POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5656, 29 August 1896, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Our- Corbxsfondent.l . WELLINGTON, AiretrsT29. MISCBIiANBOXJS. - The Banking Committee of the Legislative Council has completed taking eyidenee, but has, adjourned till -Wednesday rsK^ in order that replies to the" interrogatories sent to Mi- -John Murray maybe " received. After receiving these replies the Committee -will proceed to deliberate as to its report. . ■.;.' Pleadingfor the opening'of the legal profession to Women, the Minister of Education mentioned that there was a time when some of the largest universities in the world had been presided over entirely by lady professors. He then cited the case of Portia, at which the Hon H. Scotland conteinptoualy interjected, " A character in a play." Subsequently, the Hon W. M. Bolt cited the case of Hypatia, who, for many years, conducted a school at Alexandria. Insnpport of the other side of the question, Sir G-. J3. Whitmore referred to the demoniac women of the French revolution,' and the Hon H. Scotland a terrible pieture -of a woman judge sitting on^the Bench sentencing' a fellow-woman todeath. • • ; From a return laid on the table of the Hoti3e it appears that during the financial year 1895-96 there were.' loo cadets employed in different departments, of the. Government service. There were 374 clerks ' on the permanent staff, 178 clerks on the • temporary staff and 81 messengers. ;Mr Bell has given 1 notice to move, when the House is in committee on the Loan Bill, 'a' new clause constituting a special sinking fund nnder the Act, and Dr Newman notice to move the following new clause: — The Governor shall appoint a Royal Commission of experts to. consider the advisability of extending as light railways all or any of the railways mentioned in the schedule, and report to Parliament next session." . ; Mr W. Hutchison has given notice to ask the Premier whether, considering the large stake which the colony holds in the Bank of New Zealand, the Government cannot intervene, in some form, to put a stop to ,the public scandal of pressing for payment of calls from shareholders who. have not the means of paying these colls. THE ISD OF THE SESSION. I learn to-day that a Minister stated in conversation during the morning that he could not see how the session can endbefore the middle of October. As I have no dCubtabout the information I conclude that~a good deal more of that, list mentioned by the Premier yesterday ia to be pressed than was thought probable. ' . . THE BANKING INQUIRY. * The Council Bank Committee's repor -will, it' is believed, be favourable to ,M Ward in consequence chiefly of some evidence about fhe Colonial Bank. .., THE LOAN BUI..

The stonewall erected, against the Aid Bill in committee is perplexing.- the strangers' gallery. It begins to appear that there is not enough to go round. It is a. new .cfafinifcioii 'of political virtue. There are a few " exceptions, .like Mr Squanders, "who are consistently: opposed to-bornwring, but the. -raft majority are a lot qjE Oliver Twists,' who' want more. In the general wiabr the attitude of ijhe Canterbury members' is .. clear and definite. There are among, -them- • extremists . who. hold on one aide that Canterbury onght to get nothings and on -the other that Canterbury ought to : share and . share alike in the railway votes. Mr Tanneron the middle •way said that Canterbury .was .entitled to know, whether the Grovernment, would ex-, pend some of. the money on the estates to be resumed shortly, so as to mate thexQ'£t for colonising. On that point.; Mr Tanner wanted to be satisfied. 'Mr .M'Lachlan thought the Canterbury Plains .were properly furnished, , but declared that in the many valleys on the east of the main range there- was scope for settlement and much room for useful .expenditure on preliminary roads'. -.and- bridges. Mr Tanner's assertion was that the. bone aqd sinew lost, by Canterbury during the last few years had made the North . Island.