POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 487, 14 September 1899, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT). Wellington, Last Night. A WASTED AFTERNOON.

The House spent the whole afternoon over a debate on a report from the Public Accounts Committee as to the right of the committee to call tor certain records from the Colonial Secretary's Department. Mr Tanner, the chairman of the committee, went into the whole question at considerable length, and his contention was to the effect that the committee had the right to ask for a return of the temporary clerks employed by the Government since 1891. The Acting-Colonial Secretary (Mr Carroll) had refused the return on the around that the committee had no power to call for it. The Premier strongly contended that it was beyond the power of the committee, and in doing so he also made a lengthy speech, taking an altogether different view of the matter from Mr Tanner. Mr Geo. Hutchison, about I o'clock, asked whether they were goinj to spend the whole afternoon over the question, which led Mr Pirani to ask what was on the Order Paper. (Laughter). Several other members look a hand in the discussion, and the matter was finally talked out at the dinner adjournmentPUBLIC WORKS EXPENDITURE. The Public Works Estimates contain the following votes for the various districts for roads, wharves and bridges under the Lands Department :—Auckland, £111,022 ; Hawke's Bay, £44,461 ; Taranaki, £36,175 : Wellington, £100,401 ; Nelson, £14,472 ; Marlborough, £23,893 ; Westlund, £20,551 ; Canterbury, £19.214 ; Otago, £37,947 ; Southland, £37,515. The total vote is £330,000. The greater portion of the vote is practically already expended, as on th 6 3lst March last, there were liabilities outstanding, which, in many cases, equalled the sums provided on the present Estimates. NOXIOUS WEEDS BILL.

Some exception was taken to-night by members to the proposal of the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones to refer the Noxious Weeds Bill to the Agricultural Committee. (Mr Montgomery : " Why did you not bring the Bill clown earlier.") Mr Hall-Jones contended there was plenty of time to pass the Bill and Make it a workable measure. The present Bill left its provisions largely in the hands of the local authorities. Mr Pirani called for a division, but did not press it, and the Bill was read pro forma prior to its beint{ sent in to the committee.

LENGTH OF SESSION.

Mr Pirani to-nignt objected to the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Bill being brought down at this stage of the session. He said they were told the session was to close in three weeks. (Tne Premier : " Three months you mean.'') Mr Pirani said he should do his best to make it threa months longer, or at any rate till they got proper legislation. (Mr Flatman": " You may not get back again.") " Probably not," said Mr Pirani, "but the member for Geraldine is not very sure of getting back either, and I shail try to make the best use of my time."