PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 74, 22 July 1896, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

IX HOUSE AND COUNCIL. [By Telegbaph.] ' !•'>■<■■■■> our Sjn'cidl Correspondent. > Wellington, this day. The Government Dairy Expert is to make enquiries as to the necc.-sity for the systematic testing of milk supplied in dairy factories in order that milk suppliers may have greater confidence in the tests on which they are paid. The Minister of Justice informed Mr Kelly that in his opinion circumstances do not warrant any recompense being made to the police officers connected wich the celebrated Dean child murder case. The Government are considering whether they will introduce legislation for vesting in trustees the Universityreserve at Patea for the purpose of higher education in the Taranaki district. Tlie Premier does no! think the time has arrived for the establishment of a mint in New Zealand, and further that it would prove a costly department. The indication of coal seams at Cheviot, according to the Minister of Lands, are not encouraging enough to warrant the Government expending further sums in experimenting. The law oftic-ers have advised the Government that Mr Barron is not entitled to a pension on retiring from the control of the Hansard stall'. The Premier savs. however, that he is prepared to allow Mr Barron the same com pi n- non d-if he v ere actually a civil < •• 'll i- 1 c no i not think that parlimin- - oft ais ought to be treated on ditlerent footings. The House adjourned from half-past three till half-past seven as a mark of respect to the late Hon R. Pharazyn. The Premier, in moving in that direction, said that since his appointment to the Legislative Council the deceased gentlemen had always acted from conscientious motives; while the leader of the Opposition expressed the opinion that the Hon Mr Pharazyn had pa-sed away without an enemy in Parliament, and it had suggested to him the thought, how much better it would be if members were to cultivate a feeling of friendship and not be so severe in their comments on each other. At the evening silting, the Premier gave notice of his intention to move, "That any correspondence that may be doi'iiad iU'ce.--fu-y for the purpose, ami that may be relevant to the subject matter contained in the order of reference, shall, notwithstanding that the same may be marked ' confidential,* be available for the Banking Committee." Mr E. M. Smith, member for New Plymouth, was very much in evidence yesterday, and promises to give some interesting reminiscences of his trip to the Old Country. According to his own statement New Zealand has benefited to a considerable extent by his tour. The Financial debate was commenced last evening, and promises to last all the week. There was nothing brilliant about last night's sittings, but Mr E. M. Smith roused the members from their lethargv by recounting some of his Home experiences. Captain Rn m.ll fired the first gun in the Financial debate. He traversed the policies of the previous Governments, and found fault with the present administration, for while crying self-reliance placing extra taxation on the necessaries of life, "lifting " the sinking funds, and proposing to add another £35,000 a year to the taxes of the colony by borrowing the proposed million. He contrasted the annual increase in the public debt by the Atkinson and Ballance-Seddon Governments, pointing out that while the former had made an annual increase of £482.321 the latter had almost duubhdth t urn urt Had it not been fen th i/ii _ of the sinking funds and tin. u l of th lual fund there would h « be n a dthc t in-tfad of a bogus surplus. He characterised the sinking funds transaction as a wrong proceeding. and one that must eventually lead the colony to financial disaster. The Hon Mr Hall-Jones followed, and taunted the leader of the Opposition with at one time proposing to raise a loan of twenty millions. He contended that the Seddon Administration was a non-borrowing Government, and pointed out that the interest paid on the public debt in 1*1)1 was £1.871,575, while now it was only £1,720.•'>73. The Advances to Settlers' scheme was now paying its way, and the reduction in the interest charges had already borne fruit. The money raised for the purchase of Native lands and land for settlement was returning interest, and the loan conversion scheme had saved a considerable sum to the colony. He objected to the many mis-statements made by Captain Russell. Mr Allen (Bruce) adversely criticised the Statement, while Mr McGowan found in it many points for commendation. On the whole the debate was lifeless. The leader of the Opposition was particularly weak, while it would be charitable to refrain from alluding to the Minister for Public Works' abilities "as a debater. Mr Allen made a telling speech, bristling with points, but Mr E. M. Smith was egotistical. Even Mr McGowan's quota was seasonable, and had the merit of brevity. The debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr Buddo (Kaiapoi). The price paid for the Arowhenua Estate by the Government was £28,000 and £64,000 for the Albury Estate. The possession of the land will be given after next shearing seaSOU, and meanwhile the subdivisional surveys and reading will be put in hand, and the land will be ready for settlement in December,