POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4761, 29 September 1893, Page 1

POLITICAL NOTES.

[fbom oue special correspondent.! WELLINGTON, Sept. 28". CRIMINIL CODE. In the Council, the amendments made by the House of Bepresentatives in this Bill came up for consideration, when Sir P. Buckley wa3 the recipient of varions compliments upon having at last succeeded in getting this important measure through the Legislature. Mr Pharazyn was the first to strike the congratulatory keynote, and he made the practical suggestion that the Act should be printed in a handy shape for the use of Magistrates and Judges. In acknowledging the spaeches of congratulation the Attorney-General eaid he had for years recognised the desirability of codifying the criminal law, and he believed that this was the first British Colony to adopt a code. woman's franchise. This question came to the front in the Council on the motion for the second reading of the Electoral Law Amendment Bill. Mr Bowen introduced the subject of electoral rights for women, aud stated, that he would in Committee move certain clauses with the object of having such privilege extended to women voters. Mr Kelly said he had received a telegram from New Plymouth stating that the Eegistrar of Electors there had refused to enrol a woman who had lived ' there aU her life, because she bad been absent some three weeks from the district. Mr Acland eaid he knew of some southern ladiea who had been in Wellington during the session, and who were refused enrolment for a similar reaeon. Mr Shrimski sounded a great note by declaring his intention to move a new clause to prevent women exercising the franchise until after the general election. He considered that the introduction of this Amending Bill was a proof that those who had endeavoured to improve the Electoral Bill in Committee were in the right. baby farming. In moving the second reading of the Infant Life Protection Bill in the Council, Sir P. Buckley read a portion of Colonel Hume's report, which drew attontion to the increase of baby farming in New Zealand, and the necessity^ for legislative action. Mr Stewart remarked that it would be well to have some provision made on the subject of insuring infants' lives, as such waß often an incentive to crime. .He displayed some degree of scepticism as to the existence of baby farming in the Colony. He did not think it existed in Wellington. Mr W. C. Walker said that about two years ago a Christchurch lady drew his attention to that subject, and told him of a shameful caEe of baby farming. He was told by the Inspector of Police that there was great difficulty in dealing with such offences.