PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 24 September 1901, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

“ Kissing the Bible. ” Mr Napier, informed the House that he knewra Court in which the same Bible had been in use for 33 years, during which time it has been kissed by hundreds of thousands of people, The House shuddered. “ The whole system of kissing is entirely obsolete.”—Mr Napier. When the laughter ceased he explained that he meant the kissing of the Bible by witnesses when being sworn. End of the Privilege Casa. The sum of £LZ demanded for the breach of privilege by the Dunedin “ Evening Star ” was paid to day. Mr Cohen, Parliamentary representative of the “ Star,” handed to the House, Mr Ottcrson, a cheque marked, “ Pay Broach of Privilege or Bearer,” and received in acknowledgment a formal type-written receipt, signed by Mr Guinness, DeputySpeaker. Childrens’ Drill Bill. The State School Children Drill Bill, which has now passed both Houses of the Legislature, makes it compulsory upon Boards of Education to teach physical drill to boys and girls over eight years of ago attending public and native schools. When id first appeared the Bill provided also for military drill, but this has been struck out. A Woman in the House. The other day, according to Mr Wilford, a lady from tho South Island forced her way, despite protests, past the officials and upstairs in to the library, and refused to be put out of the building until she had interviewed a member of the House for a southern constituency. The member aforesaid took refuge in another part of the building. The librarian called in the officials, tho officials called in the orderlies from the door, and thus the irate woman was removed.

Carbines for Cadets. The Premier tliinks the Government should not go to the expense of issuing carbines to the public schools to encourage the formation of cadet corps. There are some Snider carbines in stock, and these are being lent to school cadet corps when applied for. Ancient Maori Curios. It is the intention of the Government to place a vote on the Supplementary Estimates for the purchase of ancient Maori curio?. The Premier thinks an Act should bo passed giving the Government a pre-emptive right over such articles, and he added that the Government is always anxious to purchase Maori curios if a reasonable price is asked. Cable Matter.

Some of the “ stuff ” cabled to the New Zealand papers, says the Premier, is not worth the money paid for P. After all, that is the concern of those who do the paying. AVliat about the “ stuff ’’that lie cables (at the colony’s expense) to the London papers ? \ Chatham Islands Government.

The Premier says the Government will this session bring in a Bill to provide a system of local government for the Chatham Islands.

The Queen’s Birthday. The Government docs not intend at present te gazette Ist December, the birthday of Queen Alexandra, as a public holiday.