POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5348, 28 August 1895, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

[from our own correspondent. 1 WELLINGTON, august 27. CHBI6TOHUBCH INDUBTBIAL EXHIBITION. The question of ud jouroiag the House to enable members to visit the exhibition at Christchurch is being kept well to the front by Mr G. J. Smith. That member's question on the subject has been again postponed, and will be asked to-morrow, when probably the Btate of business will give it a better chance of receiving a favourable reply. In the meantime, Mr Smith has been canvassing members' signatures to a requisition to the Government, asking that the House should be ad- j journed from Thursday night till Tuesday. Ho has obtained about thirty names to this document, including those of the Chairman of Committees and one of the Government Whip?, and the requisition has been placed in the hands of the Premier. The Hinemoa is to leave on the Thursday night for Lytiolton, en route to southern lighthouse?, and, in the event of an adjournment being agreed to. a score or so of members will probably attend the exhibition. MISCELLANEOUS. In replying to a question by Mr M'Lachlan to-day, the Minister of Justice stated that the Cabinet had' not yet considered whether fresh legislation would be j required to deal with the position of such, firms as Miles and Co., of Christchurch. He promised to look into the matter at an early date. NEW SILLS. The Mortgages Bill of the Hon W. J. Steward is to provide for mortgage forms being sold at all money-order . offices throughout the colony;' on which Btamp duty shall be chargeable at the rate of 5s for every £100' of the amount of mortgage. The effect of this Bill would be to cheapen j the cost of mortgage deeds and obviate the engagement of lawyers to execute them. * The domestic servants, for whom Mr J. W. Kelly wishes to legislate, in order to secure them a half-holiday- in each week, are all women engaged as housemaids, parlour-maids, kitchen-maids, laundresses, cooks, waitresses, nurse-girls, house assistants and general servants. The Bill propose? that all these Bhall have a halfholiday from 3 p.m. on one day in the week, the day being in cities, boroughs and town districts the same as that fixed under the Snops and Shop Assistants Act, and outside such limits on a day to be fixed upon. The penalty on employers for a breach of the Act is £5. Where more than one domestic is employed the employer may fix different days upon which the half-holiday shall be observed by each. The Hon W. J. Steward has a measure entitled the Statutes < Consolidation and Pxinting Bill, the object of which is to secure that, after the passing of any amending legislation, the law officers of the Crown Bhall at once collate the new Act with the original one, and prepare a coneolidated Act, which, after being approved by a judge of the Supreme Court, Bhall be printed in the volume of statutes for the year, and shall supersede both the original Act and the amending Act. TBAVELIiING BXPBNSKS. In pursuance of his determination to find out and correct abuses in connection with the travelling expenses paid to members of local bodies, Mr Collins has obtained a return of the amounts charged as expenses by members of the various Land Boards throughout the colony for the past three years. These amounts range from £2 to .£ls per member per annum, and the totals for each of the three past years are £1187 6s, £1302 5s lOd, and £1236 6s Id respectively. Otago ia the most expensive district. The following are the amounts drawn in Canterbury in each of the three years :—R. Meredith, £8 10a, £5 10s, £5 10s ; D. M'Millan, £46 163 9d, £37 9a 3d, £36 la 6<i ; J. Duncan, £16 183 for 1892-93 only; W. C. Walker, £2, £9 10s, £2; A. C. Pringle, £51 17s and £85 ss, for 1893-94 and 1894-95. MISCELLANEOUS. The petition of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association was presented by Mr G. W. Ru3sell to-day, praying that the duty on binder twine for reaping machines should be removed, as it adds to the difficulties of agriculturists and hinders land settlement. The petitioners point out that the Tariff Commission recommended the reduction or abolition of this duty. A return, obtained on the motion of Mr G. J. Smith, was presented to the House by the Hon W. P. Reeves to-day, showing that during the past twelve months twenty-seven boys made their escape from the Burnham Industrial School, and, were all returned to that institution by the police or otherwise. Mr Joyce wants the Government to set ■up a Royal Commiesion to inquire into and report upon the administration of the licensing laws of the colony, the report to deal also with the questions oE brewers being landlords or having any control of licensed houses, and of publicans paying only the rental of their premises which would be payable if no license were attached thereto.

Major Steward is asking the Minister of Lands whether he has received the resolutions passed by the recent conference of Road Boards held at Aehburton, asking for further legislation this session dealing with the abatement of the small birds pest, and if he will introduce a Bill to further that object. Mr Buddo will aßkthe Minister of Lands that, as absurd values have been offered for land in some districts of the colony by the Commissioners under the Land for Settlements Act, will he consider the advisableness of appointing an unpaid Board of Advice in each county, such JBoard to consist of two members, to be appointed by the County Council, and who coulti! be consulted by the Land Purchase Board to the quality, position and auitablenesa oi land for doae settlement purposes.