PARLIAMENTARY.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 205, 7 July 1893, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY.

SHOP ASSISTANTS’ BILL. Mr Reeves, Minister for Labour, has introduced an amended Shop and Shop Assistants’ Bill. The Bill now in force has not been successful, hence the new one. Saturday afternoon from one o’clock is to be made tbe weekly balf holiday, but power is given to local bodies to substitute another day in the week. The new clauses will make the Bill workable. Sir Robert Stout w’shes the Bill extended so as to include barmaids. ELECTORAL BILL. The Premier introduced the Electoral Bill. This differs from last year’s Bill only in making the ballot more secret. In places where less than fifty votes are cast the numbers will not be made known separately, but the small returns will be forwarded to a centre and there lumped and the numbers declared for all smaller polling booths in one total. The benefit of this will be seen by recalling the voting returns of last election in the Bay of Islands electorate. In several instances candidates were made aware of the way in which persons had voted owing to the few votes cast in some places. Mr Houston has t>een appointed Chairman of the Native Committee. The Postmaster-General is proposing to alter the time-table of the San Francisco mail service in order to give the people in this colony more time to answer their letters by return mail. In a Bill brought in by tbe Premier, imprisonment for debt for any sum under £IOO is abolished. The Distress for Rent Abolition Bill, introduced by Mr Seddon, which passed its first reading provides that no landlord shall be entitled to any preferential claim for rent in the event of tho bankruptcy of his tenant GUMFIELDS’ BILL. Mr Jackson Palmer’s Gumfields’ Bill provides that none are allowed to dig without a license, and no license without twelve months’ residence in the colony, exception to those already here. Annual license fee is fixed at one pound for British subjects and five pounds for aliens. Licenses are to be issued from all post offices, and the names of licensees kept for public inspection. Any person discovered digging maybe compelled to disclose bis name, and also the post office where he obtained his license, so that anyone can search and prosecute. The punishment for offences under tho Act are: for the first, fine not exceeding £lO, or in default not exceeding a month ; for subsequent offences a fine not exceeding £2O, or, in default, not exceeding three months. The person prosecuting obtains half the fine. Contracts to introduce to the colony aliens for the gumfields are declared to be illegal. Contracts compelling a digger to purchase goods from any particular store, or sell gum to a particular store, are declared to be illegal. Powers are given to the Government to appsintinspectors, and also to make and gazette regulations. A deputation of ten members, including Messrs Houston and R. Thompson, waited on the Premier in support of the Direct Yeto Bill. The Premier said he realised the importance of the question. He was at one : with the deputation, but would not lik his official capacity, to give an opinion u. the matter at present. The line of policy which he intended to pursue would be indicated on the second reading of the Bill, The Conciliation and Arbitration Bill has passed its second reading in the House, and is now before the Labour Bills’ Committee. The Sale of Poisons Amendment Bill, another Government measure, compels a person desirous of purchasing poison chemicals to bring two responsible witnesses with him. The measure also prohibits apprentices or unregistered assistants selling poisons.