POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 354, 15 October 1898, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(BYTKLEURAPIt - SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT) Wellington, Last Night. NORTH ISLAND RAILWAY. Mr Lang brought this railway up to-day by asking the Minister for Public Works whether his attention had been called to a letter in the Auckland Herald of the sth October, in which it is stated that " not a single chain of railway has been completed at this (Auckland) end during the past year, tunl is not like'y to be at the present rate of work for two years to come." He wished to know from the Minister whether this statement is correct, aud pointed out that Mr Hall-Jones had not as yet contradicted it in the House. Mr Hall-Jones said he had not seen the letter in question, nor had his attention been drawn to it till Mr Lang's question appeared on the Order Paper. There was nothing extraordinary, however, in the fact that not a chain of the North Island Main Trunk Railway had beeu completed during the year, and this applied equally as much to other Hues. The hon. gentleman would see from the Public Works Statement that a delay had arisen at the north end of the line," where the country was of a very treacherous nature. The Engiueer-iu-Chief bail visited the works last winter, and the ground proved so bad that work had to be suspended in some places, during the wettest portion of the winter ; but work was now resumed and would be pushed on during the summer months, MiLang asked whether the work at the Auckland end would be comp'eted in two years, to which the Minister replied that he was not a prophet and did not know what was likely to happen, but if he had the money he should be glad to finish this portion of the line. LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM. The Bills brought down by the Premier last night for circulation throughout the country contain some sweeping alterations in the existing law They propose in respect to Municipal Councils the following amendment: "The franchise has been considerably enlarged aud extended to the case of a freeholder whose-property is occupied by a ratepayer, and also to the case of a person who is, and for three monts has been, in occupation as tenant or sub-tenant of the whole or any part of any building in the borough under a tenancy, the rent whereof is at the rate ot not less than £lO per year for each teuant thereunder. In the former case the franchise avails for all purposes, bnt in the latter it is not available for any poll relating to loans or rates. At every election or other poll, each voter has one vote and no more. Elections are to be conducted and polls taken in accordance generally with the provisions applicable to the elections of members of the House of Representatives. There will be a general election of Borough Councillors every two years." COUNTY COUNCILS. The Premier's proposals for the reform of County Councils are to the effect that in counties the franchise is extended to the case of a freeholder, notwithstanding that his property is occupied, and also to the case of a person who for three months had been in occupation as tenant or sub-tenant of the whole or any part of any building in the county under a tenancy, the rent whereof is at the rate of not less than £lO per year for each tenant thereunder. In the former case the franchise is available f. r all purposes, but in the latter it is not available for the purposes of any poll relating to loans or rates. At every poll each voter has one vote and no more, and the poll is decided by a majority of the valid votes received. The whole council of a county goes out of office eveiy two years. In view of the provision being thus made for the council being in touch with the great body of the inhabitants of the district, and of the size and importance of the counties under the Bdl, it has been felt safe to entrust the county councils with wide power and discretion, and so remove the existing hampering restrictions on the power to make such byelaws as the needs of each district require. LENGTH OF SESSION. » A report has been put about that the Premier aud Capt. Russell have arranged that the session is to close in a fortnight, but I am in a position to state that the report is absolutely witnout foundation. The general impression is that the prorogation will take place about the 10th November, in time for the Christchurch Show, but I am inclined to the opinion that the business of the session will not be concluded till near the end of next month. Memters, however, arc becoming very homesick, and considerable sacrifices arc likely to be made in order to close up at the earliest possible date.