POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5648, 18 June 1886, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

«, [BT TeLEOBAPH.] [FEOM OTJB SPECIAL COEBESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, June 17. CANTEBBUBY COLLEGE BEBBEVE. Mr Garrick made a well-founded complaint, during the afternoon, against the practice of charging transfer fees to people buying the reserves, whereas the purchasers are encouraged to believe that they are buying on the same terms as others. The Minister of Lands explained that this ■was due to the fact that the reserves had j been Crown granted to the College, and in this respect all reserves of all kinds were on the came footing. It has now become a question of revenue, and, though the Minister did not say bo, I presume revenue in these times is revenue. The Minister, however, could not say what Government would be prepared to de. employebb' liabilitt. Sir G. Grey touched on an interesting subject when he spoke to his question about the Act regulating the liability of employers. The Act, which was adapted j from the English Act, limited the rights of recovery on account of damages to sis months. A proposal was laid before the House of Commons to improve the Act in this respect, as was indeed necessary, to avoid many obvious hardships, owing to incapacity to act during the prescribed time. Would Government do the same for the Colonial Act during the session ? The Premier could not promise, because ah-eady the work before Parliament was very heavy. He pointed out, at the same time, that the limit of six months takes away no right. The Act simply added a new right to claim damages to the list of rights it found existing, and to the exercise of this new right it imposed the limit of six months after the time of the cause arising. JUBILEE ADDRESS. Mr Macandrew, in bringing up the address drawn up by the Joint Committee of both Houses, and moving its adoption, was in his proper place as Father of the House. Having read the address (a very fine address it is, by-the-way, and showing traces of a master hand,), Mr Macandrew rose to a height of eloquence worthy of the occasion. Noble sentiment, graceful words, flowing style, and impressive manner, testified at once to the depth of Mr Macandrew's loyalty, and to hi 3 experience as one accustomed to honour great occasions. After the applause of the House had subsided, the Premier said a few appropriate words, and said them well. The House adopted the motion of Mr Macandrew, and agreed to a further proposal to have the address properly mounted for the signature of every member of the House, and to have tho text wired to Her Majesty on her coronation day, June 28 ensuing. So ended one of the most pleasing episodes of our Parliamentary history. OTAGO CENTRAL. Mr Pyko fired another shot into this question, by giving notice to ask after the fate of the difference in the amount of money expended on the line, and the sum paid under contract. "Over .£142,000 have been spent," said Mr Pyke, " and the only contracts let amount to i! 48,000. I

want to know what has become of .£94,000— where is it P What is there to show few it. P " His other project, I find I have incorrectly stated. He wanted a company tc carry on the line from Taiori not tc Dunstan, but to Lake Hawea. In regard to the figures he aeke for, Mr Pyke will probably have to move for a return. MISCELLANEOUS. A variety of private business, varied by something like an Auckland free fight, carried the Ho"se on to the dinner adjournment. PRIVILEGE. As everybody expected the Privilege dobate collapsed. The Premier, in asking the mover of the motion before the House to withdraw it, explained that he thought the matter would be taken up in anothei direction, the quasi apology which was published, not being an apology at all, Mr Seddon being agreeable, on the ground that the matter had gone far enough, the matter was wound up. LIMITATION OF VOTEB BILL. According to the general belief, this Bill was finally passed, receiving a perfect ovation to start it on its way to the Upper House. LICENSING COMMITTEES BLKCTION. Major Steward met with rather an untoward fate. Last year the House read this Bill of hia a second time. The need, if any, for the Bill, ia now as great as it was then. A Hou3e which last year affirmed the necessity for extending the licensing franchise to adults of both sexes on a six months' residential condition, might reasonably have been expected to be ready to do the same thing again. Major Steward was not content with things, bo he took pains to make the House answer his expectations by speaking and quoting influential and representative letters, making moving appeals to the manhood, prudence, and justice of the House. He even took thought for those hon members who, fearing long debates in Committee, were ready to set upon difficult principles on the second reading. He offered that, if the House affirmed the principle by reading his Bill a second time, he would drop the measure, explaining at the Bame time that in that case Government could bring in a Bill on the same line? next session ; but it was all to no purpose. The Bill was thrown out, and Mr Steward was left lamenting the vanity of all things here below. One of the cruellest blows to his mind was the retirement of Sir Q. Grey from the field, without voting. LAND ACT BEMEDIES BILL. "With this Bill Mr Pyke made an insidious attack on the perpetual lease system, but though he spoke fluently, and made out an apparently good case, he found the popularity of the land lawa too strong for him in the House. EMPLOYMENT OP FEMALES AND CHILDREN. Mr O'Conor, when the question of committing this measure came on, drew attention to a case in point. He reminded the House that two boys are kept at work in the Parliamentary B&ildinga from seven in the morning till 12 g.t night, and insisted that the House should give a good example to the country, as became law-makers who expected people to obey the laws they /made. After some discussion on the principles of the Bill, during which the Premier spoke warmly of the duty of the Legislature to the rising generation, and the necessity for protecting young people from overwork, the motion for the committal of the Bill was passed.