POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5325, 1 August 1895, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

[FBODC OUB OWN COBBSbTOKDIWT.] WELLINGTON, Jvlt 81. HISCILLANBOUB. The Local Government Bill will not only provide for the amalgamation or governing bodies, but also for the extenBion of the municipal and local franchises The Premier, replying to Mr Q. J. Smith, laid he had not received any communication from the Mayor of Christ* church respecting the state of the labour market there, bat he would be prepared to consider such communication when it arrived. The Minister of Justice, replying to Mr M'Lachlan, who asked, in view of the losses sustained by farmers who placed their wool in the hands of Miles and Co. (recently declared bankrupt) that legitlation should be introduced to place the New Zealand creditors on the same footing as I if the firm were domiciled in the colony, Baid he would consult with the Crown law officers, and if it were possible the law would be amended in the direction indicated. The reasons which swayed Legislative Councillors in dealing with the Hon W. J. Steward's Coroners' Inquests Bill to-day I were recognition of the futility of passing the measure in view of the determination . of the Government to deal comprehensively ; with the whole Bubjeot of juries next , session nnd the knowledge that the : Government intends to propose the oom- | plete abolition of coroners' juries, j Reporting on the petition of the Malvern : Women's Institute, praying for an amendj znent of. the divorce laws and raising the ■ age of «onßeot to eighteen years, the M to Z Committee recommends that it should ; be referred to the Government for con- ' sideration. The same oommittee, report* | ing on a petition from the Canterbury I Women's Institute, praying for an amendi ment of the laws affecting the status of women, makes a similar reoommendation. { The Mto Z Petitions Oommittee has no recommendation to make regarding the petition of Thomas M'Connell, of Waimate, j who prays for relief for injuries received 1 during the Maori war. j The Hon W. J. Steward to-day presented a petition on behalf of Jeremiah j M'Carthy, praying for compensation and j redress on account of treatment he received ; at the hands of the police in connection ' with the case of a man found dead near his property. j The value of the . free railway passes granted to school children ib £2756. This is distributed thus:— l73l attending private schools £865, and 3782 attending public primary sohoolß £1891. LOCAL GOVERNMENT. The Local Government Bill prepared by j the Premier ia now in a very forward con* ; dition, and may be expected to be oircu- '' lated shortly. It ia a measure of over ! three hundred clauses, and consolidates ; over fifty existing statutes dealing with 1 the powers and duties of local bodies* The consolidating portions of the Bill will ' not lead to any discussion, and outside of these the measure is not so formidable M I to make its phasing this sesjion a difficult matter. The Premier says that he will do his utmost to have the Bill passed into law this year.