Parliamentary.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 18 September 1901, Page 3

Parliamentary.

[OOS PAELIAMBNTART REPORTER.]

Wellington, This Day,

Old AgePensiona

The Old Age Pensions Amendment Bill, which the Premier is introducing aims at the suppression of fraud being practised under the existing law. The Estimates. The House resumed at 7 30 last night and went into committee of Supply for further consideration of the estimates.

A vote for the Legislative Department, was discussed at very great length.

Mr Lanrenson moved that the item Sergeant-at. Arms, £2OO, be reduced by £1 as an indication that the House does not approve of a fresh appointment being made to that position. The motion was lost by 42 to 10. Eventually the Legislative vote was passed shortly before midnight without alteration.

The next vote considered was that of the Colonial Secretary’s Department. , A proposal to reduce the salary of Under-Secretary was negatived by 32 to 19.

Ward expressed opinion that all Government Departments should be classified and increases made automatically. Several members protested against increases to higher salaried officials.

Ward pointed out that nine-tenths of the Increases were in smaller salaries.

Considerable debate took place in reference to the vote for Ministers private secretaries,

Seddon said that judging by the work these officer* did there ought to be two sets of secretaries.

The vote passed unaltered. _ Strong objection was then raised to late sittings. The Ministers complained that no progress had been made that evening, but eventually a motion to report profress was carried by 25 to 23, and the louse rose at 2 15 a.m. The Sale of Preventives’ Prohibition Bill,

Introduced by the Premier, makes it penal to sell or distribute, or offer for sale for distribution, or have in one’s possession for sale or distribution any contrivance for the purpose of bindering or preventing conception. For the first offence a penalty not exceeding £2O may be inflicted ; for the second £SO, and for subsequent offences imprisonment of from three to twelve months.

Hawkers believed to be carrying preventives may have their packs or goods searched.

The importation of preventives may be prohibited by Order-in-Council. The Mining Act Amendment Bill,

Introduced by the Minister of Mines, proposes to give the workmen employed m any mine the power to appoint two persons to inspect the mine whether those two persons are employed in the mine or not.

It is also proposed to give the right of appeal from any decision of the Commissioner of Crown Lands as to the grant o; any mining privilege under Section 3 of the Mining Act Amendment Act, 1899. The result of every appeal under Section 211 of the Mining Act, 1891, and this Act is to be forthwith communicated to the Clerk of the Court from which the appeal was made or to the Commissioner whose decision is appealed against.

Some Whiffs from the Council. “I have at last got a Bill that I can give my hearty support to.”—Hon. G. M‘Lean on Youths’ Cigarette Prohibition,

“ A man cannot annoy you much drinking a glass of good grog, but he can annoy, you with his pipe.”—Hon. G. M'Lean,

"My first attempts at smoking were made at considerable sacrifice.”—The Minister for Education.

“If boys are to be taught not to smoke, men must be prevented from smoking.” Hon. T. Kelly. “Tobacco-smoking is more serious to our youth than opium-smoking, because it is wider-spread.—Hon. G. Jones.

“It tends to weaken the race and reduce the birth-rate.”—Hon. Mr. Jones on tobacco.

“ I commenced smoking when I was twelve years old. It never stopped my growth. I never smoked a cigarette in my life.”—Hon. R. Reeves, who is over 6ft tall.