PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 215, 18 September 1901, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

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- LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tcesday, 17th September. The Council met at 2.30. Hon. W. C. Walker moved amotion of condolence with the American cation, and the relatives of the late President McKinley in terms of the resolution passed by the Lower House. Hon. G. McLean in seconding the motion spoke of the need of combined ! act'on of the nations to repress Anar-1 chists. J Hon. T. l&lly also spoke to thel motion, which was carried unanimously. Hon. W. 0. Walker, in moving the, adjournment of the Council, referred, to two deaths nearer home, those of Mr. Scobie Mackenzie, and Colonel Fraser. Apart from political matters he had, he said, always enjoyed the shades of temperament of the late Mr. Mackenzie, and hail maintained with him a firm friendship. Colonel Fraser was known to them as an o'd servant of another chamber, but his services there were only the end of an honourable career begun in the Maori war. The Council adjourned at 2.40 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tubsdat, 17th September. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. Wilford presented a petition: from the Silvation Army protesting' against the introduction of liquor into I the King Country. A large number J of other petitions to a similar effect \ were also presented from all parts of thecolony. Three days leave of absence was granted to Mr. Morrison, and one week to Mr. McLichlan, on aocount of illness. Mr. Jas. Allen gave notice to move for a return of alt correspondence in reference to the return of troops by the Tagus, both before and after their arrival in the colony; also for a return of illnesses and complaints among troopers by that vtssel. Mr. Steward gave notice to move that the Deputy-Speaker and Acting Chairman of Committees be authorised to revise the report of the discussion which took pl»ce in Committee of Supply on Friday evening, and to see that all reference to the words withdrawn be omitted from the said report. The Old Age Pensions Act Amendment Bill (Mr. Seddon) was introduced and read a first time. Mr. Seddon moved: "That the Hous-) of Representatives expresses its sorrow at the sad and melancholy death of the President cf the United Stages of America, and sincerely sympathises with the people of the United States, and offers its heartfelt condolence with Mrs. McKinley and the relatives of the late President, and joins with the Eng-lish-speaking; people throughout the world in deploring the calamity that by his demise has eventuated, and thvt a copy of the foregoing resolution be presented to the Government of the United Rttf es." In moving the motion Mr. Ssddon expressed his deep regret at the sad and melancholy end that had overtaken a great statesman, and paid a high tribute to the dead President, eulogising his public career and private life. The motion was seconded by Mr. Massey and carried unanimously in silenoa. Mr Seddon moved that this House desires te plaoe on, record its regret at the death of the late M. J. S. M«cKenzie, and its appreciation of his services as a member of the House of Representative, and tende s to Mrs McKenzie and family its siocerest svmpnthy and condolence. He spoke of Mr McKenzie'a d-vo'ion to t'e colony, and the gool fellowship that had always existed between him and bis fellow members, and the Weem in which he was held by men of all shades of political opinion. I Mr Jas. Allen, in seconding the motion, paid a high tribute to the character of the late Mr McKenzie, both in his political and home life. Mr J. W. Thompson referred to the death of Mr Arthur Burns, "f Dunedin, who was a member o' the House nvny I years ago. Mr Seddon praised the services , rendered by the late A. J. Burns, and referred to the faot that his son, Dr Burns, was at pressnt ssrving hiscountry in South Africa. The motion was carried unanimously in silence. Mr Seddon moved that this Hnive desire to place on record it rseret at the death of Oobnel William Frazer, and its appreciation of his services as a innmher of the hous», and tenders to Mrs Fraser its sincerest sympathy and condolence. He spoke of the genial temperament »nd good work of the late 00l n«l Fraser as a soldier, member of the Hnuse, and Serjeant-at-Arms. Mr Hemes seoinded the motion, wln'oh was supported by Messrs McGowan, Fishir, and Liwry, a-d carried unanimously in silsnce. Mr Seddon announo d thit be proposed to ask the House to adjourn froii 3 to 4 on Thursdav aftrrnooo, as the funeral of the late President Mckinley was to take place on that day. It had be"n suggested by Mr Meredith that a funeral service should be he'd °n Thursdav afternoon in front of Parliament Buildings, but although he wis quite agreeable to th»t course, he thought the initiative in *be matter should come fronu the churches which had proposed to conduct the service. At 3-55 the House adj turned till 7.30. Evening Sitting. The TTou-e resumed at 7 30 p.m. Mr. Seddon gave notice to move that the speeches made by members in the debate brought up by the member for Bruce on Friday evening be f>uV>mitted to the Speaker and Chairman of Committees for the purposs of revising those portions aff cting the matter referred toby the member for Bruce. The House then went into Committee of Supply for further consideration of estimates. House of Representatives—£ll3s. Mr. Laurenson said he tho'ight the House could do very well without, a Sergeant-at-Arrns, and he move') that it*m Sergnant-at-Arms .£2OO ba reduced by £1 as an indication that the House does not approve of a fresh appointment being made to that position. Mr. McNab spoke. Mr. Millar, in view of the pr-sent financial condition of the colony, moved that the item .£325, s°cond cl»rk assistant of the House, ba reduce! by .£25, the amount of the pronosed increase, and he announced that he would ■move a similar motion in regard to all pronosed increases. I Mr. Seddon defended the inceve, land Mr. Millar's motion was lost by 40 to 12,

Mr. Seddon siid no saving would b* effected by abolishing the offioe of Sergeant-at-Arms, and he hoped the House would reject Mr. Liurenson'a motion. Th? duties could not be satisfactorily filled by a messenger. A long discussion ensued, in the rooree of which strong complaints wen raids as to strangers iuvading the lobbies and library on days on which the House is sitting. Eventually, Mr. Lturenson's motion was lost by 42 to 10, as also was a motion by Mr. Fisher to reduce the item " Reader and Olerk of Bills and Papers " £175 by £25. The total vote for the House of Representatives was then passed unal,tered. General expenses of Legislative Departments, £13,952. ; Mr. G. W. Russell referred to -the costly method by whioh ffantard was produced, and asked when the Government would intrcduca linotype machines. He did not suggest that the men who would be dispWoed by linotypes should be thrown out of employment, because he thought the Government could easily find positions for them. Mr. Seddon said the point raised by Mr. Russell could be discussed when the Printing Office Estimates came on. Several members vigorously protested against the lack.of accommodation in Parliament Buildings for members who desired to transact private business with their constituents. After considerable discussion the vote for general expenses was passed unaltered, and the whole vote for the i legislative departments, totalling I £19,887, was agreed to. The estimates for the Colonial Seo'retary's department were next considered, and the House was still sitting when the Telegraph Offioe closed.