Parliamentary.
[OOB PAELXA3IENTARY REPORTER.] Sighing for Prorogation. WfLEINGTOX, Oct. 12. Members on both sides of the House are bringing pressure to bear on the Government to bring the session to a close by the second week in November, and the probabilities are that Ministers will convence a caucus of their supporters for Tuesday to see what measures can be jettisoned. The Premier to-day told some of the Canterbury members that he intended to close up in time for Ihe Metropolitan Show at Christchurch on tho Bsh prox. Wellington This Day, The probabilities are that at Tuesday's Ministerial Caucujs, the Premier will be urged to abandon “Local Government and Spipping and Seamens Bills. Other innocents also will bo massacred. A famous Maori House. The Minister of Education announced in the Legislative Council On Friday amidst applause, that he had received word that the Wairarapa natives had determined if a Maori museum was erected in Wellington, to hand over the carved house at Tablelands lower valley. The gift, it appears, is made by the Ngatihikawers tribe on the suggestion of the well known Wairarapa chief Tamahau Mahu Puku. The house is a rare art treasure, and a fine specimen of Maori carving. The dimension are about 70£t by 25ft and the workmanship is ascribed to forty or fifty of Tekooti’s followers, who are said to have taken seven or eight years to complete it. Gratification at tho_ recognition and application of the Maori Antiquities Bill, has no doubt stimulated the Natives to aid in the matter, and the moral value of the Bill is already as great as its material value will be. The extent of the Maoris generosity will perhaps bo realised when it is stated that this Runanga house is held to bo the most valuable, artistically and financially in New Zealand. It is understood tliat Tamahau has refused an offer of JE2OOO for its purchase. Lunatic Asylum Attendants. Mr Bollard says officers and attendants at lunatic asylums work longer hours than those worked in any other institution in the colony, and their duties are most wearying. This led him to ask the Government to shorten their hours and increase their pay, (the Hon. Hall-Jones says it would require the addition of 25 per cent, persons to give say an eight hour day).
When Mr Holland asked why an exception was made of these attendants, Mr Hall-Jones said they had special advantages ; they received a full day’s holiday once a fortnight, one month’s holiday every year, and alternate Sundays, besides liberal leave. Personally, he did not believe in long hours, and promised to have an enquiry made into the whole matter, With regard to salaries, the Minister drew Mr Holland's attention to the fact that the officers in question were receiving fairly large increases on the Estimates.
Colony or State. “ I like the terms colony and colonial; they bring up pleasant associations,” said the Premier, when asked by Nr Napier to consider the advisablcneas of changing the official designation of New Zealand from '■ colony ”to a “ state ” The Premier went on to say that he would like the word “ colony ’’ to be retained in the title of the lung. He (Mr Seddon) did not trouble himself about these “ states ”, there was too much of the Yankee about it He thought it would bo, reducing the standing of the colony to call it a state. Mr Napier explained that it was anything but his desire to reduce the importance of New Zealand, and ho pointed out that such countries as France, Germany, and Russia were states. Mr Seddon —“ I thiuk it would have a lowering tendency, although not intended by the hon. member. At all events I don’t like the name. I would rather have something British.” (Hear, hear I)
Disfranchising Wellington. “Owing to the fact of the City of Wellington being the seat of Government, and of the disproportionate influence which it thereby exercises in the political affairs ol the colony, will consideration be given to the desirableness of disfranchising those residing in that city, as is the case with reference to the residents of the capital city of the United States of America ?” was a query put to the Government this afternoon by Mr Napier, who said it was a serious question seriously put. He reremarked that it had struck him that the power of Wellington over the Administration would rapidly become excessive, if it had not become so. already. It might happen, as it had in other parts of the world, that such power would be a menace to the rest of the colony. Mr Seddon agreed that there was something to be said in favor of the member for Auckland’s remarks. With the present rivalry between Auckland and Wellington things are very awkward at times. He had made an extract of the number of speeches made by Wellington members between half-past seven and half-past ten, and found that they mono-, polised seventy-five per cent, of the time of the House. Members would, however, make due allowance, because during the hours mentioned the Wellington representatives had a large number of theirconstituents in the galleries. (Laughter.) However, a great deal would depend on the conduct of those members during the remainder of the session. If they blocked business as they had in the past it would be necessary for the Government to consider what should be done with them. (Laughter.)
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Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 14 October 1901, Page 3
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901Parliamentary. Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 14 October 1901, Page 3
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