Parliamentary.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 24 October 1901, Page 3

Parliamentary.

(due pabliamentaey reportbe )

Shop and office Assistants. Wellington, This Day. In the Legislative Council the Hon R. Scotland drew the attetion of the Minister for Education to the Shops and Offices Bill, and asked the Minister it he did not think the Bill ought to be disposed of, and not left till late in the session, when time would be precious and Council would have little time to devote to its consideration.

The Hon W. C. Walker replied, “I don’t think I shall distress the Council over the bill this year.”

(per press association.)

Cook Islands’ Government. Wellington, This Day.

The House met at 2.30

The whole afternoon was occupied ir debating amotion for the third reading ol the Cook Islands Government Bill.

The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. On the I louse resuming at 7.30 o’clock, the third reading of the Cook and Other Islands Government Bill was carried by 36 to 13, and the Bill passed. State Coal Mine.

Mr Seddon in moving the second reading of the State Coal Mines Bill, said that after the Government had met the State requirments, they would establish State coal depots in the principal centres where private consumers could make their purchases. It was not the present intention of the Government to have its own steamers to carry coal, that would only be resorted to as an extreme step. At the present time a profit of 7/6 per ton was being made out of Government, and he considered it morally impossible for Government to make a loss on a State mine. Policy Bills. The Old Age Pensions Act Amendment Bill, and Local Bodies, Gold Field Public Works, and Loans Bills were read a second time.

Old Age Pensions. A-fter the Telegraph Office closed, in Committee on the Old Age Pensions Act Amendment Bill clause four was amended to provide that th.- Magistrate shall only enquire as to whether the applicant for the pension has transferred property to any person. The provision that the Magistrate shall enquire as to the circumstances of sons and daughters of applicants was struck out. The Bill passed its final stages. The Local Bodies, Goldfields, Public Works, and Loans Bil's, passed through Committee without amendment were read a third time and passed. The House rose at 2 40 a.m. The End in Sight Another sign of the beginning of the end. The Premier to-day moves that for the remainder of the session new business may be taken after midnight.