PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 979, 27 August 1903, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

RAILWAY POLICY AND VAILE’S SCHEME. Per Pres 3 Association., WELLINGTON, last night. The House met at 2.30. The Railways Committee recommended that the petition of Mr Samuel Vaile, who asked that a trial bo made of his system, be referred to the Government for consideration,

Mr Massey moved to refer the report back to the Committee, as an indication that tho Houso desires a trial to be made of tho system. “ Sir’J. G. Ward, referring to Mr Vaile’s system, Baid that an offer had been made to Mr Vaile that a trial should be made if a guarantee was given for any loss, but the oiler had not been taken up.

A long discussion, lasting for the rest of the afternoon, ensued, covering tho whole question of the railway policy and administration. The Houso resumed at 7.30.

Sir W. J. Steward's Statutes Compilation Act Amendment Bill was read a second timo, pro forma. Sir W. Russell’s Babbit Act, 1881, Amendment Bill was committed. Some opposition was shown to clause 5, providing a further penalty for repeated failure to clear land of rabbits. Mr T. Mackenzio strongly urged that a magistrate should havo a discrotionary power to say whether a man should bo fined or not. Mr Seddon disagreed with this view, and said the result of giving the discretion had been! that the law is practically a dead letter, and the colony is suffering in consequence. It was almost impossible now to get a conviction, and the law should have re mained as it was. Mr Duncan also strongly supported the Bill.