Parliamentary Notes.

Hastings Standard, Issue 134, 30 September 1896, Page 3

Parliamentary Notes.

[By Telegraph.] * From our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, This day. The Shop and Shop Assistants Amendment Bill has been before the Council's Labor Bills Committee, who recommended the striking out of the clause extending the fight of inspection to banks and offices and also the clause which excepts from the operation of the Bill railway carriers under contract with the Minister of Railways. Wirihana Hunia is petitioning the Council, asking to to be allowed to be heard before the Native Affairs Committee in reference to the Horowhenua Block. The Urewera District Natives Reserves Bill met with a favorable reception at the hands of the Council and was referred to the Native Affairs Committee. Progress was reported on the Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill without a vote being come to on the don. McGregor's new clause, to prevent the future seizure of sinking funds. Another Government measure was rejected by the Lords yesterday afternoon, viz., the Eight Hours Bill, which failed to pass its second reading. The Minister of Education, in moving the second reading, said the Bill would merely place on the Statute Book what had been the law of the country for years. The Hon. Mr M'Lean argued that laboring men generally disagreed with the measure and that it would interfere greatly with the workers, while The Hon. Mr M'Gregor urged that if the Bill merely affirmed a principle that was already univsrsal in the colony the measure was useless. The Hon. Mr Bonar declared that the measure was so far reaching that no one knew what the result of its operation would be, and The Hon. Dr Grace said that any Bill of the kind must be bad for the mechanic as it discouraged enterprise. The Hons. Messrs Kerr, Stewart, Bolt, and Jones, and Captain Morris were among those who spoke in favor of the Bill. On a division, an amendment by the Hon. Mr M'Lean, that the Bill be read a second time that day six months, was carried by 15 to 18, and this measure got the " happy despatch-" The following was the division list: For the Bill "(IB.)—Hons. Messrs Stewart, Barnicoat, Kerr, Kelly, Rigg, Jones, Jenkinson, Feldwick, Jennings, Morris, Bolt, Montgomery, and W. C. Walker.

Noes (15) —Hon. Messrs Reynolds, L. Walker, Richardson, Baillie, Acland, Scotktnd, Shrimski, MacGregor, Kenny, Bonar, Stevens, Johnston, Grace, M'Lean, and Holmes. The Premier conferred with the Premiers of the other colonies, and also with the Mother Country, on the subject of sending a congratulatory message to Her Majesty the Queen on having reigned the longest period on record. The general desire, however, was that congratulations should be deferred till Her Majesty's next birthday. In moving that the * Mining Act Amendment Bill be committed, the Hon Mr Cadman said that it was an important measure, as—was evident from the large amount of opposition which it had provoked. It had been said that the effect of the Bill would j be to frighten capital away from the ! country, but the Government were not afraid of this, and were determined to go on with the Bill. The main principles of the Bill were those giving power of resumption of lands for mining purposes -and prospecting, with certain restrictions, on all lands in the colony. They had power of resumption since 1873, and he did not think more than 3,000 acres of land were resumed since then. Another important matter dealt with by the Bill was the right by the Crown to royal metals, and in this connection the Minister cited several recent decisions of the law courts. He also contended that the Crown should have the right to resume the Kauri Timber Company's leases for mining purposes with a fair compensation. The moderation of the Minister's statements was the subject of congratulation by Sir Robert Stout, who, however, objected to the enormous power sought to be given by the Bill in respect to the resumption of lands for Twining purposes. The Bill, he argued, might have, the effect of intensifying the milling boom in Auckland, but on the other hand it might render titles so insecure that people would refuse to invest in milling prqWUsers McGowan, R. "Allen approved of the Bill, while Mr G. Hutchison thought it was calcu-

At the evening sitting the Mining Bill was committed, and progress was reported on reading clause 2. Progress was reported 011 the Adulteration Prevention Acts Amendment Bill. The Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill was committed. A new clause was inserted to provide for a penalty on the part of the owner of a house to make proper sanitary arrangements.

The Bill was reported to the House with amendments and put through its final stages. The Public Reserve Vesting and Sale Act, 1892, Amendment Bill passed through committee without amendment, and was read a third time and passed. There is to be a delay of another day in bringing down the Public Works Statement. ,It will be laid on the table to-morrow, and the debate will be taken on Monday. The Liquor Bill will be the business before the House to-night. Replying to remonstrances from Government supporters as to the protracted length of the session, Mr Seddon has given an assurance that business will be brought to a close at the end of next week.