POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10824, 18 July 1913, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Otjr. Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, July 18.

STRIKE PICKET DETERRENT.

Tlie Police Offences Amendment Bill, circulated last night, has for its object the investing of the police with fuller powers for suppressing unlawful intimidation or violence with a view to restricting the freedom of any persons from going about their lawful business and avocations. Evidently framed to restrict industrial strikers from acts of intimidation and lawlessness, tho Bill sets forth tho proposed, forbidden acts. They include, besides violence and intimidation, persistent following from place to place, hiding tools, clothes or other property owned or used by another person, watching or besetting the residence or place where a. person works, and following in a disorderly manner with two or more other persons. Tho penalty proposed for such offences is a fine not exceeding £2O or three months' imprisonment. The Bill gives a constable power to arrest without warrant any persons he finds drunk, and disorderly, using profane, indecent or obscene language, using language calculated to provoke a breach of > the peace,-, carelessly or furiously driving or loitering, any reputed rogue, thief, prostitute or idle person, and any person who offends within the meaning of the Polioe Offences Act whose name and residence cannot be ascertained by the constable. REGISTRATION OF ARCHITECTS. A Bill to make provision for the registration of architects was, circulated yesterday. It is in the charge of tho Hon A. L. Herdmaai and provides for setting) up an Architects Registration Board of six persons, three of whom shall be appointed by the Governor in Council and three, within two months after the commencement of tho Act, appointed) by tho Institute of Architects. The latter's governing body will consist of all past presidents of the registered Institute, the vicepresidents of the Institute for the time being, and twelve persons to be elected annually by the members from their number in the following proportions: three to represent the Auckland district, three to represent the Wellington district, three to represent the Canterbury two to represent the Otago distriot and one to represent the Southland district. COMMISSIONER RULE AND THE COST. So far there has not been uracil _ to say about the now oontrol of the Civil Service, but members are getting ready to critically handle the business later on. Mr Ell, with this end in view, gavo notice yesterday to secure a_ return showing copies of all regulations and amendments thereof which have been issued by the Public Sendee Commissioners, copies of all circulars which have been issued, the number on the Staff of the Public Service Commissioner, tho salaries and the value of the Work performed for the Commissioners by officers not on the staff of the Commissioners. QUESTIONS. Mr Forbes has asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government this session to amend tho electoral law under winch the representatives of the House are elected. Moro persons and stock are injured, annually through the careless use of the pea. rifle than of any other weapon, says Mr Witty, who asks if the Gov- | ©rnment will make its use illegal. Mr Davey wishes the Government this session to amend tli© Municipal Corporations Act with tho object of preventing the possibility of any one duplicating his vote at municipal elections and permitting the returning officer to make on official count. At present there ia nothing to prevent any voter exercising his privilege at ©very voting booth and no power is given to the chief returning officer to either examine tho votes cast or to check j figures supplied by deputy-returning J officers. j