HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 109, 4 November 1897, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, November 2. The House met at 2.30 p.m. THK ESTIMATES. House of Representatives general ex penses, JM. r >4f*. This vote was discussed at length, the items library. Hansard staff and nightwatchman being principally discussed. Mr Taylor moved an amendment that the item "Assistant Nightwntchman, £10," be reduced by £1, to affirm the principle that appointments should, be made in order of seniority. A division was taken, with the following result : — Ayes, 17 ; Noes, 556. A vote as a whole was agreed to. House of Representatives, general charges, £13,508. Mr Pirani moved to reduce the cost of priutiDg Hausird (£42,000) by £1. Eventually the amendment was withdrawn, and the votes agreed to. Friendly Societies Registry Office, £1140. Mr Taylor moved for the reduction of the salary of the Registrar and Actuary (1350) by £1. Negatived by 36 to 0. The vote was passed unaltered. A lengthy debato took place on the item salary of Registrar of Consols 150. At 4.15 a.m. tbo motion to report progress was negatived by 34 to 10. Farther debato having ensued, Mr Piraui moved that the item ba struck out. Negatived by 33 to 9, and tbe c'as.s agreed to. Fro r resß was reported, and tbe House adjourned at 5.20 a.m. VCKSIMNS. Tbe Ministers, iv reply to questions, vtaed '.bat the prohibition of the import iitinii ol fruit luf'-cVd with insect |>est wiia uudtr cousideratiou. That further acquis'ti n of estates under the Lands for Settlement Act would depend on the actiou of the Houso with reHpect to a measure to be introduced dealing with tbo f-übject. That tbo publication of haud«beoks for settlers contaiuiug a digest of lucasures relating to land ir-tnsf'-r, f-.nciug, Sheep AGt, and other laws relating to farmers and graziers would be carefully considered. That do power existed without further legisla tiou for tbe analysis of sheep dips by tlip Agricultural Department. That no obstacles would be placed iv the way of further registration of claims for old age peusious. That there was no chance of a Fair Rent Bill beiDg introduced this session. SUNDAY LABOUR IN MINKS. The Sunday Labour iv Mines Prevention Bill was committed. Clauao 2 — Employment of manual labour in mines on Sunday prohibited : clause agieed to. Clause 3— Casoe in which the inspector may grant pennis-sion ; clause amended to provide that the inspector is to specify tbe period for which such permission iv granted.