POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 649, 20 August 1891, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[special to standard ] Wellington, last night. The majority of the Cabinet are of opinion that the session will close in less than a month from date. Of course this means a great slaughter of Bills. The estimates will probably come on for consideration on Tuesday next, but the Public Works Statement will not be brought down till some progress is made with them. The special Committee of the Legislative Council has reported absolutely against the Shop Hours Bill, and its fate may be considered hopeless. The Bill introduced by the Premier to amend the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act authorises the Colonial Treasurer to apply money borrowed tor the purposes of making loans to local authorities, for the opening up of land for settlement by the formation of roads and bridges, in sums not exceeding £50,000 in any year. Such expenditure is dependent on a satisfactory report by the Surveyor-General, and the sums expended are to be a first charge on proceeds from the disposal of land.

The Premier has promised that if Sir John Hall's Female Franchise Bill passes its second reading it will be taken up by Government. This is regarded as a foregone conclusion, a large majority being strongly in favor of extending the franchise. Sir John is confident of passing the Bill through the Upper House. Sir George Grey will strongly support the proposal, and will also advocate the establishment of a separate Upper House composed entirely of females, occupying a position exactly similar to khat now occupied by the Legislative Council, and to which all legislation in which women are interested should be sent for approval. Sir Georgs Grey says there ie an immense number of subjects in which women should hays a voice, notably the questions as to age of consent. Contagious Diseases Aot, education of children, rights females to property, and hundreds of other things. The fonfole Branch of the Legislature he proposes would have the power of proposing amends meats or rejecting auy Acts passed by the other House. In thia way the rights of women, which he considers as great as the rights of tr.en, would be fully protected. It may ba taken for granted that Mr Perceval will succeed Sir ftUlop JSsll in the Agent Generalship, Al» fo. this effect will probably ba made very shortly. ____________