Parliamentary.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 October 1901, Page 4

Parliamentary.

(PEE PBES3 ASSOCIATION.)

“ SLAUGHTER OE THE INNOCENTS.” Wellington, October 15,

When the House met at 2 30 o’clock, Mr Seddon announced tho “slaughter of the innocents ’’ and moved that twentynine Bills be struck off the Order Paper. Included in the number were the following Bills The • Smoking by Youths Prohibition, Cycle Boards, Libel, Gaming and Lotteries Amendment, Absolute Majority, Totalisator Abolition and the other ■ measures mentioned at to-day’s caucus of the Government party. Mr Seddon’s motion was agreed to on the voices. THE PATEA SEAT, The issue of writ for the Patea election was postponed until Friday. THE ESTIMATES. The House went into Committee ofSupply for the further consideration of

The vote for the Labour Department was passed without alteration. STATE COAL MINE. On the vote for the Mines Department a long discussion took place regarding a State coal mine. Mr M'Gowan stated that inquiries were being made on this subject in various parts of the colony. The vote passed unaltered. department of ageiccltcre. The Department of Agriculture vote provoked a long discussion in which the administration of the Department was adversely commented on. by several members. Mr Hornsby moved that the salary of the Secretary and Chief Inspector of J-600 be reduced by £SO, the amount of his increase. This was lost by 32 to 20. Wellington, This Day. After the telegraph office closed, the total vote for the Department of Agriculture passed unaltered. THE DEFENCE VOTE. At 3 15 a.m- the vote for the Defence Department, £213,250, was taken. Mr. Meredith moved that the first item he reduced by £5, as an indication to the Government to take back the defence estimates and reduce them by £5,000. Ho said ho strongly objected to building up a standing army in this country and fostering the spirit of militarism and “ Imperial Jingoism.” Mr. Seddon pointed out that of late years the number of volunteers in the colony 'had increased from 4,000 to 18,000, which meant -a largely-increased capitation. He had no intention to build up a standing army. The increased staff was due solely to the increase in the number of volunteers.

Mr. Hornsby strongly objeected to an expensive military establishment, which was being kept up in Wellington. After a lengthy discussion, Mr. Meredith’s motion was negatived by 31 to 8. Several other reductions in _ the vote were proposed, but all were -rejected by large majorities AN ALL NIGHT SITTING. . After the vote for the Permanent Militia and Volunteers had passed unaltered, the House at 8 30 o’clock adjourned for an hour for breakfast.