POLITICAL NOTES,

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3125, 26 July 1892, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES,

(BY TBLKGRAPH—SPECIAL COBRKSPONDKNT. Wellington, Last Night. THE LICENSING QUESTION. The Premier and Attorney-General received a deputation from the Licensed Victuallers' Association this mormng in reference to Mr Justice Denniston's judgment, re the Sydenham licensing case. . The deputation represented that as Jndge Dennieton had found that the Sydenham Committee bad shown bias they were unnt to exercise judicial functions, and should, therefore be removed from office by ar> Order-in-Council. They, therefore, asked that His Honor's judgment should be considered by the Government. The Premier promised to refer the whole matter to the law officers of the Crown, .and reply in a f9W C THE FINANCIAL DEBATE. Mr G. F. Richardson, ex-Minieter for liands, will probably speak on the Financial Statement, to-morrow night. Mr Kichardson's speech is expected to cause no little sensation, as he intends to go fully into the state of the colony's finances, and as there are few men better qualified to speak on that subject, his remarks are awaited with some interest. Mr Richardson was virtually in charge of the Treasury during the last eighteen months of Sir H. Atkinsons term of office, when his colleagues relieved Sir Harry as much as possible from departmental wcrk owing to tho unfortunate illness which eventually proved fatal to the late Premier.

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCTS. Tho Minister for Public Works is to be asked to-morrow by Mr E. M. Smith, the energetic member for New Plymouth, whether he will secure some pigs of iron and castings made direct from the blast furnace and some of the bars of wrought iron and sheets and plates made from New Zealand iron sand at the Ouehunga Iron Works and send them to the Chicago Exhibition, so as to show American metallurgists and the world thst New Zealand can manufacture iron and steel unequalled in the world for quality, and by so doing give New Zealand a prominence at the World's Exhibition. TEMPERANCE BEVERAGE. During a debate in the House on Friday, the Premier said that hop beer sold in Wellington contain from 3 to 7 per cent, of alcohol, and in Auckland even 10 per cent, nearly as much as ordinary malt beer. It therefore came under the Licensing Act. It would be difficult to decide on a strength which small storekeepers might be allowed to sell, but he would enquire into the matter. Mr Fish says fermented Ringer beer is made by the same process as the hop beer, it would, therefore, contain tho same amount of alcohal as that beverage.