Parliamentary.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 23 August 1901, Page 3

Parliamentary.

(OUR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER.) A Recalcitrant Councillor to be Reported. Wellington, This Day. The calmness, which generally pervades the Legislative Council Chamber, was seriously disturbed last evening. The clause in the Shops’ and Shop Assistants’ Bill, dealing with hotels, was under consideration when the Hon. G. Jones, in supporting an amendment prohibiting the employment of any female assistant in a bar after 9 p.m., referred to the liquor traffic as a “detestable ” business.

The Hon. Mr. Louisson at once raised the point of order as to whether such words were not unparliamentary, and the Chairman of Committees ruled that if the words were rffensive to members they ought to be withdrawn. The Hon. G. Jones declined to withdraw the expression, asserting that it was justified in that eminent judges had attributed nine-tenths of crime and misery in the world to the evils of the traffic. Several councillors were of opinion that the words used were not unparliamentary. Others maintained that they were. The Chairman (Captain Baillie) thought that the words ought to be. withdrawn in common courtesy, and on the Hon. Mr. Jones declining to budge from the position he had taken up, the Minister of Education moved that ho be reported to the Speaker for disobeying the ruling of the Chairman. This was carried on the voices, and progress being reported the council at once adjourned and members discussed the unexpected incident that had occurred. The Patents’ Office. During the year ended December 31st last, 1,009 patents were applid for, an increase of 17 over the previous 12 months. The revenue raised amounted to £3,396 and the expenditure to £1,027. Of the inventors 602 were resident in New Zealand ; 120 in the United States. There were ten women inventors all in New Zealand. Royalty on Coal. The Coal'Mines’ Act Amendment Bill, which was introduced by the Minister of Mines, reduces the minimum royalty on coal to twopence and the maximum to typer ton. Workmen in a mine, or members of a society, formed in connection with the coal mining industry, may, at their own cost, appoint any two persons to inspect the mine at least once a month and they are to be afforded every facility for inspection. The Premier Explains. After the Telegraph office closed, Mr Soddon in replying on a motion that amendments made in committee on the Government Advances to Settlers Extension Bill be agreed to, referred to criticisms as to increase in expenditure on Public works. He said that during the past three months there had been large shipments of locomotives, wagons and rails, which had to be paid for when they were put on board, and it was that which had caused the abnormal drain on them during the past three months. That expenditure could not possibly go on during the other nine months of the year. With regard to the recent West Coast deputation ho explained that no reporters were present, and that what had appeared in the Press had evidently been given out by some member of the deputation, Herries: Not by yourself, Seddon: No; It was not by myself, I did not see it and did not give it to the papers, because I never made the statement. He went on to say that the deputation bad asked him for a increase in Public Works expenditure, in fact they had wanted another railway, but he had given them no encouragement. Ho had stated that the consolidated revenue had quite enough to bear. He might have gone further and said that accounts did not meet, but if so, it was simply a statement at first blush. There was no cause for anxiety, and to say that money waa not available was not correct. The Amendments made with the bill were then agreed to on the voices, and third reading carried by 80 to 4 and the bill passed its final stages at 2.15 p.m. and the House adjourned till 2 30 p.m. Salmon Ova. Government has accepted the offer of the Canadian Government of 800,000 Pacific salmon ova. They will arrive here in January and be hatched at BLakateramea. An order has been sent to England for 150,000 Atlantio salmon ova. Free Railway Passes for Teachers The Education Department has agreed to issue free railway passes to teachers attending drill and technical classes. Diseased Cattle. It has been ascertained by Gilbruth that the disease which has been affecting a number of cattle at Gpotiki, Bay of Plenty, is anthrax, and measures have been taken to isolate herds and stamp out the disease.