutha Mackenzie will try and have e'ectoral rights extended to women. The second reading of the Government Railways Bill is to take place iv the Legislative Council on Thursday. The compulsory feature of the Conciliation Bill has been struck out, and now the measure has been further emasculated bj' the clauses bringing the railway service under its operation being deleted. When clause 81 was reached, Mr Montgomery said he would call for a division on this point, as if conciliation was good for individuals it should be for the railway employee. Mr W. C. Walker, in supporting the Bill, said itwas notorious that there were great differences between the Commissioners and their employees. Difficulty was experienced in getting them adjusted. The clause was lost on division by 19 to 11, and the Bill was ieported as amended. The Minister intimated that it would require to be recommitted on Tuesday for the purpose of making consequential amendments. To-day.— ln the House last night the third reading of the Shop Hours Bill was carried by 30 to 19. A compromise has been arrived at over the Licensing Bill. Clubs are practically to be placed under the control of the Colonial Secretary, who may appoint some persons to inspect them. The present law prohibiting the supply of liquor in an hotel to any person under 16 is retained, but it is further provided no liquor shall be sold to any person under 13 years of age. The Council representatives refused to agree to restore clause 23, which enabled the local authorities to make up by au increase of general rates the loss from license fees, and accordingly it is nob part of the Bill. The Premier said that the Salvationists convicted at Milton for playing instruments in the streets should test the validity of the bye-law in the Law Court. If the bye-laws were found to be valid a short Bill should be passed to declare such bye-laws illegal. Owing to the wet weather the survey of the Cheviot land has been retarded, and the prcseut leases, which expire on the 18th proximo, have been extended to Nov. 10, when the land will be opened up for selection. The Minister of Justice says the New Plymouth highwayman has been thirty days in irons, but is now only handcuffed when taken out of his cell for exercise. Government intend to ask the House to vote £2000 as a bonus for improved flax dressing machinery. The Tairua Land Bill and Land Act Amendment Bill passed through final stages in the House last uight, and the Land for Settlement Bill went through Committee, the third readiug being left over till Monday. The Opposition, with the exception of Mr Rolleston and one henchman, left the Chamber when the last mentioned got into Committee at 2.30 a.m., as a protest against the action of the Government in committing the three Bills named at one time instead of separately, so as to permit a full discussion of their merits. The Speaker subsequently admitted that as discussion was intended on each of the Bills he should have committed them separately instead of putting a motion that the House go into Committee presently. The House rose at half-past four. Wellington, to-day.— Unopposed local Bills are to be taken in the House on Monday afternoon, when the Gi3bonie High School Amendment Bill is sure to be put through its final stages. Destruction and not obstruction will probably be the term applied to the Council next week. It is expected that the Shops and Shop Assistants Bill and the Government Railways Bill will receive the happy despatch, and as the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill has been mutilated beyond recognition, three of the policy Bills of the Government will hr»ve been murdered despite the fact of the large accession to the Government ranks in the Upper House during the recess. The session will be prolific for the number of Bills introduced and the remarkably bare results. It is generally believed that the issues at the elections will be under which king, Seddon or Stout, and the question »f future railway management. Should the country pronounce against the present Premier, a strong effort will be made to induce him to consent to nomination as Speaker in the next Parliament.