POLITICAL NOTES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 11637, 8 November 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

[By Telegraph. J (special to the chrowicle.) Wbkcingtos', Novomber 1 It is understood that in making their departmental retrenchment, Ministers do not intend to make reductions in all instances, but rather to equalise salaries so^ as to effaot a general Baying. There will be no uniform percentage taken off all the salaries, which are re-arranged, and in some caaea where officers are evidently underpaid increases will probably be given, Messrs Goldie and Monk are, it is said, going to move in the direction of abolishing tho sale of all liquid refreshments at Bellamy's, save those of a purely nou-intoxicant character. Mr Leveßtam's Disqualification Act Amendment Bill provides that any Legislative Councillor making use of hia position as a member of the Council to influence the election of a candidate for a seat in the House of Representatives, shall be disqualified from holding a seat in the Council. " Influence." is defined !o mean the proposing or seconding of a candidate, publishing of any advertisement, circular, notice, document, being signed, in addition the name of the Legislative Councillor, with the words, "Member of Legislative Council," or letters " M.L.C.," or if there is anything in such document to show that it emanates from a member of the Legislative Council. Government do not intend to introduce any measure dealing with the proposeel reduction in education expenditure. The Minister for Education considers there is no necessity for ariy bill on the subject, as the reductions do not. go beyond the limits of the act, For instance, the oapitation which has been paid on the average attendance has for years been .£3 19a, whereas the act only provides for a oeipifcation of £3 15s. Then it is contended that capitation is only to be paid on the average attendance, at each school, of < children from the ages of 7 to 13. The act allows children to be present at school at 5, and between 13 and 15 years of age, but does not make attendance compulsory before the age of 7 or after 13. The proposal of the Government is to allow oapitation to continue for children, but they do not recognise that it is compulsory under the act. The Minister for Education has discovered that for some years past a considerable number of children have been put down in the returns as " having passed the sixth standard, and entered the seventh." Of course there is no seventh standard provided for, and expenditure on those who are retained in school after passing the sixth standard is unauthorised. In the last aanual report of the Minister for Education, over 1667 children are set down under standard seven, and the cost of these was over £6000. This will not. Government expect, be allowed to recur. A considerable saving will be effected in this way, in addition to savings already proposed. the lobbies are almost deserted to* night. There is more gossip as to the probable wiuner of the New Zealand Oup than as to the oourso the petition is likely to take.