THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 42, 25 November 1913, Page 6

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

THE LEGISLATURE BILL. OPPOSITION TACTICS. ■WELLINGTON, Nor. 24. The stonewall 011 the; Legislature Jiill was commenced in earnest 011 Tuosday evening. After sitting until 7 a.m. next day the committee had passed one word in the Bill. That word was "This" —tho first word in the short title, When the news of tho death of Mr Laurenson reached tho committee an adjournment immediately took place. This gave the Opposition' another opportunity to obstruct on the motion for again going into committee on tho Bill Sir Joseph Ward (Leader of the Opposition) on that occasion made an attempt in this direction but was checkmated by Hon. W. F. Mafi'iey (Prune Minister), who succeeded in inducing the Speaker to hold over his.decision upon a point of order. 'Phis point will not be decided until the House sits, which may be .several weeks ahead if all the threats made by the Opposition are carried into effect. The liill gives ample scope for stonewalling. As it is an amendment of the Legislature Act the wholo of that measure is open for amendment. It is quite possible, if the Opposition think.? is wisp, to keep the stonewall going indefinitely. Some Oovernnwnt inembeiw hold that the closure should be adopted. If that svstein. were in force in NewZealand the pre-sont impasse would be impossible. The closure hats been adopted hv the Legislatures in most Democratic countries, including the Mother oi' 'Parliaments. Similar obstruction to? that in progress at the present time in .New Zealand has loreed its adoption.; It must ultimately come in New Zealand altso, and the sooner the better. BANK OK XKW ZEALAND KILL. The Bank of jNcw Zealand Bill kept the Legvdat ve Council employed (luring the last day* of the week. It wis debated in the Chamber by some of tile ablest men in New Zealand polities. The debase will be most interesting to students but the Council will not materially alter the Bill. It will become law in practically the form in which it passed the House.

OOLLEG ES' M A NAG EM EN T. Two Bills are before Parliament at tlio pmsent time relating to the management of, the colleges in Wellington and Canterbury. The Government wishes to place the governing bodies upon the same looting in each ease. One of the alterations proposed is to drop the frachise of members 0 i Parliament. At present the membere of both Houses representing the districts covered bv the two oolleges have tho right to elect a proportion of the members of the College Council. Why members of Parliament should enjoy this right it 15 difficult to understand. The same law applies to Auckland. PUBLIC SERVICE ACT. When the Public Service Act of 1012 was passed, section 45 provided that the Commissioner might select from persons who had applied, and whose names appeared on register kept for the purpose, such a number as was necessary to perform duties of a temporary character. 'Such persons might bo employed' for a period not exceeding three months, alter which they were to be reappointed if their services were still required, but in no case was *uiy such temporary clerk to b-e employed for more than three periods of throe months' duration each. This has been found to Jict somewhat arbitrarily in the ease of many employees who for years had occupied the position of temporary clerks. A Bill has therefore been introduced, <and has passed' the Legislative Council, to remedy the trouble. Clause 3 gives the Commissioner power to ''continue to employ in the public service for such period as he mav consider necessary persons temporarily employed in such service at the coming into force .of the Public. Service Act, 191'2, and'whoso employment has been since continued." The employee may have been employed partly in the public service or in the service of either branch of the Legislature. The Commissioner i> to make regulations determining the conditions of employment of such persons! and prescribing the conditions under which they may bo 'appointed to tho Public Service.

THE NEW ZEALAND LOAN. The abridged prospectus of the Now Zealand Government loan issued on October 9 has arrived. It shows that it is being: raised under the New Zealand Ijo.'ius Aet, 1908, for the mlomption of dobenturc-s maturing in 1913 and 1914. The price of the issue is £9B 10s per cent.. Applicants who convert their allotments into New Zealand Government 4 per cent, inscribed stock, 1943-63, in the terms of this 1 prospectus, will receive preferential consideration. Those who pay.up in full and convert their allotments on or before December 30. 1913, will receive a full six months' interest on the stock on February 1, 1914. The facts that trustees may invest in this stock and that there is a sinking fund to redeem New Zealand loans are mentioned. The entire proceeds of this .issue will be utilised for the redemption of the debentures previously issued in I/tndon and maturing in 1913 and 1914. The debentures wia be redeemagle iu August, 1923, but holders will have the option of converting their debentures into 4 per cent, inscribed stock, 1943-63. The terms are to be at the rate of £lOl of stock for every £IOO of scrip or debentures, at any' time prior to August, 1918 on surrender of the scrip certificates or debentures. It will interest the public to know that no portion of the loan is for any other purpose than the redemption of tho loan.

| IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT. j The annual report of the Department of Immigration has been presented to I the House.. It shows that the total rminber of arrivals in New Zealand from the United Kingdom during the year ended March 31, 1913, was 14,169 persons, consisting of 11,350 adults and 28] 4 children. Out of the total number 3928 wore assisted by the Government. The capita] brought into the Dominion by the assisted immigrants themselves applying to the High Commissioner in London during the year, as declared, amounted to £32,000. In eases where immigrants are nominated from New Zealand no declared capital is required. During the vearßß steamers brought out assisted immigrants. The number in such class that applied for assistance to come to New Zealand was: Domestics 1180, farmers and farm laborers 571, wives and children of farmers and farm laborers 592, separated relatives, wives 516, children 1063, mak- 1 3928 Wrewiy tosoticiwl 'of .