PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 490, 31 July 1902, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. After tho Telegraph Office dosed this morning, the Estimates were further considered. On the vote for tho Public Health Department, £17,142, Sir J. G. Ward stated, in reply to a question, that a Bill dealing with infectious diseases would be brought down during the session. Mr James Allen said a careful eye would have to be kept by tho Minister and Parliament to guard against this Department growing beyond bounds. Ho admitted tho necessity that had existed for the establishment of the Department, but he hoped it would not develop into an extravagant Department. Mr Massey was quite satisfied tho public did not want legislation at tho present time, but they expected their representatives to bo keen and careful and watch ail expenditure. A lengthy discussion ensued. At 4 a.m.. a motion to report progress was lost by 29 to 10, and shortly afterwards the vote passed unaltered by 30 to o.

The Oflico of Industries and Commerce, £8525, was next taken. In reply to a question, Sir J. G. Ward said no contract bad yet been signed with Mr Sleigh for tho South African steamship service. If tho contract was not signed soon, he thought the Government ought to determine the negotiations. Tho vote passed unaltered.

Tourist and Health Resorts Department, £20,469.—Mr Pirani complainod of tho manner in which the Rotorua drainage works had been carried out. Sir J. G. Ward said the Government would find out who was to blame in tho matter.

After a lengthy discussion, the vote passed unaltered. At 5.50 a.m., Mr Massey appealed to Sir J. G. Ward to let members go home, but tho Acting-Premier urged that the class should be finished. In the course of further discussion, Sir J. G. Ward denied the existence of any arrangement between Mr Seddon and himself by which tho session was to be kept going until Mr Seddon returned to the colony. On the contrary, Mr Seddon before his departure expressed a desire that the business of the House should be transacted with every possible despatch. At 7.5 a.m. a motion to report progress was lost by 29 to 8. Considerable discussion took place on tho vote for Miscellaneous Services, £23,235.

In reply to Mr Pirani, Sir J. G. Ward said the cost- of mechanical preparations and publication of the book giving an official account of the Royal tour of the colony was £IO3O. Objection was taken to this expenditure as wasteful extravagance. Mr Pirani moved to reduce the item, ‘'Further sum required to meet expenses connected with the Royal visit, 1900,” by £5, in order to mark the sense of disapproval of tho House at the publication and character of tho book. The motion was lost by 26 to 10. At the item " Payment to Reuter's Telegram Company for special telegrams,” £3OO, Mr Pirani moved a reduction of £5 as a protest against the cost of telegrams sent by the Government to England. This was lost by 29 to 9. The vote for Miscellaneous Services was then agreed to, and the whole vote for the Colonial Secretary’s Department passed. Progress was reported at 5.9, and the House adjourned till 2.30 p.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m.

The debate on the second reading of the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Bill was resumed, the speakers being Messrs Flatman, Hornsby, Fowlds, Meredith, McLachlau, Palmer, Wilford, and Ell.

The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

The Council met at 2 30. On the motion.of Mr Jenkinson, it was resolved that it was desirable that the

travelling allowance to railway workmen should be equivalent to the amount ueces sarily to be expended by such workmen. The debate on the motion for the second reading of the New Zealand University Amendment Bill was adjourned