Parliamentary Notes.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 380, 20 August 1903, Page 5

Parliamentary Notes.

I The reception given to the State Fire Insurance Bill was of a surprisingly encouraging nature, and there is 'every prospect of it finding its way on tefco the Statute Book. Speaking in the House on Wednesday night, Mr M'Nab said he believed Prohibition would be carried next election in every electorate south of the Waitaki. Mr James Allen's Bruce Licensing Foil Validation Bill, which was intended to legally confirm the local option vote at Bruce, wrs opposed by the Government, and after being debated at length, Mr Duthie moved as an amendment that the second reading of the Bill be postponed, and that the Government be asked to bring in a Bill with the least possible delay providing that a fresh poll shall be held at Bruce, at which section 18 of the Act of 1893 shall be inoperative insofar as it stipulates that one-half of the electors on the roll must vote. The* Premier treated this as a no-confidence motion, and a party vote having been taken, it was defeated by 45 votes to 25. Mr Allen's Bill was then rejected by 36 to 20. Replying to a mass deputation from Newtown, who complained of the inactivity of the police in hot prosecuting for &elling liquor in the district, the Premier said that the Grown law officers had advised that the matter was tubjwdic*. The Gabinet would, however, further consider the question, and give an answer a week hence. It was intended to introduce legislation to deal with the Begulation of Local Elections Act.

The question of dairy inspection was brought up the other afternoon by Mr Witty, who urged that there is a necessity for more careful observance of the law regarding dairies.-—The Minister of Lands saii that the Dairy Industry Act had been put in force as far as the large towns were concerned, but the Government had not yet been able to appoint a sufficient number of inspectors to carry its provisions into effect in country districts. The department was, however, preparing to do that, and to see that all the dairies supplying milk to the factories were placed under inspection. They had been closely watching the towns, and he believed that town dairies were now in very good order. It did not do, he added, to bring such Acts as this into full operation too quickly, because it simply led to numerous prosecutions; but people had had ample warning now, and the department intended to see that the provisions of the Act were complied with. The Minister of Lands says the Otago Land Board have the name of being the most lenient in the colony in regard to their dealings with Grown tenants. He is not, however, disposed to adopt Mr Herdman's suggestion of giving Crown tenants some representation on the Land Board.