POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6289, 21 September 1898, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

1 . • [From Our Correspondent.] v : . WELLINGTON; Sept. 20 ~ PRIVATE MEMBEES' BUSINESS*. There was little disposition on the part of members to oppose the motions of the Premier that the House for the remainder of the session should sit on Monday nights, and that Government business should take precedence of private members' business on Wednesdays. It appears to be recognised that the fifty-nine Government Bills on the Order Paper provide enough work and to spare for the remainder of the session. Mr Seddon proposes to devote next Monday to two or three private Bills which have been amended 1 in the Council. When these are through local Bills will receive attention. The Government proposes to take up the Hon W. J. Steward's Slander of Women Bill. . ADVANCES ON LEASEHOLDS. A return supplied by the Advances to Settlers Office sho*s that, up to March 31' 1781 loans had been made on Crown, Educational and West Coast Settlement Eeserve leases, totalling .£230,090 against an aggregate security of .£571,582. An attached note states that, with regard to leases in perpetuity and land for settlements, only one applicant was in arrear with his rent at the time the loan was granted. As a general rule, the Board now declines to make an advance if more than the current half-year's rent is due to the Land Office, and in no case has a loss been incurred where, in the early history ,of the Department, this rule was not so strictly observed. WAX VESTA INDUSTRY. The Petitions Committee considered that the petition ot certain Dunedin and Wellington importers . for a reduction in the duty on wax vestas, or the imposition of an equivalent excise on the local manufacture, should be referred to the Government, but makes no definite recommendation, the matter involving a question of public policy. INCIDENCE OF TAXATION. Reporting on the petition of certain Wellington residents, representatives of English firms who are liable for payment of income tax, stating that a non-resident agent can transact.business in the colony without such payment, and requesting an amendment of the Act to equalise matters, the Petitions Committee is of opinion that the question merits the serious consideration of the Government. GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING AND PRINTING. A return was presented to-day, showing the amount paid for Government printing and advertising during the year ending March 31, 1898. Among the principal items the following may be cited : • " New Zealand Herald " and " Weekly News " .£620, Auckland " Star " .£402, " New Zealand Times " and " Mail " .£735, "Evening Post" .£479, "Lyttelton Tim«a" and "Canterbury Times" .£505, Christchurch " Press " > and •• Weekly Press" .£309, " Dunedin Star " .£415, " Otago Daily Times " and " Witness" £411, "Manawatu Standard" (Mr Pirani's Journal) £127, "Manawatu Times "£lo3, "Wanganui Herald" £198, " Wanganui Chronicle ""£166, Greymouth, "Star" £38, "Grey River Argus" and " Weekly Argus " £80. MISCELLANEOUS?" Mr Lawry is to ask the Minister of Agriculture whether he will instruct the Department of Agriculture to import a quantity of the seed of the Florida velvet bean for distribution amongst farmers who wish to try the experiment of cultivating "this prolific plant, which is said to be without a rival as a fodder plant for all kinds of stock, and especially for dairy cattle." , ■<•-■• Mr Hogg has given notice to ask the Minister of Justice whether it is true that among the prisoners in Wellington Gaol there is a poor fellow whose only crime is that he is suffering from an incurabjte malady. The Premier informed the House this afternoon that the Government had decided to introduce, in the Legislative Council, a Bill giving effect to the recommendations of the Police Commission in respect to suppressing "tote shops" and betting in the streets.