Parliamentary Notes.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 294, 18 June 1896, Page 2

Parliamentary Notes.

Mr Hall is to ask if the MimsterT it aware that two members of th©BalVation Army have been rei^ntiy been vino-, prisoned for holdiug a reb'gwus^service ■ in the streets at Patea ; and will he take ■ ' : steps to prevent a recurrence of such an interference with the liberties of a body V: of people notable for the greats benefits 'A ; they are daily conferring on the poorer classes? '<,->.■>', . - ..; ' ■/*;■ :i : :-'.::y ?;■;'■ ;■" Mr Flatman intends asking if Govern- ; ment will amend the Trtick Act, r? l^9i, ; , especially regarding clause 7, so m^ to v prevent dishonest workmen :f ram |a«ng ; ;/ - undue advantage of their employers in ; cases where necessary advances jhav« been made in goods at fair market rate's ? Mr T. Mackenzie would like to know ' whether Government, haye^ during the : ' recess, taken time to fully consider the x impcrbant subject effecting cheap rail- ',; ; way fares for invalids requiring to avail -V themselve of the curative Thermal Sptingsatßotoruaand elsewhere in New ; Zealand which subject was broujjhtntider their notice last session by the member 'for Clntha. ". , .' -„ .; '■: .;' , ■ -.V^^W-- . ■ The Hon. R. Seddoh's Asiatic ßestric* tion Bill proposes that only one Asiatic shall be carried to every 2Wtons^ ton* ; ; nage of a ship, thepenalty being ifltoO for each AsiatiocaKiedin excess. A list ' of Asiatics must b^ fnrnishe^rby the master of a vessel on arfiyd; or he is % made liable to a penalty of £200i : fT^e ■; poll tax on Asiatics has been incveued f to to be paid by the master, 'who, if any Asiatic escapes, will be liable to a f penalty of £60, while an escaping Asiatic will be liable to a penalty pf^SOm?^. dition to the tax, or twelye monttis' imprisonment, i -A- --■*■; ?-_-; The Defamation BiU, introduced by - Sir Robert Stout, proposes to privilege the publication in good- faith of the pro- 1 ; ceedings of Partiament/ or extracts: of Parliamentary papers,, proceedings yof courts of justice, official enquiries, ; and public meetings, so far : aa ?the^mattor published relates to matters .of public concern. ; Pair comments are allowed on the public conduct of publia men, public officers, courts, and pubUcpetformanfees, and the penalty for the publication of a defamatory libel known to be false is a fine of or two years' imprisonment. District Judge Ward wili probably be appointed to the vacant Jndges^ip, but no Attorney-General will be appointed, at any rate ai.pre^ent.* r '• ?~*^\ Mr W. C. Walker mil get the salary for the portfolio vacated. by Mr Ward. Mr Collins is to ask the Minister to amend the Shops and Shop Assistants Act so as to prevent the injustice now done to small employers who are now compelled to give their assistants two half* holidays in the week. , • ■:■ Mr W. Hutchison wants to know if it is a fact that the Bank of New Zealand is discounting bills in Australia -at th^ee per cent while it continues to chatge 6 and 6 per cent to the persons. in * New Zealand on whose money thebank is , trading. -.' ■"" ,?,. The Minister of Justice is to be asked by Captain Russell if he is aware that, consequent on tha lamented ;death v ox His Honor Justice Sir Patrick Buckley, K.C.M.G., there are already many cases held over in. the Supreme Court for want of a sufficient number of judges. If not, will he cause inquiries tobe majS^on that point, and if such proves to be the case, will he immediately recommend to His Excellency the appointment of some proper person as a successor to the late Jadge? Mr W. Hntchison is to move;, That there be laid- before this House a rejurh ji showing the several globo assets which have been sold since, the Realisation Board got into working^prder,'^ [hsjssbto : amount realised for each property," set down side by side with;, the amount standing against the^aaine in the^ books of the Bank of NeW Zealand/