POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 623, 20 June 1891, Page 3

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[SPBCIAL TO THS STANDARD.! Wellington, Thursday night. Government do not intend to interfere with the Licensing Laws. On the motion of Mr Rees, it has been unanimously decided to give a trial of Mr Vaile’s zone eys'em in connection with the railways. It is only a few years since Mr Vaile’s proposals were laughed at by all classes, bus he was most persistent in facing all opposition, and now there are many who cordially support him. The Bill for reforming the Legislative Council has been read a first time. Government favor New Zealand being represented at the Chicago Exhibition, but the matter of expense has yet to be carefully considered. The matter of the Chairmanship of Committees is still undecided. Every Member, except Messrs Carroll and Mitchelson, has now arrived in Wellington. The Post to-night deals favorably with the Budget, while the Press makes a strong attack on it. Mr Rees has been elected chairman of the Local Bills Committee. Mr Cadman has moved to introduce the Counties Act Amendment Bill, the Guarantee Act Amendment Bill, and the Imbecile Passengers Act Amendment Bill. The following bills have been introduced and read a first time:—The Palmerston North Hospital District Bill (Mr Wilson), the Shop Hours Bill, and a bill to amend the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1867 (Mr Joyce), the Wellington Gas Company's Act, 1870, Amendment Bill, and the Wellington Harbor Board Act, 1879, Amendment Bill (Mr Fisher), the Land Bill (Mr J. McKenzie), the School Committee Election Bill, the Shop Hours Bill, the Truck Bill, the Factories Bill, the Employers’ Liability Act Amendment Bill (Mr W. PBeeves) and the Civil Service Bill (Mr Ballance). The Gaming and Lotteries Amendment Bill, introduced by Mr George Hutchison, seeks to suppress improper pastimes, and to regulate the use of lotteries. The existing Acts are to be repealed, and all sports, exhibitions, and competitions at or in respect of which money or valuable consideration is offered or payable are deemed to be unlawful, but exception is make in favor of bona fide exhibitions or contests of skill, excellence, or endurance, if conducted in public. Games, lotteries and sweepstakes into which an element of chance is introduced are not to be permitted, save in cases where the lotteries are sanctioned by the Colonial Secretary or are held for a religious, charitable, or social purpose, the contributions in respect to which are limited to five shillings each, and the prizes are works of art, fancy, or utility. Exception is also made in favor of sweepstakes of five shillings where the aggregate amount does not exceed £3, Any person occupying or conducting a gaming house is to be liable to a penalty not exceeding £5O, with the option of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months. Provision is, of ccurse, made for the issue of a warrant respecting a suspected gambling house, and for the seizure of any appliances found therein. All contracts and agreements in respect to wagering or betting are to be declared null and void, and no portion of the money so inpounded is to be recoverable by law. It is proposed to bring the Act into operation from September 15th next, Mr Rees made a splendid speech In support of bis proposal that Government initiate correspondence with the view of having an International Conference during the Chicago Exhibition to go into the subject of the relations between Labor and Capital. Mr Earnshaw seconded the motion, speaking Warmly in favor of something being done to prevent the misery which resulted through the accumulation of great wealth in the bands of a few, to the great detriment of those who were the real producers of the wealth. He felt sure that the Australian colonies would gladly join the New Zealand Government in appealing to the Mother Country to settle this meet important question. Mr O’Connor said he had no hope whatever of achieving any good by passing a motion of the kind. Mr Fish thought it savored eomewhat of impudence on the part ot a small country like New Zealand to gravely approach older nations of the world on such a momentous ques'ion. Mr Pinkerson considered if Mr Bees's proposal did no other good it might be the means of exchanging thoughts and ideas with other countries, which would probably be productive of some benefit in settling the relations ot labor end capital. Mr Tanner supported the motion. After some discussion the motion was carried on the voices, the Hon. Mr Reeves stating that the Government believed that some good might arise from such a correspondence. A committee has been appointed to enquire whether some remedy cannot be found for the present defects in party government. Sir John Hall is moving in the matter of female franchise, which stands a fine chance of being carried this session, though it is not known now the Upper House will take it. The veteran member for Newton received quite an ovation on entering the House for the first time this session. Sir George was introduced by the Hon. Mr Seddon and Mr Bess, and on going up to the Speaker’s chair to take the usual oath of allegiance to Her Majesty be was heartily cheered, several of the labor members rising to their feet and exhibiting the utmost enthusiasm, which Sir George acknowledged by repeatedly bowing to the right and to the left. Besides the 19 members present at the caucus thia morning five were accounted for, which makes the total strength of the party 24 ; but there are five more members on the Mme side in everything except the property tax, which they are bound by their hustings pledges to oppose in favour of the land and income tax. This brings up the Opposition strength to a total of 29, it being understood that only 24, would be certain to vote against the Ministerial proposals as to a change in the incidence of taxation.—H.B. Herald.

The general feeling in the lobbies is that the Financial Statement has completely ‘dished’ the Opposition, and that the Government are now safe for the remainder Of the present Parliament. The faces of Bussell, Bryce, Bollrston, and McArthur on the front Opposition benches, perceptibly lengthened during the delivery of the Statement. and became perfect pictures on the Premier reaching the Progressive Land Tax proposal, which was received with a buret Of applause. Messrs Lawry, T. Thompson, B. Thomson, Meredith, and O'Connor have expressed strong satisfaction with the Statement, and their intention to support the Government, 'who would have a majority of over twenty ahould a division on the proposals be taken.— Napier News.