PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5124, 19 June 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegbaph.]

(rBOM OUE OWN COBBEBPONDENT.)

Wellington, Last night.

The eighth annual report of the Minister of Education for the year 1884 was laid on the table to-day. It shows the annual increase in the number of children attending public schools to be greater in 1884 then in any former year since 1880, the largest proportional increase being in Hawkes Bay, and the smallest in Weatland.

The annual sheep returns up to the 31st May, 1884, show the increase in the total number of sheep to that date to be 672,191. ;

Correspondence on the subject of the development of fisheries in the colonies has been laid on the table. Mr John McKeczie, writing to Sir J. Vogel, gives extracts from his note book of examina* tions made in different parts of the colony, from which I gather that the climate of Auckland, owing to the intense heat, is against the industry of fish curing or preserving. Fish in countless millions frequent tbe northern coasts; Ficton and the Sounds to Cape Campbell are alire with fish, and the climate is more suitable for preserving and curing than north of Cook's Straits. In fact the report states that all round the coast fish is abundant, mentioning Stewart Island as one of the most suitable places in the world for fish curing and fish tinning, possessing the beet in-shore and off shore fishing grounds in the colony. The report also contains a lengthy summary on the food of fishes of New Zealand by Dr Hector. Bradsbaw's Employment of Females Amendment Bill suggests several altera* tions in the present Act, found necessary from references of the past nine months. The chief feature in the Amending Bill is the clause which provides that no work women shall be employed as saleswomen after hours. This precludes employers of girls from taking them from the factory room upon the approach of prohibited hours and employing them in the retail part of the establishment. The business to-day was for the most part uninteresting, and everything set down on the Order Paper was got through before the hour of the dinner adjournment, so that there is no sitting of the House tonight. Mr Cowan, a Southland member, asked one or two questions, which elicited replies containing information of general interest. Tbe first was—lf the Railway Board of Appeal for Otago is open to consider grievances from railway employes in Southland; (2). What remuneration, if any, do the members of the Board receive ? In reply, the Minis ter of Public Works laid he had no objection to the Otago Board; and, secondly, that members of the Board received no remuneration for their services, but occupied purely honorary positions. This removes a doubt which has been expressed in various parts of the colony. The next question put by Mr Cowan was whether the Premier would, with a view of relieving the depression under which the agricultural industry of tbe colony is suffering, bring in a Bill with provision to meet the case similar to those which were embodied in the Colonial Receprocity Bill 1870." On behalf of the Premier, tbe Colonial Treasurer said the question opened up a wide field of policy; the Bill referred to had never received Her Majesty's assent, and it was a question how far such power as was contained in that Bill should be giren to the Government. He thought the House could better consider the subject after the financial proposals were before them.

Mr Rolleston was to bare asked the Minister of Justice whether he would introduce a bill this session to amend the Juries Act, in the direction of providing for payment of all jurors summoned in eiril cases, but the question was postponed. The injustice of the present system, and the hardships which jury service frequently entails, bare often been commented upon, and no doubt the result of Mr Rolleston's question will be awaited with interest. %

Mr Hurst, an Auckland member, has been worrying Ministers with a series of impertinent questions erer since tbe beginning of tbe session. He was rather sat upon by the Premier to-day, when he asked if the Government whip bad been authorised last session to frank telegrams as on the public service, and stated Ibat be had himself seen such telegrams. The Premier replied that he held the telegrams referred to by Mr Hurst in his hand. Tbe fact was that Mr Hurst bad received such telegrams himself during his absence from parliamentary duties, and that he bad evidently. considered them to be on public service, as he had replied to them without thinking it necessary to pay for them. This raised a great laugh at Mr Hurst's expense, and he did not enjoy it. He also had some notices of motion on the Order Paper intended to elicit information as to the annual expense incurred in the maintenance of and additions to Ministerial residences, and the cost of travelling allowance drawn. For these notices of motion tbe mover had to sub* tnit to a good deal of irony and banter. There is very little business for to* morrow beyond the delivery of tbe Budget, which is not expected to be so startling in its proposals as was anticipated in some quarters. It is generally thought that there will be reference to the necessity of the protection of local industries, and that this will open up a Free Trade debatt. ■

This day. In the Legislative Council to day, the Hon. George McLean is to move that an address be presented to the Queen in connection with the despatch of New South Wales troops to the Soudan, the same as moved by Sir Geo. Grey in the Lower House.

In the House of Representatives Mr O'Callaghan is to ask a question as to the establishment of an agricultural department.

Mr W. D. Stewart is to ask why the Kaikoura was not quarantined upon arrival in the colony, and why the passengers were allowed to land before the steamer was cleared by the Health OMcer. It will be remembered that on the last trip of the steamer to Dunedin there was a case of small-pox during the voyage out, and Mr Seed, Secretary of Customs, who was a passenger, was allowed to land before the ship passed the Health Officer.

Important measures are to be introduced during the session. Amongst those promised are the following bills:—Counties Act Amendment, Hospitals and Charitable Aid, Local Bodies Finance and Powers, Abolition of Duty on Gold, and several bills for second reading. These will occupy the HocTse during the afternoon sitting, and at half-past seven a Committee of Supply will be set up, and the Treasurer will deliver his Financial Statement. The debate on the Budget will probably be adjourned in accordance with the usual practice.

The Land Bill to be introduced by Mr Ballance, was circulated late last night. It consolidates all existing laws relating to the administration of the lands of the Crown in the colony; all Crown Lands which have been alienated from the Crown, are on reversion to the Crown in any way, to be deemed to be subject to the provision of this Act; all deferred payments on land are declared to be rent in order to facilitate the recovery thereof; the existing pro* visions relating to leases are generalised and made of universal application; deferred payment Lands Act lands in village settlements are included with other lands, as liable to forfeiture for breach of conditions of occupation. The parts of this bill relating to "deferred payment" and "perpetual lease" lands are not changed in substance, but have been condensed as far as may be consistent with recent enactments; a new clause provides for the leasing of .sections not exceeding fifty acres on the. "perpetual" system—the sections to be open on application.