POLITICAL NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2834, 27 June 1895, Page 2

POLITICAL NEWS.

A number of members intend approaching the Minister of Labour with a view to asking him to alter the short-time system on co-operative works so that men instead of working five days a week shall work five weeks out of the six, and have a full week at a time to devote to their own work. The Teachers’ Court of Appeal Bill will be ready for circulation next week. It will provide for a Board which shall combine efficiency with . economy and promptitude. Only such appeals will be entertained as are endorsed as reasonable by the Educational Institute of the district. It will be found that no proposal will be made by the Government to alter the principle of local option as applied to the shops half-holiday, nor will any change be proposed in tho site or boundaries of districts. All apprehensions of an attempt to make Saturday closing obligatory over the whole colony may therefore be set at rest. Tho Rating on Unimproved Values Bill, which has been twice rejected by the Council, will be among tho first of tho Government measures to be pressed through the House of Representatives this session. Ministers are earnestly desirous of having this reform introduced, and its repeated rejection forms one of tho principle reas> ns why the Upper Chamber will be strengthened by the addition of four or five Liberal Councillors. Tho Minister of Lands was interviewed by the Hon. VV. J. Steward and Mr Hall Jones, who urged that something should bo done without delay for the relief of the unemployed iu their respective districts pending the introduction of the alternate system of settlement.. They suggested that the House should be aske t to sanction the immediate expenditure of £2OOO or £3OOO on the Otago Central, Midland, and North Island Trunk Railways. Mr M’Keuzie reminded the deputation of all that the Govern meat had done, and was doing, to meet tho unemployed difficulty, and promised to give full consideration to the requests made, although it was necessary lo proceed with care. A rather important measure, as far as tho largo centres are concerned, is the Represent *tiou Bill, which Mr Seddon hasiu hand. It is intended to return to a uniform system of single electorates throughout the colony, therefore those constituencies returning more than one member will be divided upon the principle of one constituency one member. The Government believe that this move will strengthen their position in the cities. The Post Office Savings Banks returns ffir the past year shows for 1894 the number of Post Office savings Banks 348, number of deposits 204,545, amount of deposits £2,252,862, number of withdrawals for the year 152,136, total amount of withdrawals £2,268,624, excess of withdrawals over deposits £15,672, cost of management £6500, interest for tho year £114,043, total amount standing to credit of all open accounts £334,879. A caucus of members favorable to Major Steward’s elective executive proposals met on Tuesday, when it was decided to amend the Bill so as to provide that the House, in electing Ministers, shall not have recourse to the ballot, so that the vote of every member will bo known. This amendment has been made in deference to the wishes of a number of Political Associations throughout the c lony. It is stilted by a competent authority that tho making of calls to tho Council whilst Parliament is iu session would bo highly unconstitutional, except in tho case of a conflict between tho two Houses. Mr Luruach is urging the adoption of tho American system of selling railway tickets as freely as postage stamps, and iu tho same manner. Mr McNab has given notice of the introduction of the Licensing Act Amendment Bill drafted on behalf of tho New Zealand Alliance. OSCAR WILDE. Oh! breathe not his name; ’tiscuvir with shame That Morality’s law hath iiu,>.•!, Vet once lie had fame ! Lik*aiuet.■ . ■, came, Flashed a moment, then it darkness enclosed. Once a loader ol fashion --the md ■ r i ■. ellr.ll>> J Nor, degrade 1, dospi.-.ed. and dlsowno-, 1 . Beta live-word his name; in wlu men -peak Of !!..-• ;did y.dio once they oi-uuamcaj. Voi, I! mi.Uim.ant’s jest lor evil ho tiki An i So<-’ n V wrongs aver.•'••■l. d i V <' hoi.i'l/ Is it. jo die.*, I aat M'O n'.ii \ V, I,j.i To ;.1111 i■- ii him also for vha;, ] 1( . ( - , 1(1 well * A.W.G