Parliamentary Notes.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 376, 23 July 1903, Page 5

Parliamentary Notes.

Mr Field has introduced a Bill to prohibit the sale of tobacco to youths under 17. It proposes to make the sale of tobacco, cigars, or cigarettes to youths under 17 illegal, and provides a penalty not exceeding £lO on conviction of any person for selling to youths, and a penalty of 5s for a first offence, and 10s for second and subsequent offences for youths under 17 against whom a conviction is obtained. Provision is made for the use of tobacco by youths on production of a medical certificate that the tobacco is used for health reasons.

The co-operative works system will never be a success (says Mr Harding) till you have angels for workers and archangels for Ministers. The House has been notified of the intention of the Justice Department to grant Mr Alexander Mackay, of the Native. Land Court, a pension of £390 a year from Ist October next. Mr Herdman has given notice to ask for a return showing the cost to the colony of the excursion to the Pacific Islands, including moneys to be paid to the Union Company for alterations to the Mapourika. It is pretty certuin that the Financial Statement will be-brought down on Tuesday, 28th. "This dreadful Countess of Ranfurly."—Cries of "What?" "Order!" resounded through the Chamber, and Mr Harding found it necessary to explain that he was referring to the Government schooner which traded to the Islands, and not to the beautiful, gracious lady who presided over His Excellency's department. The latest pricking of the card makes a majority of 17 against the Totalisator Abolition Bill.

Mr Ell's Barmaids Abolition Bill provides that after July Ist, 1904, no woman except the licensee shall serve in a bar. The penalty of the licensee is up to £SO. A deputation waited on the Premier with a draft Bill to be introduced this session dealing with fire brigades maintenance. The proposals are-that the Government pay one-tenth and the local bodies and fire insurance companies the remainder. The administ&yon shall be in the hands of distrii'; .boards, on which the contributing parties shall be represented The Premier said he would take time to look into the matter.

! Probable legislation this session, mentioned by the Premier, includes an Absolute Majority Bill, a measure to check combines, and important education proposals. In-regard to the first, the Premier said now was the time, and not immediately before an election, for electoral reform. They must all see the disadvantages of minority representation.

V. " A man may be a good, true Liberal, he can be a good, true Democrat,' and yet be the wealthiest in tbe land."—So says the Premier. i

In the House on Thursday night the Hon Mr Duncan, Minister of Lands, challenged two members of the Opposition, who accused him of want of energy in the admistration of his Department, to •• meet him outside in the morning" and he would show them whether he had energy or not. At which the Premier interjected: 14 There's life in the old boy yet." The Wellington correspondent of the " Lyttelton Times " writes .••—Considerable interest has been displayed in the lobbies as to the result of wagers made as to the respective speaking abilities of three of the " colts " of the House. Mr Carroll championed the cause of Mr Baume, Mr Millar acted as sponsor for his colleague Mr Bedford, while Mr Hanan supported the claims of Mr J 0 Thomson, the elect of Wallace. The decision was left to the arbitration of Mr Cohen, the veteran of the Press Gallery. His award went in favcr of Mr Baume, with Mr Bedford second. The Ad-dress-in- Rfply debate was the convincing ground.

Mr Lawry paid a nice compliment to the Governor the other night. The co'ony did not look for aristocracy of blood, he said, but in Lord Ranfurly and his noble consort were associated the aristocracy of intellect and the aristocracy of kindness. From end to end of the colony their departure would be deeply regretted. Seventy-two members spoke to the Address-in-Reply. This is a record debate for the number of speakers since the earliest days of the parliamentary history ot the colony. Those who did not speak were Messrs Hall, Fardy, Hone Heke, Wilford, Rhodes, Fisher, Sir W Steward, and Mr Guinness. Of those Who declared in regard to land tenure thirty-two supported freehold and the like number leasehold. Mr Rutherford in his reply, turned a complete somersault in x*egard to this question. In moving the Address-in R ply, he declared himself an out-and-out freeholder; but replying the other morning he said that, while still favoring that system, he would not vote during the present Parliament to alter the lease-in-pepetuity system after three'years. He did not know what the idea may mo, but it was impossible to lay down a policy for all time. The banking proposals will he foreshadowed in the Financial Statement, which will probably be delivered early next week.

No licensing legislation will be introduced till after the decision of the Full Court has been come to in respect to the Newtown and Chalmers petitions. More stringent legislation is likely to be proposed regarding clubs, and it is quite likely that an attempt will be made to bring them into line with hotels. An effort, will probably be made when the Bill is under consideration to have the Gothenburg system applied to the King Country and to the Wanganui River trade.