NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 693, 18 December 1909, Page 7

NEWS AND NOTES.

-PROTRACTED SITTING PROBABLE. . ■ ..When The Dominion went to press this morning tneHouso ivas still sitting, the business under, consideration being-the Estimates. It was. generally:felt, that it was the intention .of. the.Government to finish l them without doiny. •'As: many debatable points remained untouched,; it- seemed likely that the previous 'record sitting, '6 a.m., might be eclipsed. In .the lobbies a leading topic of conversation was: Whiit.would happen if.a portion.of the listiruatte remained - untouched at'an-'advanced-hour, this morning, and the. Government weredetermined 'to push tho wholo. lot '.through? Some'.members, we're of opinion, that in such 1 circumstances the House would go on until breakfast'time,,, when tho chairman .v.ould leave the; chair, arid lipon the resumption; of the'sitting,consideration of the-pstimates. would bo' continued:'■'■, The eliances-'of ' tho House adjourning- at" air pearlier hour with n view to sitting again;: this ■ morning. in Committee to finish the Estimates, instead of. dealing wi th local Bills , was considered remote, as thero would , then be , a risk of a motion to intercept Supply.,- According'to a prominent member of the, House, if- was. possible that ■' the -Estimates would riot bo finished' until this evening. •■■'': ■

;■ -v;.f ; :CROWN SUITS ACT., :::; ': Mr. Field hasWYoh notice to ask tho Minister for Mine?: "When the : Goyernrrient proposes' to carry out-the,recommendation of tho Public ' {Petitions ."'M \to v Z Committee that the; claim of the Ne\v, : Zealand ■'.■ Farmers', Co-operative , Distributing Company against thri State Coal Depot be'-'reforred" to' arbitration?" , .':' • '.■'

'j.-; COURTS 81LL.,; V. - f;Ai amendment.'• to "the 'Magistrates' Courts jJßill /will .be.^inovcd; in, Cpmitfittoe/by.- the Hon". f'A;'i E.,'Guinn«S9 t ''.Vβ*''provideHrhal''actions'! for over "i£so. may. he fried by jury.-. Seven' day's" 'notico'must be'giVeh by .tho'party. requiring the jury , to. bo.: summoned. '.-.-,:' ~..:'■ ;

: r-'-,;'■<;'■;. : ■ JOTTiNGiS, ' „;- : ; ; . :S"ThS Acts wo.pass are,not the Acts of.the Government; alone. ■ ; Wo. are. not: hero to : "p'ut on the Statute Book .everything that Ministers jbriftgdo.wn.,- : The Acts are to. he Acts ofl'firliament/: not : Acts; ;• of ■ the '■, Ministry."—Mr. ■■ Frnser, in . defentie of r Opposition c'ritieisriis. '.-, ! : "There ■is iio objeption to nieinbors of: the galleries- sniilingj but 'they.inust not- smile audibly.'.'—Mild rebuke by Jlr. Wilford in 'regard;,to laughter;in the publio'.gallery.■•' •■ ■. "Tho hospitals, not tlio"gaols,' are the pro- 1 per. places for '.'delirium tremens patients to bo treated."—The Hbni ;G. ;Vowlds, last night <\ ■