POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6048, 9 December 1897, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

TFbom Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Dec. 8. . THE MATAURA SEAT. Mr R. M'Nab arrived here on his way home from his European and Eastern tour on Thursday, and after looking up his personal and parliamentary fviends, proceeded south on Tuesday. He seems to have reached the colony in the very nick of time, as there is now little doubt that another contest for the Mataura seat must take place early in the new year. It is an open secret that Mr Richardson is contemplating, on account of his impaired health and other circumstances, an early retirement from public life. Mr M'Nab would be heartily welcomed by his former constituents, and both political parties here would be glad to see such a promising politician in the House again. OTHER VACANCIES. It is freely rumoured about the lobbies that Mr Richardson is not the only member of the House who may withdraw from politics before next session. Three gentlemen who usually vote with the Government — oue from the north, another from the south, and a third from the centre of the colony— are said to be waiting the interests of their party to retire into private life. It seems that politics are not, when all things are considered, the profitable business that some people suppose, and I believe the expected resignations, if they take place at all, will be found to be in some way connected with the financial sacrifices that are required from members of Parliament. It may be as well to state that no Canterbury members are associated with the present rumours. . GOVERNMENT FIRE INSURANCE. The Bill introduced by the Premier this afternoon providing for the establishment of a State Fire Insurance Department, though it differs slightly from last year's measure, is practically on the same lines, and the alterations made are chiefly in the direction of making the proposed enactment more workable. The provision which existed in the 1896 Bill for districtboards does not appear in this year's measure, which contains, amongst other new provisions, one" to the effect that the office is not to be declared open until satisfactory arrange ments have been made for i-einsui-ance of fire risks taken under Part 2 of the proposed enactment, nor till the Act has been adopted by three or more boroughs and three or more counties having a population of not less than 60,000 inhabitants and con taining buildings of a total value of not ( less than .£1,000,000. Part 2of the Bill is practically the same as that of< last year, and provides for the statutory insurance of buildings after it has been adopted by a poll of ratepayers. NARROW STREETS. Reporting on the Borough of. Lyttelton Corporation Bill, the Local Bills Committee recommends that it should be allowed to pass with certain verbal amendments. The committee also recommends the introduction of a general measure to provide for cases in which municipalities have been, without legal authority, maintaining streets formed pri6r to the enactment of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, of less width than is required by that Act, but not now capable of alteration. A SENSIBLE PROPOSAL. What may with propriety be denominated a sensible proposal i 3 that contained in the following motion, of which the Premier has given notice: — (1) That in view of the exceptional circumstances of the present session, all Bills originating in the House which have passed the second reading, or have reached any subsequent stage, but have not been finally dealt with, and all Bills received from the Council which remain on the Order Paper at the close of the session, be made suspended Orders, and be set down on the first Order Paper of next session, to be proceeded with as from the stage which they have respectively reached; and (2) that all petitions before the House and Committees at the end of the session be proceeded with, at the beginning of next session, as from the stage they had reached. MISCELLANEOUS. It is the Premier's intention to introduce resolutions dealing with the control of parliamentary officers. These will, I understand, go in the direction of an aljrogation on the part of Ministers of their present patronage and restoring the matter to the hands of the Speaker. Long- and harassing sittings, with a view to bringing the session to a close before Christmas, are threatened. The Premier has announced an intention to move for the suspension of the Standing Orders to permit of new business being taken after midnight. Taking ths second reading of the Horowhenua Block Bill pro forma, and referring it to the Native Affairs Committee, is looked on by many members as a means of quietly shelving the Bill for the session. The measure is not likely to come back from the committee iv sufficient time to enable it to be properly considered by the House before prorogation day.