POLITICAL NOTES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5100, 26 September 1903, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

[By Telegbash.l WeIiUNGTOn, Last Night. Mr Bedford's Surprise

A surprise was sprung oa tbe House this afternoon by Mr Bedford when tbe seoond reading of the Imprest Supply Bill was called on. The senior member for Dunedin moved as an amendment : " That the Bill be read a second time that day six months, as an indioation that the Ministry as at present constituted is not; deserving of the confidence of Ihe House." Though many Government sapporters agreed as to the necessity of strengthening the Cabinet, one and all condemned the amendment as inopportune and objeoted to its being moved by an irresponsible member. Tbe amendment was rejected after two hours' debate by 45 to 19.

During the year ended March 31, 1903, according to a Parliamentary return, 139,041 tons of Newcastle ooal, vilmd at £134,371 were imported into the colony, (be average price per ton being 19a id. The c.i.f. prioea per ton for New Zealand coal at tbe ship's aide, Wellington, are: -Screened Westport 22s Bd, unscreened 13s Bd, screened Brunner 22a 6d, unsoreened 20i. Importers quote the o.i.f. price of Newcastle coal in Wellington as 29a per too. Mr J. A Millar has presented a petition from Wm. Noble (of Akalore, sheepfarmer) and Jno. Tough (of Tokomairiro, farmer) regarding the position in the Bruce lioensing distriot. They claim to be representatives of the Moderate party, and urge that in a district where prohibition has not been carried it is an unwarrantable interference wilh the liberty of the individual that the right of procuring alcoholic refreshments should be denied to those who, as moderates, have been accustomed to patronise the premises of tbe hotelkeepers. They submit that tbe hotelkeepers should be permitted to carry on their business under some statutory authority pending the decision of the Privy Council in the Newtown appeal case. They also urge the general claim of the BruQO hotelkeepcTß to compensation.