POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4769, 9 October 1893, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

• [fbom otje special cobbebpondbnt.j WELLINGTON, Oct. 8. SATE OF GENERAL ELECTION. A Cabinet meeting was held yesterday, at which the principal business wbb the consideration of the date of the general election, other matters discussed being purely departmental. As to the time for the general election it was agreed to defer the question until to-morrow, when it will be decided. I may, however, say that it will almost certainly be fixed for the first or second week of December. SIB BOBEBT STOUT. Sir Bobert Stout's opening address is looked forward to with much interest, and many persons who affect to know say that he will have a hard fight to win. The religious element is being worked up against him as a declared agnoßtic, and the liquor party will be profuse in its expenditure of time, labour and money, even to the publication of a new political journal. The liquor interest means to fight all it knows, and will not count the cost among other of its plans of defence against the onset of the prohibitionists with Sir Bobert Stout at their head. I hear of a new weekly paper to be published in Wellington, entirely in the interest of the liquor party. The title is, I am told, not yet settled finally, but of thoße considered " Pair Play " iB the one most favoured. It will aspire to be a firstclass newspaper, that will, in addition, keep abreast of the current literature of the day. Should it " catch on " it will of course be kept going; but I fancy that the present design is simply to educate public opinion from the standpoint of the liquor interest until the composition of the new Parliament shall have been ascertained. POLITICAL AMENITIES. After all the recrimination and wrangles of the session, it was pleasant to witness the friendly handshakings of political opponents before going their several ways. The leaders set the example upon the floor of the House, and it was curious to reflect, looking at these men with clasped hands, that one had but as yesterday said of the other that he had " secretly, silently and surreptitiously" falsified a great public policy document. At the wharf, as the Kotorua was making ready for the south, the scene had the appearance of averi-. table breaking up for the holidays, and pleasant atonement was made for many a bitter word provoked by party warfare. • THE SHOP HOUBS QUEBTION. I The rejection by the Legislative Council of the Shop Hours Bill may lead to a curious and unsatisfactory situation here. The large warehouses that, have hitherto closed, will, lam told, feel compelled to remain open on account of competition, in the absence of compulsory closing, as provided in the rejected Bill. As a result, an extra staff must be employed to keep open : on Wednesday afternoon, and yet comply j with the existing Act. This, it is antici- | pated, will result in a corresponding re- | duction of wages all round, equivalent to i the cost of the added staff. LABOUR AND THE UNEMPLOYED. At the Labour Bureau I learn that the local applications for work do not now average more than twelve a day, and several of these represent renewed applications. The department has many demands for bushfellers that it cannot comply with, the men offering being either physically unfit or indisposed to undertake the work. The wages are 27s per week and rations. Between twenty and thirty unemployed were placed by the Bureau during the past week. There is no Government employment offering, all ♦he works being fully manned, but in a few weeks, when the new work specified in the Public Workß Statement is being started, more work will be available. \ In the Hunterville district fine weather has permitted the resumption of the road-making that was at a standstill during the winter, and from latest advices there was not an idle man who desired work in the district. In Canterbury and Otago there are men Btill unemployed, but it is expected that shearing and spring work generally will abaorb them, or at any rate Buch of them as are capable. BEFOBM OF THE LEGISLATURE. I learn that Sir B. Stout will, at his opening meeting here, unfold a very comprehensive and radical scheme for the reform of the Legislature. Tt will probably include the referendum, and the exclusion of the Executive from the actual work of Parliament within its walls. His scheme will, I believe, provide that policy Bills shall be indicated by the Cabinet to a Parliamentary Committee, who will formulate the measures for submission to Parliament. The Elected Executive Bill of Mr O'Conor, with which Sir B» Stout is known to be in sympathy, and which oome

believe to be drafted.^ill, I think, be followed, and a complete alteration of the sitting hours of the Assembly will be advocated. [Peb Pbess Association.! « The Premier Btates that in view of the treatment of Government measures by the Legislative Council, it is intended to ask for further appointments to that branch of the Legislature. ThQ number has tot yet been fixed, but the matter will shortly be considered in Cabinet.