POLITICAL NOTES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 35, 4 August 1911, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES

CHEAP FARES FROM ENGLAND. Reduced fares were granted to approved immigrants from England last year, and it is suggested in the annual report of the Immigration Department that the new rates should have the effect of inducing a number of young women to emigrate to New Zealand, and be of material assistance to those associations that have been formed for the purpose of introducing domestics into the Dominion. Single female servants approved by the High Commissioner may obtain a passage from England to New Zealand at £2 lGs for a berth in a sixberth enclosed cabin; £4 16s for one in a four-berth cabin; and £6 16s in a two-berth cabin. Farm laborers in possession of not less than £lO can obtain assisted passages at £8 in a sixberth cabin, and £lO and £l2 in fourberth and two-berth cabins respectively. During the year ended March 31 there were 10,334 immigrants from the United Kingdom, of whom 2024 were assisted. Of the latter, 831 were domestics. The assisted immigrants possessed capital totalling £37,735.

A GROWING FUND.. The balance at the credit of the Railways Superannuation Fund has been steadily growing. From £7056 in 1903 it has now reached £207,242, the increase for 1911 being roughly £34,000 over 1910. Last year members actually contributed £57,008, and the payment of £25,000 from the consolidated fund, together with other amounts, such as interest £9219, and the sum of £173,876 carried forward, brought the receipts up to £209,502. The superannuation allowances paid during the year amounted to £45,782, and among other payments was £5740 in respect of 152 widows and 202 children. The new allowances last year totalled £8064, or nearly £4OOO less than in the previous year, bringing the annual pensions and allowances at March 31 last to £54,144, distributed among 'lO6l persons.

PLUMBERS' LICENSES. The Plumbers' Registration Bill brought down last night was circulated last session. It provides for the creation of boards of examiners, and the registration of every plumber who was either in actual business as a master plumber at tho time of the passing of the Act or was a fully competent journeyman jilumber or held a certificate of'the ordinary or honors gnide of the City and Guild's Institute or some other equally valuable certificate. Examination and registration will cost not more than twenty shillings, and the holder of a certificate will not be required to pass any other examination or pay a license fee under the by-laws of any local authority. A penalty is fixed for any unregistered person doing sanitary work. The Bill will prevent local bodies from making revenue out of plumbers by requiring a local license fee from them.