FEDERAL POLITICS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14284, 27 August 1910, Page 5

FEDERAL POLITICS.

NOTES ISSUE BILL. Press Asisn>ciation-By Telegraph-Copyright MELBOURNE, August 26. In tiie House of Representatives the Notes Bill passed through committee. The gold reserve, clause. uas altered to not less than, instead of equal to, onefourth of the. amount of the notes, up to seven millions. Mr Fisher said that this would make the reserve practicallyone-third.' The section compelling the banks, when demanded, to pay up to £25 in Australian notes was struck out. LAND TAX. The Committee of 'Ways and Means, as a preliminary to the introduction of the land tax, adopted a resolution setting forth the schedule of rates to be charged under the Bill. The schedule differs in form from one foreshadowed when the Assessment Bill was introduced. The principle adopted is that of applying the tax on a scientific scale. Inder the old sclu me it was intended to go ii'om different rates in jumps of a penny. In the new proposal the rise is to he gradual. For • ■very pound of taxable value the tax will be increased a fiiteen-thousandth parr, of a penny. The Government claims that the new scheme is more equitable than the old.

THE XAYICATIOX HILL. Tn thr- Hill the new dciin.tion or desertion will moan absent from ship without lawful cause with the intention of net r> tiirninn. Then* is a proviso for const engineers and for vessels not propelled bv steam. Masters of British .ships who arc British subjects Hrit.sh -ship.- who are British subjects may hoid pilotage exemption certificates. Missionary ships are exempt. The altered engine-room manning scale provides lor tlie loilowinjj; minimum number of employees:—Over ftfty horse-power, one second class, a total of two engineers; over 100 horse-power one first-class and one second, a total of throe engineers, and one greaser; over 170 horse-power, one first-class and one second class, a total of four engineers and one; * greaser; over 200 horse-power, one first class and two second class, a total of four engineers and two "teasers; over 360 horsepower, one first-class, two second class, a- total of four engineers and ' three greasers; over 30U horse-power, two

first-class and two second class, a Total of live engineers and thrco greasers; over <IOO horse-power, two first-class, one secand class, a total of six engineers and three greasers; running over 100 miles one tirst-class.one second class, a total of two engineers and two greasers: over 200 miles, one first-class, two second class, a total of three engineers awl two greasers; vessels of fifty hois-power .running over 400 miles, an additional engineer; vessels over 200 horse-power, an additional engineer if twin-screw ;. river and bay steamers over fifty horse-power, one second class engineer and one greaser; over 100 and tinder _!00 horsepower, one first-class engineer, one second class, and one greaser. LONGER HOURS. Mr Fisher moved that the House meet at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesdays and Tiiursd ays. The Liberals opposed the motion on the grounds that it was too early in the session to start long sittings. The motion was carried. THE MILITIA. The Federal Government will conveit all volunteer infantry regimnts into militia.