POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1497, 4 July 1905, Page 3

POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

*» A scrappy programme ” is the title under which' the Post sums up the Speech. Mr Taylor wishes the Minister for Railways to establish modern express ferry steamers between Wellington and Lyttelton. Mr Field is asking the Government to take some decisive steps to cope with the present appalling mortality amongst the native population. A revision of the scale of costs allowed to Crown Prosecutors when appearing in petsy prosecutions in the Police Court is being asked for by Mr Hogg. Mr Fisher is asking the Premier to instruct the police to enforce the provisions of the Police Offences Act dealing with the circulation of indecent literature. Mr J. O. Thomson is asking the Minister for Justice on whose recommendation the policemen recently convicted, at OuDedin of receiving stolen goods were appointed to the police force. It is understood that Mr Kidd, in accepting the position of Government Whip, has reserved the right to give his vote .in favor of the option of the freehold when the land question cornea up for discussion.

A great deal was heard last session about the purohaso by the loan agents of 1150,000 worth of the colony’s 8 per cent, debentures. Now, Mr Buchanan is asking whether those debentures have yet been sold by the colony. Mr Lauronson is asking the Minister for Education if he will Btsto why a building for the accommodation of the deaf and dumb ohildren of the colony, which has been eraoted at Sumner at great cost, is still empty, although finished' over 16 months ago. “ A voluminous, but decidedly humdrum address,” is the not very flattering term applied to tho Governor’s speech by a Wellington journal. " Soldom, if ever, has tho speech from the Throne been such a flat,, prosy, and unsensational utter-

A petition from a largo number of bank officials in various parts of the colony was presented by Sir Joseph Ward. The petitioners ask that they bo specially exempted from the operations of the Shops and Offices Act, stating that thoy are satisfied with their present conditions of employment.

Solicitude for the welfare of the railway servants is evinced by Mr Millar, who wants the hours of labor of engine drivers, fiiemon, and guards reduced from 54 to 48 a week. Mr Arnold is also concerned as to tbo interests of the Bame branch oi tho service. He desires that all railway servants, whose present maximum pay is 7s a day, shall receive 8s a day. Mr Taylor wanta to know whether, in view of the alleged enormous surplus, the Colonial Treasurer will devote the sum of J 6200.000 from such surplus for improving and extending school buildings, technical education, increased salaries, etc. The same member is elso inquiring whether the Government will provide a uniform set oi school books for the public schools.

Mr Fisher wishes to secure an increase in the penalties provided for sly grogselling. Mr Bedford asks that Government employees be brought under tho jurisdiction of tho Arbitration Court.

According to Mr Le.Dg, the Land Committee of tho Houso, which was formerly one of the rarst orderly of committece, is now “ more like a bear garden than anything else.”