POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Western Star, Issue 2220, 8 July 1898, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

I The Removal of Women's Disabilities Bill, given notice of by Mr Taylor, ; provides for women being nominated and elested to any public position ,tc ! which men are eligible. Mr Larnacb is urging the ue:essity of extending the Heriofc line. Mt Ussher, resident engineer, is to make reports on the Orepuki extension, [ Otautau to Bayswater, and Waieolc to Eastern Bush proposed lines. ' If any amendment of the Knd laws 1 is proposed this session, Mr Hogg ■ wants the Government to consider the expediency of exempting Crown ten* 1 ants taking up bush lands on lease iu 1 perpetuity from rents *nd rates during ', the first four years of occupation or i until the term of compulsory residence ' begins. Mr Moore : " I say that th* farmers of Canterbury have been robbed of thousands of pounds owing to tho railway department having failed to' tare' its trucks for the carriage of grain." The Minister for Railways : M You will find you are quite wrong." The Upper House Reform Bill ia to receive amendment. The proposed bill intends to abolish life tenure, but the proposed amendment will nullify tho bill itself by providing that all the appointments for seven years be commuted to life tenure. This it is ex. peoted will be supported by as many seven year appointees as will carry it. The Police Commission is likely to report within three weeks. Under the Premier's Immigration Restriction Bill it is proposed to prohibit the following persons from landing in New Zealand :—(I) Any person who, when asked to do so, fails to write out and sign in a European language a certain application scheduled in the Bill, or in some other form to" bo fixed by the Colonial Secretary ;. (2) any idiot or insane person ; (3) any person suffering from a loathsome and dangerous contagious disease ; and (4) certain criminals. Iu the case of the vessels concerned in importing such persons no clearance is to be given until the fine imposed is paid. Mr O'Regan's Preferential Voting and Proportional Representation Bill was lost on the second reading. The Government decline to amend the law so as to give co-operative workmen the same voting privileges as seamen, shearers and musterers. The Government cannosg|ee their way to inaugurate a onivefliß'penny post. Mr Ward is to ask the Minister of Marine whether he will favourably consider an application for placing an artificial oyster bed in Awarua Bay. In the House of Representatives, a Government fire insuruance bill was introduced and a bill to abolish Coroners and substitute Stipendiary Magistrates or Justices was read a second time, as was also the Education Boards ' Election Bill, whiebs invests members of committees with individual volm instead of each committee having only

one rote. To Mr Gilfedder the Minister stated that the cost of a telephone line between Colao and Round Hill would he £150; the revenue £9, cost of attendance and interest £2O i annual deficiency .£ll. If this were guaranteed for five years the work would be undertaken No provision would be made for a bonus to the discoverer of tbe Sutherland fails, his name being banded down to posterity would bo enffioient reward.