NOTES FROM THE HOUSE

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 31, 30 July 1903, Page 15

NOTES FROM THE HOUSE

Business in parliament was very quiet during the early part of the week. In the Council on Wednesday the Hon. Mr. Rigg moved the second reading of the Tied Houses Bill, the pnncipal clause of which prevents brewers and others from owning licensed premises. After half a dozen members had spoken, the majority of whom condemned the measure as being too drastic, the debate was adjourned. • On the same evening the Mutual Fire Insurance Bill (Mr. Kirkbride) was read a second time in the House by 62 to 2. The mover said that during the last six years or so fire insurance companies doing business in New Zealand had fallen into line in regard to the premiums charged, and had thereby formed one of the strongest combinations in the Colony. The rates were felt particularly by country settlers, who were now charged 16s to 18s 6d per cent, for the insurance of isolated farmhouses, and the result was that not half ot the property-owners in "the country had cover against ■loss by fire. The Bill simply proposed to allow people living in the country districts to form co-operative fire insurance associations in order to protect their-proper-ties from loss by fire. These associations were not to be formed for the purpose of investing capital, but to provide fire cover for the members belonging to them.

The Totalisator Abolition Bill (Mr. Ell) was thrown out by 34 to 14. The debate on the second reading of the Tied Houses Bill was resumed in the Council on Thursday, but had not concluded at the adjournment. Several local Bills were introduced in the House on Thursday, the greater part of the afternoon being taken up with a discussion on an Imprest Supply Bill, brought down by Governor's Message. Sir W. J. Steward's annual measure, the Elective" Executive Bill, was again before the House, but as it was rather late when the second reading was moved the member for Waitaki acquiesced in a suggestion that further consideration be postponed until August 6, which was agreed to. The greater part of Friday afternoon was taken up with the answering of questions. The measures dealt with during the evening sitting were of an unimportant character. The Postmaster-General gave notice to in^ Uoduce the City Single Electorates Bill. An appendix to the police report shows the cost of police in New Zealand compared with the Australian States. In New Zealand there is one policeman to 1388 people, and the cost per inhabitant is 2s 10£ d ; in Vie- . tona, 1 policeman to 795 people, cost 4s s|d per inhabitant ; New South Wales, 1 policeman to 627 people, cost 5s lid per inhabitant ; South Australia, 1" policeman for 1013 people, cost 4s 2^d per inhabitant ; Queensland, 1 policeman to 586 people, cost 6s 6d per inhabitant, Western Australia, 1 policeman to 416 people, cost lls 10\d per inhabitant ; and Tasmania, 1 policeman to 7 17 people, cost 4s 3^d per inhabitant. TO OUR READERS.— You will find it to your advantage lo deal with ' Tablet ' advertisers. They are enterprising, up-to-date business men. They want your trade and are prepared to cater for it. Give them" a trial You will do us a service by kindly mentioning; the ' Tablet.'—*** In cases of attacks of Colic, Cramp, or Spasms, Evans's WITCH'S OIL will he found inv a luabl«.— ••• The ' Excelsior ' plough is ' Champion of the World.' On hillside, lea, swamp, tussock, or stifbble, it is equally at home. — Morrow, Bassett, and Co., sole agents in New Zealand.—*** There wll be a great sale of unredeemed pledges on Saturday afternoon at Messrs. Samson and Co's auction rooms, Dunedin,, when that firm, acting under instructions from Mr. W. G. Rossiter, will dispose of a comprehensive stock of all kinds of gold and silver jewellery, watches (ladies' and gentlemen's), musical instruments, field and opera glasses, elbthing, etc., all of which must be sold, no matter at what price....