PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 156, 6 July 1903, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Mr Jennings gavo notice to move for a return showing the amount received ! by the Government for the sale of trtara forests in the North Island. The Premier emphatically denied thai the Government had ever given an indication of any intention to do ftway with the freehold now existing, and substitute for it the leasehold. Mr O'Meara is suggesting to the Government that the subsidy to country libraries eheold be increased. Mr E. M. Smith gave notice to ask the Government to arrange for Fro-, fester Ets'erfield inspecting his stock of New Zealand minerals at New Plymouth, with a view to delivering a l»tnre on the possibilities of the colony minufacturing its own iron and steel. Mr Buchanan wants the Government to arrange facilities by which local bodies may -be enabled to borrow for the purpose of stone-breaking and other road-making machinery. The Minister for Education is to be asked by Mr Major whether he will establish classes in agricultural chemistry and science at the District High School, Hawera. Mr Ell's Bill to'abolish the toialisa'or is a measure of only one operative clause, which repea's sections 47 and 48 of the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1881, sections 3 to 6 of the Stamp Acts Amendment Act, 1891, and section 6 of the Gaming Act, 189f. The Counties Act Amendment Bill, introduced by the Premier, is a short measure which gives increased raticg piwer to the counties. It provides that the maximum general rate which may be levied in any year shall be—in outlying districts, 3d in the pound on the capital value, or its equivalent on the unimproved value; in all other parts of the county, l|d in the pound. There is also a clause in the Bill enabling a County Council to establish fire brigades, and make gratuities to ■uch brigades out of the county fund. In another Bill under tbe charge of the Premier the rating-power of roads and town districts is likewise iccreased, the maximum general rate being fixed at l£d in the pound on the capital value, or its equivalent on the unim- - proved value; acd it is stipulated that separate rates in road districts.which , are subdivided shall, with the general rate?, not exceed l£i in the pound. Both the Premier and Minister for Public Works gave a clear indicitkm yesterday of the attitude which will be adopted by the Government in tbe coming fight over 'hi freehold. The Premier, speaking on the subj ci when . the appointment of the Sessional Waste Lands Committee was before tbe House, declared empba'ically that in regard to the freehold, his back was "against the door." The present land policy, said Mr Seddon, must continue . in* tfce interests of all clsses in the colony. "Do you wish to do away with the leasing of Crown lands ?" hi demanded of the Opposition. "No," was the reply. " Are you ea'itfi d with the existing law?" "No." "Then, in what direction do yon want an alteration V continued Mr Seddon; but i( in reply to this the Opposition leaders merely laughed, and s«ked' Mr Seddon to bring down his Bill. In bis speech in the Addreos-in-Kep'y,"' Mr Hall- _ Jones opposed the freehold, and explicitly stated that the Government did not propose to alter the tenure. The Shops and Offices Bill, which the Government has reintroduced this Bission, represents ao important departure from last year's Bill, inasmuch as it provides that tha weekly half-holiday shall be on Saturday. Clause 7of the Bill reads:—"Except ss hereinafter specially provided, every shop shall be closed not later than 1 o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday in every week, and shall remain closed for the remainder of the day." This clause shall not apply to the business of a fishmonger, a fruiterer, a sonfectioner, or a bookstall-keeper on a railway station, except where such a business is carried on in conjunation with any other business. A batcher, hairdresser or photographer may, if he wishes, observe the half-holiday on any other day of the week than Saturday, whilst a shop may be kept open on the half-holiday to supply goods to a ship arriving on that day, or to supply agricultural machinery daring the time of harvest, or to supply medicines in an urgent case. The BUI provides for the weekly halfholiday for assistants in hotels, eatinghouses, ot restaurants; and also contains last year's clause prohibiting the employment of barmaids after 9 o'clock in 'he 'v. ~i.g. Last year's clauses rekv ing to unices are repeated. Power is given to enforce an early-closing law in any borough when a requisition to that .effect is signed by three-fif tbs of the shopkeepers. Mr Baume, one of the Auckland members, has given notice to aek if the Government will use their best endeavours to secure a daily steamer service between Oaehuoga and New Plymouth.