POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 97, 10 September 1912, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

BIRTHS AND DEATHS. By Telegraph—Own Correspondent. Wellington, Last Night. The Births and Deaths llegistration Amendment Bill, circulated among members of Parliament to-day, comprises numerous machinery amendments to the present law. Among the provisions, it is proposed to reduce the time for the notification of births from three to two days in a borough, and from three weeks to two weeks in other cases. In respect of deaths, the Bill proposes to place the onus of 'registration entirely upon 'the undertaker, who is to notify the death within three days in a borough, or seven days in other casts, instead of thirtyone days as at present. Certain stipulations are also amended in respect of burial certificates. The Governor is to be empowered to make regulations for the registration of births and deaths of Maoris, such regulations to be applicable to the whole of New Zealand or any specified parts. A penalty of £lO is provided for in the event of any breach of the provision. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM. The Government is not content with the treatment accorde! its Legislative Council proposals by i,h« members of that Chamber, llefors *he session concludes a Bill dealing with Uie reform of the Council will be introduced in the House of Representatives, and passed through all its stages. In due course it will be s. r, nt to the Council, there to be further considered. In this way the Government feels that the argument that the people had not been consulted on the matter will he adequately met. Opinion in the lobbies is that the Bill will pass the House by a substantial majority if the necessary time for its discussion is forthcoming. How tile measure will fare in the Upper House it is impossible to say at present. In all probability the session may now extend beyond the date it was at first expected to conclude, viz., the third week in October. in consequence of this decision of the Government.

FINANCING FARMERS. Among tlie provisions in the Land Bill which the •Government will bring down is one asking for authority to remit rents to settlers who experience difficulty in the matter of finance, on the undertaking that if at any time the settlers dispose of the goodwill nf their holdings at a profit, then the amount whWh the Government remitted will be refunded in the ordinary way. " GRADUATES OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE." Representatives of societies in Dunedin "for the advancement of moral and philanthropic reform" have sent a petition to Parliament, praying for more complete training of ffirls in domestic wience. They slate that the dearth of domestic servants is due to inefficiency on the part of a large number engaged in domestic service and to excessively lnng hours of employment, with insiift'ieient relaxation and lack of proper sleeping accommodation. They urged that two and a half hours a week lie allotted to domestic science in the primary schools: the establishment of training hostels in connection with Technical Colleges. 'vh'Te pupils could receive instruction in cookery, laundry work and house management, and after eighteen months become "Graduales of Domestic Science.* Young women fit is stated) would then be trained with a view to earning their own living, and thousands of homes would be made happier bv having efficient wives and mothers. Creches, —where students raav learn the care of infants —are proposed for each hostel. Petitioners also Ttropo=e that domestic instruction be made a compulsory subject for all girls holding junior free places at Technical Colleges and High Schools.