The Premier stated this (Tuesday) afternoon bhab the Government had agreed to set up a Committee for the consideration of questions affecting the looal industries of this colony—the Committee to consist of ten members. The duties of this Committee will be to inquire into the position of vari ous industries throughout the qolony, and to consider and report, to the Government as to how each industry can bosb be en couraged, whether by bonus or by granting further protection. WEST COAST SETTLEMENT. The firsb order of to-day will be the West Coast Settlement Reserves Bill. It is the intention of the Government to sub stitute Mr Valentine's name for that of Mr Lake on the Committee to which the Bill is to be referred, but the Premier de clines to accepb a Joinb Committee of both Houseß under any consideration as the Upper House is now constituted. Mr Bal lance ia not prepared to accept a partisan Committee ab the hands of the Council, in which the Government are practically un represented. Whatever the Upper House does, as at present constituted, they must take full responsibility, A FINANCIAL QUESTION. A question has arisen between the Go vernment and the Upper House as to the right possessed by the Legislative Council to set up a Committee on finance, and the Premier haa been interviewed on the sub ject by the Hon. Mr Stevens, Mr Ballance said the Government had no right to interfere. He did not deny that the Council had power to seb up the Com mittee, but he thought it was an interfer ence with the i prerogatives of the Lower House, and added that the Government supporters in the Council would probably protest against it. The object of setting up this Committee is to consider tho opera tion of the Act of 1884, which enables the Government to issue debentures against increases of sinking fund. SHOP HOURS BILL. The Government have in preparation a Shop Hours Bill, which, however, is con fined exclusively to the fixing of a weekly half-holiday for shop employees, and it ia proposed that the half-holiday shall be on a day to be fixed by local bodies. The inten tion is bo provide for employees who do nob come under the operation of the Factories Act. 