NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 863, 8 July 1910, Page 6

NEWS AND NOTES.

POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS TO GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. "In these modern days the form of the Governor's Speech and the Address-in-Replv might lie very considerably modified," suggested the Ron. IT. I". Wigram in the Council yesterday. "We are told a great many things in the Speech which we know perfectly well beforehand." Mr. Wigram read (lie lengthy reference to Lord Kitchener's recent visit. "(In tho other hand," he continued, "there, is a very great deal of information which we would like to receive in the Governor's Speech, and which would lie very useful to us. A large number oi Bills are put forward here, and we should like to know which of these—if any at all—will be persevered with. We should also like a little moro information about the uaturo of the Bills we have lo discuss."

MONTESQUIEU NOT APPRECIATED. An endeavour was made by the Hon. H. Scotland (Tarannki) yesterday to raise the tone of Hie debate on the, Address-in-Keply in the Council by quotations from Monlesnnicii. Ev.t after a few citations it apparently struck Mr. Scotland that the wisdom of the French sage, was probably being wasted. "It is no use." he said,' "for mo lo (pinto any further from Montestinion. 1 don't know whether anybody in New Zealand knows his name. They would think that a speech by 'Dick' Seddon was a far greater production." (Laughter.) THE MONKEY, THE CHESTNUTS, AND THE CAT, Some interesting references to the erjor ".luslice for Auckland" were made by Mr. Wright in the House yesterday. Mr. bright said that lie would do his level br-t to see that Auckland got justice, bat he would also tako the saim. pains iu regard to Southland ami all other portions of the Dominion. In this connection lie would like lo utter a note of warning to members representing Wellington, Itawke's Bay. and Taraanki. Tho Auckland members now included a keen commercial man, who was now at the back of the northern movement—he referred lo Mr. Mye,r,s. He would like to remind I lie Wellington. Tarannki, and llinvke's Buy mombera uf the fable of liiu

monkey and the chestnuts and the cat. 11 they were not careful the Auckland ''monkey" would have the Wellington, Taranaki. and llawke's Bay "cats" pullins; the cheslnuts out of the lire for Auckland. It should not he forgotten that the new Auckland organiser, 11 r. .Myers, had his whole interest, heart, mind, and soul, centred in Auckland. He did not blame him; for that was his duty, tint when lie said that there wa> no parochialism about it tie must reply that tie "hab'd his dools."

LEGISLATION BY EXHAUSTION. A plea for shorter hours ill the llouso was made by II r. J. T. llogan. AVanganui, speaking on the Addres»-iu-llcply yesterday. Mr. Hogan said he would venture to say that the long hours and late sittings of Parliament, together with the impure air and insanitary conditions, had a prejudicial effect on the health of members. Legislation by exhaustion was not advisable, and that, practically speaking, was how Parliament legislated at present. He would prefer to see the English system of applying the closure rather than the "exhaustion" method in vogue at present. Re thought Parliament could shorten its hours very considerably.

A RADICAL AND THE LAND BILL. So far very little has been heard this session of the objections of the Radicals to the new land proposals of the Government. It will be remembered tint they held a number of conferences on the subject last year, and in addition an important meeting during the recess. That they were very sore on the question was evident every time any of them spoke in the House, but the Prime Minister and his colleagues would not be drawn, probably in view of the fact that it was intended to defer consideration of the measure. Whilst speaking during the Address-in-Reply debate yesterday, Mr. llogan remarked that he observed that it was proposed to reintroduce the Laud Bill with some amendments. "Well," he continued, "1 don't, think any new land legislation is neee-ssary for some time to come at any rate. If. however, the Land Bill is brought down again this session with only slight amendments it won't get my support. Indeed, 1 might tell the Prime Minister that if the Bill is not considerably altered before it reaches the House it will be greatly amended before it leaves again."

WEEKLY DAY OF REST. The Weekly Day of Rest Bill has again been introduced by Mr. Fisher. It provides that "Sunday" means the period of time winch begins at twelve o'clock 011 Saturday afternoon and ends at twelve o'clock on the following att'ernoon; and "employer" includes every person, to whose orders or directions any other person is by his employment bound to conform. Kxcept in case of emergency, it shall not be lawful for any person to require any employee to do on Sunday the usual work of his ordinary calling unless such employee is allowed, (luring the next six days of such week, twentyfonr consecutive hours without labour. Any person may, 011 the Sunday, do any work of necessity or mercy, and for greater certainty, but not so as to restrict the ordinary meaning of the expression', "work of necessity or mercy," it is hereby declared that it shall be deemed to include the following classes of work:— (a) Any necessary or customary, work in connection wilh divine worship; (b) work for the relief of sickness and suffering, including the sale of drugs, medicines, and surgical appliances; (c) the continuance to their destination of trains and vessels in transit when the Sunday begins, and work incidental thereto; (d) the delivery of milk for domestic use, and the work of domestic servants and watchmen; (e) the caring for milk, cheesc, and live animals, and the unloading of and caring for perishable products and livo animals arriving at any point 011 the Sunday; (f) any unavoidable work afte.i six o'clock in the afternoon of Sunday in the preparation of the regular Monday morning edition of a daily newspaper ; (g) any unavoidable work 011 the Sunday to save property in cases of emergency, or where such property is in imminent danger of destruction or serious injury. Any person who violates any of the provisions shall, for each otfeuce, be liable to such fine as may bo determined by tho magistrate, but not exceeding five pounds sterling, together with the costs of the prosecution. Every employer who authorises or directs anything to he done in violation of any provision of this Act shall, on summary conviction, bo subject, to the same penalties; and every corporation which authorises, directs, or permits its employees to carry on any part of tho business of such corporation in violation of any of the provisions shall be liable to such fine as may bq determined by the magistrate, but not exceeding twenty-five pouuds sterling, together with the costs of tho prosecution.

CURIOUS. As a sequel to the Auckland "combine," the following curious notification which is unsigned has been posted up:— A spccial and urgent meeting of members representing all that portion of New Zealand, which is not Auckland, is to be held in Committee Room A to consider a plan of action whereby the designs of the recentlyformed Auckland organisation 011 the Public Works may be circumvented. Meeting to be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 9.