POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 928, 22 September 1910, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

TRAMWAYS BILL. Leave was granted to the Labour Bills Committee yesterday to meet during the : sitting of. the House, for the purpose of dealing with the Tramways Bill. In making the application for leave to sit, Mr. Arnold said the Committee had" been taking evidence on the Bill for a. considerable ..time, and as a large number of witnesses were in town the Committee wished to take their; evidence at once, so as to speed on the work and enable the Committee to report to the House within the next week or so. . RAILWAY SUPERANNUATION. In the course of a reply to a question by _ Mr. Pearce, as to whether the conditions of the Railway. Superannuation Act would, be amended • so that the wife and family of a railway servant should -.receive the. same allowance, if a; man ; is seriously injured _ and ; • dies . from, the effects of the, injury within twelve months, even if retired as physically unfit, as if. he was killed, the Minister' for Railways says:—"l have already intimated, to "the. railway servants that if they desire to make' provision for ' the' widows and families, and are prepared to pay the additional contributions that will. .be necessary to meet the liability, of the fund, then I am prepared to consider .the question of.amending the/Act in the' direction of. making :the additional provision for widows and families.'; So far,, however, as. the fund at present stands, no,further liability can be placed,on it...;,Vv/;.' jottings. .;::,';';,■;:. ;■• Reporting on'the petition of Dr..J. S. Purely, for a .refund of' part : ;of ' petitioner's'. expenses : incurred in' coming from .Egypt to New; Zealand to. take up the position; of District; Health. Officer, the Public; Petition's Committee states' that it has no recommendation to .make. . ::■. DAYLIGHT'SAVING. : ; Replying to. MK Hanan's question, .as to whether.' ;he.' will 'have regulations, framed whereby, some.; of ~the Go>srnment Departments'might'.be .allowed,■ if the; employees. desired, 'to start' work. an hour, earlier in summer,: the Prime Minister '. says":" "The Government", is -fully aware, of• the. advantages;• that•';would" be derived by the clerical staffs' of tie Government Departments through' an- earlier . attendance - during - the. summer ; season, : bjj'the public who transact 'business. ; with .'Government!.Departments : must: be' considered.;. ;It'.!would therefore be.unae.sirablein; most' Departments to.alter "the office-hours! unless, the system of.. starting an.hour, earlier -in 'summer-were' adopted 'by, the'; business. public generally." : He was. in,. favour, of 'the reform, and would ;be glad to; assist in furthering, it..':.: Mr. Sidey said that" he hoped that next .session, he would be able to push yon ■with-Ithe;;Daylight Savings-Bill,; if/;the Government did .not .take action in ~■ the meantime; Ho agreed :that';this reform : could'not' bo brought., in piecemeal, : but a retnrn, to natural : conditions .of life ; generally; •-','''.- : ''' '!-:-... : " !"■!.-•■;;'.! : ■■;.