POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5654, 27 August 1896, Page 1

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, August 26. COFTEIGHT TELEGRAMS. A request made by the Chairman of the Copyright Telegrams Committee for the production by the Manager of the Press Association of the scale of charges made for entrance fees to that Association, has been refused, as it is outside the order of reference of the committee. CANTERBURY ITEMS. Mr Lewis to-day asked in the House (1) ■whether the Government had paid over the full amount of the subsidy payable as money paid into the Christchurch Charitable Aid Board on account of the unemployed; (2) if not, how much is outstanding; (3) why it has not been paid. In reply, the Minister of Public Works said that everything due up to last Saturday had been paid over, with the exception of an account for .£3O, which was now before the Auditor-General Mr Flatman, who wants a survey to be made with a view to making a branch railway to Geraldine, was told by the Minister of Public Works that the first time the surveyors were out in that part of the country he would arrange, if possible, for a survey. Major Steward's question about the petition of settlers at Willow Bridge, for a siding near Knight's crossing, was answered to the effect that inquiry made had shown that the expense would be too great. The same member's question about fencing a mile of the line near the Waitaki, was replied to with the statement that the Department can only fence, in conjunction with the settlers, on the lines laid down the other day. WAIKAKARIRI HARBOUR BOARD LAND. Two new clauses have been added to the Bill dealing with this subject by the Local Bills Committee, which are as follows: — (1) The Kaiapoi Borough Council may at any time hereafter extend to the water's edge any Streets of the borough now leading into Charles Street or Eaven Street, and the land forming any such extension shall be transferred by the Waimakariri Harbour Board to the Corporation of the Kaiapoi borough without compensation. (2) No right, legal or equitable, which any person may now have to the possession of the "wharf known aa Sims' wharf or any sheds adjoining the same, shall be affected by this Act. SUPPRESSION" Of GAMBLING. Eeporting on the petition of Mr Taylor and 119 others of Canterbury, praying for the introduction of legislation for the suppression of gambling, the Public Petitions Committee has no recommendation to make, as there is a Bill before the House dealing with the subject. ASHLEY LICENSING DISTRICT. Mr Meredith is asking the Government that as the licensing districts are coterminous with the electoral districts, and seeing the prodigious dimensions of the Ashley electoral district as fixed by the Board of Commissioners, will they take the necessary steps to divide the Ashley licensing district Into two licensing districts on the bases of community of interest and convenience for the general public. QUESTIONING THE SPEAKER'S RULING. Mr G. J. Smith is to move — "That this House dissents from the ruling of Mr Speaker given, on Tuesday, August 25, 1896, when he ruled that the member for Chiistchurch (Mr G. J. Smith) could not move that an article in the New Zealand Times of August 24 was a breach of privilege." TREATMENT OF PRISONERS AWAITING TRIAL. The Minister of Justice is being asked by Mr Collins if he is aware of the nature of the treatment of persons consigned to prison but awaiting trial ; is it customary in New Zealand, as in most civilised countries, to regard a man as innocent till proved' guilty ; is the treatment above referred to — namely, keeping unconvicted prisoners in confinement for twenty out of the twenty-four hours with only half the quantity of food allowed to convicted prisoners, and subjecting them to exactly the same rules and regulations as though they had been pronounced guilty — calculated to fit them to do reasonable justice to themselves when brought up for trial? MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Buddo wants a sum placed on the Supplementary Estimates for the erection of a suitable post office at Kaiapoi in place of the present very inadequate building.