POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4741, 5 September 1893, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

» [from our special correspondent."! WELLINGTON, Sept. 4. THE ELECTIONS. It is understood that the general elections will be fixed for Dec. 8 or 9, irrespective of whether woman franchise ie carried or not. j PROSPERITY OP THE COLONY. The prosperity of the Colony is proved by the fact that the revenue for the five months of the present financial year, ending August 31, is £77,000 in excess of the estimate. This increase is unprecedented in the history of the Colony. MB CADMAN. The Cabinet this afternoon resolved to jffer Mr Cadman the portfolios of Public Works and Mines. It is doubtful if Mr dadman will accept office unleßs he is offered his former portfolios of Justice and Native Affairs. j OFFICERS OF PARLIAMENT. ! The Privilege Committee met to-day md agreed upon its report regarding the dispute between Ministers and the Speakers of both Chambers on the subject sf the employment of Legislative officers. Ihe Committee has resolved to uphold the contention that the Ministry should control all officers of the House. ! THE ELECTORAL BILL. { The Council iB to resume consideration li the Electoral Bill in Committee tomorrow, and it is expected that by Wednesday the Bill will be passed. No doubt is now felt that there will be a ; distinct majority against the inclusion of bhe proviso conferring electoral rights on ! women. The final stand against women's I Franchise will be made on the motion for ' bhe third reading of the Bill. A motion j will probably be made that the Bill be I read a third time six months hence, and the division is expected to.be very close, as certain supporters of the measure are understood to be disgusted because of the Government's resolve to accept no amend- • ments whatever, and they may vote to kill the Bill on that account. Another adverse Pact is found in the illness of Mr Holmes, who is in favour of women's franchise, and for whom it is difficult j to find a pair. Captain Baillie's vote will, however, be available in favour j of the Bill, and Mr Bigg's support is also assured. But the attitude of Messrs Reynolds and Stevens on the third reading is doubtful. The Post still declares that the Government is insincere, and will find a ! pretext for preventing the measure passing into law ; but I incline to the opinion that the battle is practically won, and that even I Mr M'Lean's threat of a formal protest and reference to the Queen will not delay the realisation of this great franchise reform; [Special to the "Star."] WELLINGTON, Sept. 5. The Native Affairs Committee concluded the consideration of the clauses in the Bating Act Amendment Bill relating to rating Native lands. The only important amendment passed was that proposed by Mr Houston, which makes Native land liable to half the rate levied on land held by Europeans. The Public Accounts Committee Las agreed on its report on the alterations in the Public Works Statement. I understand that the members of the Committee have coma to the conclusion that the alterations were made with the knowledge of the Premier. On account of the uncertainty as to what constitutes a "cultivator" under the Act, considerable difficulty atises from time to time in the taking of roads through Native land. It is understood that Government has drafted a Bill to make the law on the matter clear. The Waste Lauds Committee intends to recommend that extended powers should be given to local bodies in regard to taking roads. As the law at present stands, distraint for non-payment of rates can only be made on land. The Premier intends to introduce a clause into the European section of the Bating Act Amendment Bill providing that distraint can be made on chattels. [Per Fbbsb Association.] TIMABTT, Sept. 5. At a public meeting last night at which six to seven hundred people were present, half being females, resolutions were adopted thanking Mr Hall- Jones, the lccal member, for opposing the Government Licensing Bill, protesting against the Bill as retrogressive, and expressing a hope that the Legislative Council will prevent its becoming law. The speakers were local ministers and the Bey P. B. Monro, of Rangiora. The resolutions were carried by a show of hand 8, not more than halS voting at any time. The strongest opposition was to the combination of a three^ fifths majority and the half roll poll foi prohibition. DUNEDIN, Sept. 5. At Kelso the following resolution wai passed •:— " That this meeting is strongly of opinion that the principles of the Gov. ernment Licensing Bill are against th< interests of Democracy, and calculated t< render all effort in the direction of reforrt futile for many years, and that Parliamen ia hereby urged to abandon the Bill am refer the question to the people for decisioi at the general election."