Political Points.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7899, 15 August 1905, Page 3

Political Points.

Members are anxious to sec the balance-sheet of the State coal mines, especially in > view, of the discussion that has taken place on the subject during the session. The Premier, in reply to Mr Herdman, announced that the balance-sheet was now in the hands of the Audit Department, and he would take an early opportunity of laying it on the table of the House..

• • » • I The Labour Bills Committee, reporting on Mr Taylor's Factories Act Amendment Bill, which seeks to provide a payment ot not less than seventeen shillings a week for every person of the age of twenty years or over employed in a factory, has amended the bill in the direction of providing for the receipt of this wage after being employed in a factory for a period of not less than four years.

Objection was raised in Hie House to a system that has grown up of persons—it was alleged they were inebriated— accosting> members in the Parliamentary grounds. Mr Barber complained that he was "stuck up" in the grounds by people who would not be allowed on Lambton quay. He suggested that a policeman should be stationed in the Parliamentary grounds. The Premier said there was a good story going round that a man who was intoxicated sent in for Mr Bedford, as he wanted to take the pledge. (Laughter.) Seriously speaking, however, he would mention the matter to the Minister for Justice, to sec if some steps could not he taken to prevent people from troubling members.

Thr cause of wonun shorthand writers was advocated by Mr Taylor, who urged that they should be given an opportunity on the Hansard staff. He urged that there were some women in the colony who had passed examinations in speed' and quality of work that would beat any Hansard reporter on the staff to-day. "What about the hours'.'" asked an hon. member. "They go to dances," interjected the member for Ashburton. Whilst on the subject or Hansard, thu member for Christchureh asked by whose authority a Hansard reporter was allowed to give evidence in the Supreme Court in regard to the notes lie took of a debate in the House, ip a case Jin which he (MiTaylor) was concerned in Ohristchureh '.' Were they privileged to disclose to anyone such information without permission of the Speaker '.' The Chairman of Hie Committee ruled that this was a matter for the Speaker. Hr Taylor intimated that he would put a question on the ord-er-paper in regard to the matter.

• • * • Mr Hogg recently asked the Minis* ter of Justice if he would lake effective steps to assist flic Benevolent and Charitable Aid Hoards in the prosecution and punishment of family deserters by treating levanters from the colony who sock to • evade their natural responsibilities in the same way as ordinary criminal fugi-tives>-Mr M'Gowan's reply,was : U, is presumed that the question means Will the Government defray theiexpense of extraditing wife deserters and bringing them back to the colony ? The general rule is that where the extradition of an offender is sought the expenses must 'be borne by the parties applying, but where the police arc prosecuting for serious crimes the expenses are paid by the Stato. In the case of wife deserters, the rule is for each case to, be dealt with on its merits, and if as is invariably the case, the wife is unable to guarantee payment, and the Government are satisfied that it would be proper to afford assistance Hie Police Department is authorised' to incur the necessary expenditure. The Premier stated, in reply to Mr Hemes, that It was true the Public Trustee paid land tax on land held by him under the West Coast Settlements Reserves Act, 1892, where the land had been leased. Where- lands were unlcased and there were no funds at credit, of course, no tax could be paid. It had been recognised % the Public Trust Office that the and fax was a great hardship on the native beneficiaries, and if after consideration of a recent' 'j'udementby fh e Chief Justice, it was still lound that the land tax could be enforced, then the Government might consider necessary amendments to jive relief.

•Jil M "» s, «- for Justice stated, in reply to a question by Mr J. C rhomson that an amendment of the law in the direction of making provision for p ay i ns reasonable expens>es incuired by persons wrongfully prosecirted by Hie police » m f nf „ r - EScT 'iT"' 1 '' 1 ' wou ' ( ' IfU to cmlof «, \Z k ' aS a ," l!elso " s a «l u i'W of an offence would consider th,.y had been wrongfully prosecuted. Mr J ™ J T o "' quolc<l tlle f aso of a young farmer in his district who i'ad been tried on a. charge of shoe t ,te ! ufv "a" W, , , ° Was 4-iUcd y he jury. A rider was added thai i™nr7 a WCrC 0f 01,i " iM1 H *t the S' a ""•, wa « a S guiltless of lh cnaigc as they were themselves r>„. accused man "had been "in}i cd health, and had been put,(Van *-v Prose of over £2OO. thrtc should £ an amendment, su that -..> T • might bcteldatVdemand o?anv facie case la L , ri ' ,,ly ' *«<• a prima "«■ admi/fd he nJHe,T membcr " difficult on,, t '"atlci was a very under ,„"& . £*„•'»'« in the casj C ---y«hart l lfey ,l td l, Ze, aC,C<l "'S'^toU^i I ,]^"- 1 - would leeishY; • llc &ov «"nient coupon sSprK, • tho tradc the sale' f tS e» iV' O^ 110 " stated that the L t .>n'J' C Premicr lively practfX matt"r W r receiving attention. I alms' ed restnclivc action would Vnc^

* * • • A case recently where n „,,„ • W of 3 „ s pef weerapp n , ( | n £ for? (be Wellington. s.M. Uguct to.

answer certain charges, prompted a query to be addressed by Mr till to It-he .Minister. for Labour, asking him whether he did not think a mimiImuin wage law .should be passed. The reply was that it Would be an ; impossibility to fix a minimum wage to cover all classes of work, and still more difficult to enforce-it. 'ihe remedy wr-.s to form industrial unions. Tho Government wished to try to relieve the workers by legislation affecting the .diminishing value of wages. • • • < Mr Field has been informed by the Government that the question of admitting the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company's employees to the benefits of the Government Kailwavs Superannuation Fund is under consideration, and inlonualion is being obtained. Mr Fowlds protested against anything being dune to admit a large body ol private individuals to the railway superannuation scheme ! before Hie House bad been given an opportunity to consider the matter (Opposition interjections : "It's simply electioneering.")