NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 674, 26 November 1909, Page 5

NEWS AND NOTES.

ALTERCATION IN THE HOUSE, A good, deal of time was spent in the House yesterday afternoon-over au altercation between two .members. During the discussion on tho Grand Juries Abolition Bill, Mr. Davey (Christchurch East)' read a telegram'which had been addressed by tho Christchurch Crown Prosecutor . (Mr. 'Stringer* to Dr. Findlay, bearing on the receut Humphreys case in Christchurch. Mr; Taylor (Christclnirch North) borrowed the telegram from Mr.', Davey and read it again, with adverso comments, in the course of his reply to that member. A few minutes later, Mr.' Davey was seen to "havo'-crossed the chamber and to be conyer6ing with Mr. Taylor. This private conversation was cut very short by tho decisive member for Christchurch North, who informed the House that Mr. Davey. had; asked him for the. telegram, which Mr. Taylor urged was now the property of the House. Iff. Taylor further explained that he was copying the telegram for inclusion in his Hansard.proof,, and also' to give it to tho press, by whom he had been asked for' a copy. Mr. Davey also stated that he wished to give the telegram to ■ the press. As Mr. Taylpr went on copying and seemed not; at all disposed to make surrender, Mr. Davey raised a question of privilege. He had lent the telegram to; Mr. Taylor, and he asked that that member should be-ordered. to return it at ouce. Tho Speaker • ruled ■ that .the telegram, was a public document, but that a-'resolu'tion of the House was necessary before it could be laid on-the table. Mr. Fisher moved a motion to' that effect, which was negatived. : Mr. Taylor continued copying the telegram. Mr. Davey, returning to the charge, describod Mr. Tayjor's,: action as "despicable, and -.had .to withdraw' the unparliamentary remark. Mr. Davey said' that he could scarcely find words to'express his feelings.. No other member than Mr. Taylor would have acted so. Mr. Tnylbr replied that the telegram was quite.safe with him, and continued copying. Presently members saw an ' impassive messenger 'convey an envelope, presumably, containing the document, from Mr. Taylor' to Mr. Davey. ■ The incident then closed. ■ . ■• ■

A VOICE FROM THE GALLERY. A "voice the' "Strangers'" Gallery disturbed, the calm of Parliament last night. The House .was in Committeo at the time on the State Guaranteed Advances Bill, when a visitor, regardless of the dignity of Parliament, and all the pains and penalties provided for such an oUence, ejaculated: "For what we get in zWanganui we .are quite willing to pay." : There was. at'once a slight "buzz 6i excitement.; The Chairman of Committees (Mr. Wilfo'rd)r stared long and solemnly at the group: of and thon whispered something.;to the,Sergeant-at-Armsi who'nlso gazed at the/gallery. .In'the multitude of strangers, however; there was'apparently-safety for the erring, one; who, Remaining undetected and judiciously., silent for: the remainder of the evening:, did not- suffer the ignominy of forcible ejection from tho precincts of the legislative 'halls;""' .-. .-■■■■ ■■:■'' '' ' ' ■ "' .-. ■'

-.UNCOMFORTABLE QUARTERS. . -Members'of-Parliament continue.to complain about their : temporary abode in Wellington. Yesterday a southerly' wind - arid a • cloudy sky caused a considerable drop in the temperature, and when'the Housq' met Sir William Steward rose in .his place and-complained that he-was very cold and uncomfortable. He.stated that he had been almost laid up with the cold wind thnt blew ■ through the Chamber.' iThe 'Speaker, gave ..orders to. have • the windows closed, though he,'expressed the opinion that some'other' member would soon be. asking' to have them. opened. The Minister for Public Works drew, attention to the fact that the promised electric.fans were now at work. Perhaps that was the reason for the cold wind. Sir. William Steward invited Mr. M'Kenzie to , come over to his bench and judge for himself how cold 'it was,, but the .Minister declined the : invitation. ' Sir -Joseph Ward "suggested that; tho .warm members .should, go, over to Sir-/,William's', locality,, but.;another'. member said; they were a warm.'.enough. lot there already, and with that'- the discussion ended

