LOBBY GOSSIP AND NEWS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 30, 27 July 1899, Page 6

LOBBY GOSSIP AND NEWS.

The Premier is introducing a Bill to meet the case of Colonel Pitc, who was prevented from taking his eeat in the Legislative Council in consequence of having drawn pay as a volunteer officer within six months of his appointment.

The Government are favourable to providing a pound for pound subsidy to send an expert to South Africa to report on the prospects of trade there from New Zealand Should the Government's suggestions be favourably considered by the Commerce Committee just appointed, they would at once take steps to open communication with a si earn company that id pn pared to provide direct communication with the C>»pe.

The Premiar is to introduce a Bill to prevent boys and girls being employed in factories and workshops without payment. Kvery b->y or girl under the age of eighteen, who is employed in any capacity in a workroom or factory must receive not less than hdlf-a-crown per week.

A petition was presented to the Hou°e on Tuesday from a large number of miners and others interested in mining in Otago, drawing attention to the disabilities under which all kinds of alluvial mining are carried on in the Colony owing to the licensee* of special alluvial claims being unable to comply with the labour conditions of their licenses.

It is well known that the Premier is the hardest worked man in the Colony, and that he is above factory acts and such like measures, which regulate tho hours of work. In replying to a question the othtr day, he informed the House that he was working eighteen hnurb a day. Whether this includes Sunday he did not say, but it is whispered that he is not above giving a few hours of the Sabbath to departmental business.

When doctors disagree who is to d»oide ? In the dpbate on Mr. Taylor's Liquor Bill in the House on Wednesday Mr. Rawlins gave his experience of a visit to the Clutha district, where he found that liquor was sold freely, and that prohibition, as carried out there was an utter sham. He maintained that the machinery at present in torce was amply sufficient to deal with the question if the law was efficiently administered. On the other hand, Mr. J. W. Thomson quoted evidence to show that under prohibition Balclutha had greatly increased in prosperity, and despite the lobs of license fees the Borough Council's finances had improved, while police prosecutions were redact d in a large decree.

Mr. Tregear, in his annual report on labonr in New Zealand, incidentally mentions that there are 773 young dressmakers in the Colony working for nothing.

In the annual report of the Labour Department, laid on the table of the House during the week, it is stated that the labour market has kept pace during the past year with the improved prospects of the Colony. During the year 2115 men obtained work or received temporary advances of passages, etc., to enable them to reach employment. Of these, 97 were Bingle, and 1178 married, the latter having 4751) persons dependent upon them. The women's branch of the department in Wellington found employment for 126 women and girls. The total number of breadwinners and dependents benefited by the department amounted to 73 853. The report mentions that unskilled labour has found more avenues of employment than for many years past. In the south the immense extension of gold dredging has not only brought hundreds of men into the mining districts to work at and study the process, but the production of machinery and the building of pontoons for the dredges have increased the output of engineering shops, and stimulated sister trades. The rabbit preserving industry is also nourishing in the south. There are now few old and decrepit men tramping the roads in search of work, probably in consequence of the passing of 1 the Old-age Pension Act.

Mr. Seddon stated in the House the other night that he thought the day was not far distant when an attempt would be made to consolidate all local loans and get them guaranteed by the Colony. Mr. Tanner has collected information showing the indebtedness of the principal centres of the Colony. Auckland owes £472,000 ; Wellington, £697,0U0 ; Christchurch, £79,000 ; Dunedin, £711,000 ; Invercargill, £183,000 ; Napier, £110,000 ; Oamaru, £117,000 ; and Timaru, £63,000

During the year ending March 31, reports the Marine Department, there were forty wrecks on the coasts of the Colony representing 11,550 tons as against forty-eight and 20,357 tons in 1897-8. The total wrecks were only six, representing 367 tons. The number of lives lost was ei^jht as against twenty -eight in the previous year. From the report of the Kegistrar of Old Age Pensions, presented to the House during the week, it appears that the total number of pensions granted up to the 31at March, 189U, inclusive, was 7487, representing a yearly payment of £128,082 ; the average pension beiug about £17 2*. The amount of absolutely forfeited instalments up to the 31st March. 1899, inclusive, was £12 ss. The number of pensioners who died before the 31st March, 1X99, inclusive, was 38, and the number of penriois cancelled up to that date was six. lepr Monting aitog> tber a yearly payment ot £763. The total cost or administering the Act was £510 8s Id, the ohief iteeni being — Registrar, £100 ; Deputy-Re^istrais, £40 ; clerical assistance, £247 ; travelling expenses, £76.