PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1592, 24 October 1905, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

MORNING SITTING-. (Per Press Association!.) Wellington, yesterdayTho Houso met at 11 am. , Mr Dovry asked the Premier whetnci ho had road the report of the meeting of the North Canterbury Charitable Am Board, whore it was alleged that two young Catholic girls had been wrongfully treated. Mr Sodden said ho bad read tho report. There seemed to be good ground for an enquiry, and in ihe intorest oi all parties concerned the Government would take steps to see that an enquiry was hold. The subject of tho South African service was raised by Mr Taylor, who, apropos of the paper re tho volume of trade, tabled by Sir Joseph Wnrd, asked the intentions I of the Government as to the continuation of the subsidy.

Mr Berries objected to any renewal, OB our subsidy encouraged our rivals. Mr Massey said he preferred the direot service at half the present cost. Mr Bed don deprecated a disenesion on the question without notice. He pointed out that all particulars asked would be given in due course. Mr T. Mackenzie supported the present service, as having kept up grain prices and given an outlet to moat. Sir Joseph Ward said : (1) The present company iutimatos it will not take on the service; (2) it is impossible to get a refrigerator direct servico with South Africa for £15,000 a year, and perhaps not for £IOO,OOO ; (3) tho present contract was properly tendered for and accepted; (4) since the announcement that the Govern* ment were not renewing the contract the Government had been inundated with remonstrances and petitions; (6) the conditions attached in support of these remonstrances wore impossible ; (6) tenders will be invited for a direct refrigerator service. For any other service no subsidy can be paid. Ho agreed that the subsidy had benefited the agricultural community.

AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met at 2.30. The Medical Practitioners Biii was read a second time. The Houso resumed at 2.30. Tho report of the Commission in the. case of the four Christchurch postal officers was ordered to lie oo tho table. The Public Petitions Commitee reported on a petition presented praying that a full publ’c enquiry be held into an alleged improper payment to Oaptain Seddon. As a Royal Commission had been set up, the Committee had no recommendation to make. The motion by Mr Maesey that the stage Bystem. should be given a trial § one of the sections of the Now Zealand railways was lost by 85 to 18. EVENING SITTING. The House met at 7.30. Mr Massey raised the question of privi* lege on the ground that certain leaflets containing political matter of party character had been placed in members’ boxes without the sanction of Mr Speaker. Ho moved that a breach of privilege had thereby been committed. The Speaker said there was no standiug order to prevent matter of the kind complained of being placed in members’ boxes. A lengthy discussion was hrooght to a close by moving the previous question. The second reading of the Electric Lines Bill was postponed. Sir Joseph Ward saip there was a good deal of misapprehension concerning the Bill, and bo desired to have conference with some of its opponents.