POLITICAL AND SESSIONAL.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1385, 19 May 1881, Page 3

POLITICAL AND SESSIONAL.

Retrenchment. — Messrs. Seed and Batkin, in pursuit of inquiries as to the beat way in which the Oivil Service of the colony can be further reduced or reorganised, had on 7th inst. reached as far aS Timaruon their southern travels.

Parliament buildings. — In view of the near approach of the session, a large staff of cleaners, painters, decorators, etc., have been set to work in the Parliamentary Buildings to prepare for the reception of legislators. Some parts of the building are much in need of renovation.

Deceased Wife's Sister's Bill —The statement made a few days ago to the effect that the above named measure had come into force consequent upon the absent given by the Queen was premature. Although virtually law the Aot does not become absolute law till it has been proclaimed. We presume that the proclamation will be made directly.

School Capitation Grants. — We men. tioned in a recent issue that a circular Lad been issued to the various secretaries of the Education Boards within the colony, notifying that, nfter the 30th of June 1881, capitation grants would not be paid to Boards on account of the attendance at pubhc schools of children under five yeaia of age. The circular also requests that the attendances of all children under five years of age be excluded from the attendance summary for the current quarter, on which the next quarter's payments are calculated, and the advisability is suggested of the Boards of Education forthwith issuing instructions to School Committees and teachers to exclude the attendance of all such children from their school attendance returns for the present quarter.

Thk Appboacuing Session. — A contemporary reports: — "The vaiious departments of the Service have their hands full just now, preparing for the coming hession. We hear that many new Bills are being 1 drafted, but that only the more pressing measures will be first introduced : and, those disposed of, it will be left to the House to decide whether it will take moie. The Representation Bill promises to be the piece dc rcmttuicc, albeit the exact form it will take is scarcely yet known. Very shortly however, it will be brought under review. Licensing, Charitable Aid and Local Government are also subjects for primary legislative consideration. So far as it ia possible to forecast at present", the coming session promises to be brief and quiet ; the c.iltn, in facb, beforo the storm of a general election."

Institute of Suiwxyoiw : — We have received a copy of a Bill which It is proposed to introduce during the approaching sesssion of Parliament for the purpose of establishing an institute of surveyors in the colony. It contains twelve short clauses, which provide for the incorporation of the association, the use of a common seal, the adoption of rules and regulations, the recovery of fees, and other matteis. Under clause 5 the institute may "purchase, acqure, hold, possess, and enjoy, for an} r estate, or term of years whatever, any real or personal estate of any nature or any kind whatsoever, " and may sell, or otherwise dispose of, the same. Clause 6, 7, and 8 provide for the appointment of a council, the holding of general meetings, and powers of the council. Clauses 9 and 10 regulate the examination of candidates, and define the qualification of membership. The gist of the proposed measure is contained in the 12th and last clause, which provides that any surveyor who is not a member of the institute shall have no legal standing in the colony. It reads as follows ;— l2. No person practising the profesion of a surveyor in New Zealand sh all be entitled to recover any fee or reward for any professional sers'ices in any court ot law or equity in New Zealand, unless such person shall have been at the time of the performance ot such services a member of the institute, by this Act incorporated 5 or be possessed of one or other of the qualifications enumerated and set forth under Section 10 ot this Act : and any contract to pay such fee or reward to such person, not being a member of having the said qualifications, shall be void.