POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 223, 16 December 1897, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(BY TKLEOUArH—ErECIAL nErOHTEE) Wellington, Last Night. A RADICAL CHANGE.

Nearly two hours were, occupied ths afternoon in the discussion of the Premier's motion that Bills which have been advanced to a certain stage this session iu the House and Legislative Council should be taken up next year and proceeded with as from ths stage they may reach this year. The leading Opposition members strongly opposed the proposal as being against the Standing Orders, and contrary to an old - established principle, but the Speaker ruled that the motion was quite in order and it was finally carried on division. Mr Seddon agreed to give way as regards Bills in the Council, and asked leave to strike out thit part of the motion, but leave was refused and the proposal wes carried as a whole. He pointed out that the Pharmacy Bill was the only one passed by the Council this year which could be affected by his motion. The Old Age Pension Bid having been thrown ont by the " Lords," the proposal would, of course, not apply to that measure. I understand that several of the Australian Parliaments have been striving to get a proposal of this kind adopted, but up to the present they have failed to carry it. We shall, no doubt, therefore be told by the Premier that in this respect also New Zealand once more leads the van in the march of progress. PLAYING AT PARLIAMENT. The proceedings of the House in Committee list night on the Young Persons Protection Bill were almost farcical, and the majority of the members seemed to regard the whole thing as a huge joke. Nobody of course expects the Bill to pass in the Council, and tlrs probably accounts for the levity displayed over it. The laughter last night was so incessant thit it was almost impossible to follow the progress of the Bill in Committee, but it eventually got through with a clause added, providing that the Act shall not be brought into force in any particular district, unless the local authority for that district decide so. Th« Bill was afterwards passed through its final stages and sent on to the Legislative Council, where it is expected to receive the " happy despatch " without much time spent in its discussion. PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. The estimates do not call for much comment. Respecting the vote for railways, the sum of £30,000 is provided for the Eketahuna-WoodviUe line, and £25,000 for the Midland Railway ; £3OO for the survey of new lines ; £50,000 for permanent way materials (as against £40,000 voted and £32,555 expended this year) ; and £200.000 for additions to open new lines, including £30,000 for the south end of the Marton-Te Awamutu line ; £97,140 for rolling stock, an! £21,90S for gas lighting plant. The vote for travelling expenses, purchase of instruments, and contingencies is increased by £IO6O. but the total departmental vote is £4275 less than that of last year, when the expenses of the Midland Haihvay arbitration case (£SS9O) had to be provided for. JOTTINGS. Capt. Russell leaves for England on the 24th inst. Mr James Alien, member for Bruce, is to o goiug to England, leaving here on Monday. Both members will be back for the opening of next session. The general impression to night is that the session will close about Tuesday or Wednesday next. Four members of the House are at present absent through influenzi (Messrs John McKenzie, Herries, Sligo and E. G. Allen). Accordinc to Mr Pirani the Government are not sincere over the Eight Hours Bill as they bring it down every night at the tail of other BTs, when members are so tired out that they cannot possibly discuss it. Mr J. G. Ward left for the South today. He paired with Mr Eraser till Sunday, but he is not expected back this session. Mr Taylor told the House to-night that all that would be left of the Timaru Harbour after all the thousands of pounds spent on it would be a shingle bank extending about a mile from the shore. Great complaints are made here of the extremely slow rate of travelling by the new Napier-W&irarapa Government line, and a Napier pa-senger assures me that the train was actually an hour and a half overdue at one station yesterday. Mr Meredith created hearty laughter tonight by gravely stating that Port Robinson existed at Cheviot before Capt. Cook came to New Zealand.

The Minister for Lands is slightly better, but is still confined to his room, and is not expected back in the House for some days.