"■LOCAL BODIES SINKING FUNOS., -, It will, be.:remembered:.that in the 'Local Bodies' Iran's Act,.passed'last year, was inserted. to ;tha effect that whether-a loan wns guaranteed'-by the; State or -not; the sinking fund should, be. handed over to the Publio rr.ustee,.,aiid.,by.-the.Public Trustee invested in Government securities. To this provision ex-ooption-.;.was taken by • -a-- ■ great many public UMios? *It.'yaSvheld .that where there was no Government.guarantee behind a lonn.the Government have no. right" to interfere in the matter of the..'-investment of the sinking fund. -Last, evening, when the State Guarari- ! teed Advances Bill ' was being considered in Committee, Mr. Sidey moved au amendment to the. effect that the provision, should be repealed so far as loans not guaranteed by the State are concerned. -He had' the satisfaction of carrying, the -amendment.by 32' to'.SO, ■'the membersof'tho Opixisition voting with him; ■'. WORK OF-PARLIAMENT NEXT'YEAR. /The latest, idea; in' connection with the session is that,' after adjourning over ' the ■ holidays, the Parliament should meet' again'early next, year,: and not have the-.usual session,:'so that.a party-.of.members might be able to nroceed to England. .It is thought that if - they ,went as a..party, they would receive,more attention than if they visited the . Mother Country individually.' .Tho Leader-of the Opposition, ; however, is opposed, to' tho proposal;'. He. thinks thatthosession should be held in the<ordinary : way next.year.... _. \. '-■ . : •- ~:':..;' .• THE: HARBOURS BILL;:. '-.-"' In answer to a question whether he intended to introduce the Harbours. Bill -this session, the Hon.. J. A. Miliar stated' yesterday that ■ the .matter was - still under consideration',, but h'e'would be able to advise later. '-■ ' .'■■-. RAILWAY WORKSHOPS.'- 1 -The Prime Minister; stated yesterday that ': the information- asked for by Mr. Davey as to the number of married and':-, single men - respectively discharged- and engaged for twelve months,in connection with tho railway: workshops of the Dominion was not available, and that, therefore, the return asked for could not bo given. '. . i :■'■ .', .;■'.'■'' V

-■'■v!-.■/.-/ :"fwm!".:,; : ; .".;_,. "The .hon. gentleman has been .talking flani;"-was an expression used by Mr. Fisher in'the-. House on, : Wednesday. Dr. Tβ Kangihiroa raised a'point,of oriler. "I would like the ruling •of the Chair on the' word: 'flam;'" he observed. Mr..Wilford; Chairman of, Committees, ' replied: "I understand that: it is, a contraction of.'flamboyant." ■ If it is'.meant in that-way, of- course, it is Parliamentary; Honourable members would probably save these interruptions if they did not talk in shorthand." (Laughter.) Mr. .Fisher repeated the word, which, ne said, he understood-was Maori.' . -.'.'■....■'• '.;• ■ ■ :.. ROADWAY TO. NEW GOVERNOR'S RESl- ;■;".',:■.:.' "■ dence. , .':.; \.:,r ■ I Whilst outlining his Bill .under which it is proposed to reduce the salary attaching to the officer of Governor, Mr. T. E; Taylor incidentally referred to the cost of the, new residence.. . " ..■'■.. ■ •. ■■'. . "As far as I can gather," he. said, "it is pror posed to close a public road and construct.a new private roadway at a cost of J210.000. If this is correct,, then I say it amounts to' no-1 thing more nor.less than a public'scandal"'' . At this' stage a point. of order was raised bj the Prime Minister, and the. Speaker ruled that the question of the Governor's residence was not before the House. ■ : Before leaving the subject, Mr. Taykr remarked: "I ehall deal with it when the Estimates come up." ' . ■ '. ■" ' v Sir Joseph: That is the proper time. Mr. Taylor; And yon may depend upon it that I shall a lot of information about. it.'." • ' , "'• '. . ; . . '..',: .■...';'■. . : QUESTIONS. > , ■'■; •Mr. Boss is ■ asking the, Minister, for Bailways when,effect will be given, to his. promise to provide better facilities for. pedestrians. to gain.access!to the Woodville Railway; Station. ■ Mr. Wright' has given notice to ask the Postmaster-General— (l) Whother he. will inform the House as to the nature of the complaints made by the female employees at the Wellington Telephone Exchange; (2) : tho scope and result of the private inijuiry by Mr. Harrington j and (3) whether a'further and more public inquiry ia to. be held.,. ■' . ; '=, Mr. James Allen- intends to move that there be laid before the House a return showing the numbers and:names of Civil Servants retrenched during tho eighteen months ended November 24, 1909,' who entered the Service by means of the Civil Service examination^ Mr. .Luko has given- notice to ask 'the . Minister for "Hailways whether ■ho -will, p.t an oarly date give instructions for the erection of a verandah and, other urgcntly-ueeded 'improvements :'. at. ■ tEe' Juhnsonvillei railway. station. ■ : ' i ;':-' ■.■•.■■: ;■,."''■;■"■•■."■■- ■'.:.'.-.

