POLITICAL NOTES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2298, 29 July 1880, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

Wellington, July 29. Mr Seddon seems to have made a point, judging bj' the suddenly awakened attention of members when he gave notice of motion that no person over 21 years of age who had not learned some trade, profession, or business, should receive an appointment in the Civil Service. The crop of petitions in consequence of the reductions in the Civil Service promises to be overwhelming, most of the appointments have been made through the influence of friends in the House. Those friends now show themselves equally ready to present a petition against dismissal. One member said to me lugubriously that in obtaining appointments for his friends, he had sowed the wind and was likely to reap the whirlwind. Mr Stewart’s Evidence Amendment Bill provides that the following confessions and communications shall be privileged, and not admissible in evidence except with the express consent of the person alleged to have made such confession orcommunicafion : —All confessions made to a minister of the Gospel or priest, all communications made to a physician or surgeon in his professional character by any of his patients, all coufessions made whilst he is in the custody of a police officer, unless the same shall have been made in the presence of a J.P,; provided that nothing in this section contained shall protect any communication for any criminal purpose. A prisoner may elect to give evidence for or against himself. A husband or wife can, in criminal proceedings, give evidence one against the other, providing no husband or wife shall give evidence of or disclose any communication made by one to the other of them during their marriage. Civil remedies arc not affected by the Bill.—“Lyttelton Times.”