PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1502, 10 July 1905, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

The Hon. T. Kelly wishes the Government to make experiments in regard to the value of dried milk as a substitute for mothers’ milk. The Address-in-Beply debate, whioh has been dragging on in the Council for the past week, is expected to conclude tomorrow. 1 «There are a great many sinners in respeot of olearing noxious weeds, and the greatest of all sinners is the Government." —Mr Kirkbride. The railway superannuation allowances paid during the year amounted to £14,933, representing grants to 293 members. The Minister in his annual statement points out that benefits are based entirely on the amount of contributions to the fund, and it is of paramount importance that all attempts to overload it in any way should be strenuously resisted. The fund is now in a > good financial position, says Sir Joseph Ward, and it is very desirable that it should be maintained under all circum--8 The member for Motueka, who is onee more wrestling with the noxious weeds problem this session, read the Minister for Railways a severe lecture when speaking on his Noxious Weeds Amendment Bill. <• The Minister for Railways,” said Mr McKenzie, 11 grows more noxious weeds than any other man in the colony. I know miles and miles of railways where they never do anything to dear off the noxious weeds. 'ln some plaoes there are so many weeds that the passengers can hardly get off the trains on to the platform.” Sir Joseph Ward did not enlighten tho House as to what steps he proposed to take in regard to this matter. Two matters affocting the interests of the workmen employed on the Main Trunk railway line are receiving the attention of Mr Jennings. He ha 3 given notice to ask the Minister for Public Works whether he will authorise the engineer in charge of the work to supply the workmen with discarded timber and bark for flooring their tents. He states that the workers, together with their wivos and families, mostly live in huts. Mr Jennings also wishes the Government to establish a maternity and general hospital at Moawhanga, staffed by two registered nurses. » The Chinese are a menace to tho European traders, we must have a dear pronouncement at tho general elections that the Chinaman must go."—Hon. T. K. Macdonald. “ The number of divorces 13 degrading the marriage laws, if not the marriage system of the colony.”—The Premier. Tho Auckland Harbor Board Empowering Bill, which is being introduced by Mr Baume, provides for the exchange of a email section of land between the Auckland Harbor Board and Bishop Lenihan, at the north-western corner of Victoria Park, so as to permit of the straightening of Beaumont and Fanshawe streets. The Bill passed the Local Bills Committee last year, but owing to the lateness of the session it did not get to the third reading. The Government propose to add a new clause to the Old Ago Pensions Bill as follows : .« In computing the amount of the [ pension of the husband or wife the not capital value of all the accumulated property of each shall be deemed to be half the total hot eapital value of all the accumulated property of both.” In answer to a question by Mr Massey, the Premier said that under the present law the property of the husband counted twice, viz., against himself and against his wife as well. The Government did not think that fair, and now proposed ’that it should only coun half to eaoh.