Jlr.; Guthr.io (Oroua).is- asking' tho, Minister for Education" whether'it'is intended to' make , -Snjtr;lpj]iftTitjiT^.Bittirriatffi..fo];

the continuation of tho special stunt, of Od. per . pupil to school committees, .which t item does not .appear on tho Estimates for this year; as, it' not, a groat injustice will ho perpetrated at the. expense of school committees. ■ ■.: ■■•■■■■ ,• , .:. .. .-; ",.■ ••■.■■, ,■■: '■ ,Mr; Herdmau is asking the Minister for Marine whether he will-take prompt.steps to establish an efficient and permanent light at Jackson's Head, Cook Strait. ... . ■' , Mrl. Field is asking tho Minister for Lands whether ho Will consider the question, of acquiring several hundreds of'acres-of land near Otuki which the owners have expressed their willingness to sell and which is well suited for close-settlement purposes. ; .' . ' Mr.' Wilford has" given notice to risk, tho Minister for Education ■ whether he would, when providing the annual building grunt for Education Board, earmark a sufficient buui for the erection of a schoGl at King's Koad, Lower Hurt. Notice has been given by Mr. Wilford of his intention to ask the Minister, for Railways if he would,, prior -to-December 6, 1809, fix a date upon which representations might. 'be made'to him in regard to the new railway timo-table to be inaugurated between Wellington and the.Wairarapa, via Kaitoko. He instanced the requirements of. his district ;in that connection. ... - , . Mr/Ok'eyfTaranaki) has Riven notice to ask the Government-whether, they have any .control over. Press Association messages that are sent throughout the Dominion; if so, will they. se« ' that correct information as to the shipments of produce from the different ports in the Dominion is given. Mr. Okey quoted a Press Association- message from Wellington in the Auckland. "Herald" of' Novemher 22, in which Wellington was;; given , credit for the whole of the Taranaki shipment. JOTTINGS., ,■-■'-■'■■■; Mr...Buddeh; through Mr. Wright, M.P./.is petitioning Parliampnt for compensation for on accident' met ;with on.the Stratford-Onga-rue railway co-operative, works. ■-.•■■; . .;' " His Majesty, the Prime Minister" ■ was how Mr., Fisher, referred to- Sir Joseph Ward on one occasion during tho debate on the' taxation proposals on Wednesday. He also remarked : " With tho power that he (Sir Joseph) wields,'! am surprised that ho does not'issue edicts bearing the Eoyal Arms instructing his supporters as to what they should do and what they-should.say."-■•■.'■ . ! '.' . . "'■ . . : . The cost of compiling.the main electoral rolls was £IGU, and of printing them £3161. Tho highest cost of "compiling was'for the Christchurch; North roll, viz., ..£lO3. The -cost .of ctmpiling supplementary rolls,was"'w6662si and of ..printing .-them ,£3014.. The, highest cost of compiling was ,-for Wellington Central, . £293.