PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 235, 16 October 1901, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, 15th October. The Conncil met at 2.30. p.m. The Trustee Amendment Bill was read a third and passed. The Maori Antiquities Bill was committed. Clause 6 was subjected to considerable amendment, i The Bill was reported as amended, read a third time, and passed. The Council rose at 3 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tubsday, 15th October. Tne House met at 2.30 p.m. Several petitions were presented priying for an inquiry into the evil effects of drink among the Maoris. Objection was raised that some of these petitions were of a pictorial character, and the Acting-Speaker ruled that petitions which had pictures on them were against the standing orders, and could not be received.

Mr Seddon announced the "slaughter of the innocents," and moved that the following Bills be I discharged from the paper:— Smoking by Youths Prohibition, New I Zealand University Act Amendment, Youag Persons Protection, L»nd and Live Stock Auction Liw Amendment, I Discount Stamps, S - a l e Fire Insurance, Property Law Amendment, Fair Rent, Rating on Unimproved Value? Act Amendment (Nos 1 and 2), District Court Act Amendment, Orchard and Garden Pests. Cycle Boards, Crown Grants Act 1883 Amendment, Limitation of Profits and Prevention of Rings and Combines, Juvenile Smoking Suppression, Impounding Act Amendment (Nos 1 and 2), and Lotteries Act amendment, Libel (No 2), Settlers Fire Insurance, Fire Brigades, Contageous Diseases Act Repeal, Bicycle Dealers Registration, Totalisator Abolition, Absolute Majority, and Inspector* of Schools Bills. Mr Seddon's motion was agreed to on the voices. Mr Seddon stated that if the Estimates were finished at to-night's sittine he saw no reason why members should not get away during the first week in November.

Mr Morrison was granted a week'e leave of absence on account of illness. Mr Seddon moved that tbe motion for tbe i'S'io of a writ for the Patet seat be al'owed to stand over until Friday next. He explained that the arrangements would not permit of a writ being issued immediately. Tbe returning officer hai not yet been appointed, and the electoral rolls were not ready. Mr James Allen expressed regret at Mr Seddon having takeo what ha (Mr Allen) regarded as a perfectly unnecessary step. He believed the postponement was intentional.

Mr Seddon objected to that inter pretation being plaoed upon the matter.

Captain Russell hoped the election would not be put off until after the session. Ministers would then be able to " stump " the electorate. Sir Joseph Ward said the temporary delay was not designed to assist a Government candidate. Tbe rolls were not ready, and that was the sole eiuse of the delay. Mr Massey said it was unfortunate that the Patea constituency should be disfranchised during the most important period of the session. After further debate Mr Seddon said as far as the Government interest was concprned ha preferred that the eleotion should take place immediately. As far as he knew it would be a straight run betwean Messrs Heslopand Ha elden. If bis motion pa~s don Friday the writ could be issued on Saturday, and the election would be held within 14 days. Mr Seddon declared chat Mr Edwßrds, Liberal organiser, had never received a shilling from the Government, his salary being paid by the Liberal party. Mr Seddon's motion was agreed to on the voices. Amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Maoii Antiquities Bill were agreed to, The following Bills were introduced and r?ad a first time:—Public Health Bill (No. 2), TJnolaimed Moneys Bill, Publio T »st Office Amendment-- Bill, Chatham Islands County Bill, Medical Practitioners Bill, Crown Tenants Rent Rebate Act Amendment Bill. At 4.15 p.m. the House went into Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Estimates, The fi'st vote taken was that for OUss 9, Department of L%bjur—£779o. Mr Hemes objected to the labour Journal as a useless publication. ; Messrs* Atkinson and Hornsby a'a> spoke. The total vote wa* agreed to. ] Mines Department—Xs94s. ,i In reply to various nvmb»rs, Mr ( McGowan said that in his opinion, the ' work of the Mining Bureau was worth \ a good deal more than was piid for i*. It would be n.'cessiry to appoint more mining, inspectors. )

I A discussion took place regarding i State control of mines, the Minister s.t iting that inquire s were being made in various parts of the colony. The. House rose at 5.30 p.m. Evening smxm. The. House resumed at p.m. At item " Expenses of Royal Commission, on Coalmines, 1900," Mr Jan. Allen, oamptainfd that in two cases wbieh came within his own knowledge that the Commission had made an inadequate eximinaion of the names. He would like the Commission's report to be reviewed by the Mines Commit-1 tee, or even by some outside tribunal. Mr Seddoo said he had gone through the evidence. In regard to, the two mines referre/i to by Mr Allen, it showed Commission could have come to, no other conclusion. A long discussion toik place, and eventually the item was agreed to, and the total vote passed unaltered. Department of Agriculture Mr Lang asked for compensation for farmers in the case of stock destroyed to check spread of disaie, such as anthrax. This was believed to have been imported in bone manure from Australia, and he urgud the depigment to see that the manuri was properly treated before being used. Mr Hogg complained that the cost of the department was becoming formidable. Mr Hornsby also protested against the increasing cost, and he moved that the salary of the secretary and chief inspector (£600) be reduced by £SO, the amount of the increase. Sir Joseph Ward said this department; was dojng an immense amount of I good for. settlers. The Ministry considered the increase had been wall earned,

Mr Bollard thought it very ungenerous for men who knew nothing about the work to criticise the increue proposed for a gentlemen occupying such a responsible position. Mr Gil tedder did not considtr that iffioiency was being maintained. Messrs Hogj, Fisher, and Laurenson also b'oke.

Hon. Duncan defended the increase, and | ointed out hat the work and importance of the department had inicre. Ed very largely of late yeaw. Mr G. J. Smith drew attention to -to the fact that those member* who were now condemning the department bad, in the late Sir John McKenrie'e time, been very complimentary in their references to its administration.