YESTERDAY IN PRLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1551, 21 September 1912, Page 6

YESTERDAY IN PRLIAMENT

THE ESTIiATES.

SOME INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS.

LAUD TEPIURE.

MR; WILFORD'S MOTION: A PECULIAR INCIDENT. .

Consideration of the Consolidated Estimates kept the Houso, of Representatives occupied for practically the whole of yesterflay'9"sitting,'!orily half'an hour being devoted *to' formal business' A notable incident in,' tho early afternoon .wasj.tho presentation of the annual • report J>F the HiglrCoramissioner, a document:wliich has never hitherto been laid before the House. / The striko at Waihi was again briefly discussed. . Mr. J. Payne asked whether the Government I intended to take steps leading to the release, of the strikers.imprisoned at Auckland. The Hon. A, L. Herdman stated that he did not propose to recommend the Government to interfore with, the proper, administration of justice. , The men imprisoned at Mount Eden Gaol, he added, could obtain release by finding-sureties, and every possible facility had been given thorn to,do so. Mr. Payne said that he would himself 6tand surety, and, would wire the authorities at Auckland to that effect! '■• ■ ' Mr. Payne sought to ask the' Minister for Justice, without.notice, whether he would give officers of the Post and Telegraph.Department hri opportunity of being heard before a select Parliamentary .Committeo, in regard to the exclusion of their Department from tho operation of the Public Service,Bill, boforo any. further progress was mado with that measure. The Minister objected to-the question being put without , notice, and Mr. Payne was required to give notice in the ordinary way. . •, The House went into Committee of Supply upon the EstimaWof the Lands andSurvey Department at 3.p.m.. The Estimates of the Lands'.and SurveyDepartment gave rise to a long discussion, and were not; passed until late in the jvening, but afterwards more rapid progress was made, and all the important classes ■ remaining to.. be dealt with were passed, with the exception of the Education Department. Estimates, -which tho Prime Minister consented to hold over out of consideration for those members who wished to leave by an early morning special train for. Wanganui. • ' : The House Tose at 1.25 a.m.