Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1901. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 22 October 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1901. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

As the session draws towards a close the business actually intended to be transacted becomes more defined. The Premier lias declared that he must legislate on the Public School Teachers’ Salaries’ Bill, which is the outcome of the Royal Commission, and will be passed this session. He says he was misunderstood to say that he only intended to take the second reading. The State Coal Mines’ Bill is also to be gone on with Other measures of importance are the Payment of Members’ Bill and Loan Bill. Mr. Seddon says that if members will apply themselves to work, there is no reason why the session should not be closed by the first week in November. Nevertheless, there is a great deal to be done ere the shutters arc put up.

The Premier replying to a deputation from Council of Victoria College undertook that the Bill would be introduced to give effect to land transfers in connection with the Requisition of Salamanca road property as to site for tho college ; also to put on the Supplementary Estimates a vote for building, and held out a prospect of legislation to localise scholarships. He refused, however, to relieve the Council of the financial burden of scholarships so long as it has accumulated funds to its credit.

The Premier is consulting members of both prohibitionists and friends of trade with a view to having the Licensing Bill passed in a form acceptable to both parlies and to remedy defects which have been found to exist in the present law such as reducing the quorum of committees, preventing licenses being shifted to premises more than a quarter of a mile distant, bringing clubs under the Licensing Act, and giving magistrates discretionary powers of endorsement.

The Unclaimed Moneys Act Amendment Bill provides that the definition of “ unclaimed moneys” in the Act of 1898 shall include all moneys owing to any person w.hich at the passing of the Act have been in the possession of any company for a period of six years or upwards, and in respect whereof no claim has been made by the owner against the company.

• —- The Labor Bills Committee of tbe Legislative Council bavc struck out from the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill Clause 6, which allows special boards to be constituted to meet any case of industrial dispute.