Parliamentary Notes.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4802, 17 August 1894, Page 3

Parliamentary Notes.

The following letter has been received by the Hon. W. P. Reeves from the secretary of the Wellington Trades and LabourCouneil,under date of 14th August:—" Dear sir,— My Council last evening considered the Master and Apprentice Bill No. 2, The only amendment made was in clause 16, which providos for holidays. Labour Day being inserted, At the conclusion of its consideration every membor expressed his appreciation of the valuable services rendered by you in the cause of labour, and I was directed to convoy a hearty vote of thanks to you for having introduced the Master and Apprentice Bill, Wishing you happiness and health, believe me, etc., H. C. JoXKS, secretary." Mr Dtithie called attention yesterday to what ho termed the " apparently excessive "sentences passed on J. O.Halloran and William Mudgway for working horses with sores on their shoulders, and asked the Minister of Justice whether he hud observed the frequency of such convictions without evidence of unavoidable neglect or cruelty. Mr Cudman read a report from Mr Martin, S.M., who stated that ho had never convicted without evidence of actual cruelty, and ho would like to know what Mr Dutuie referred to. Tho evidence in the cases mentioned showed that O'Hallorah's horse was iii it frightful state, and that though Mudgway's horse had a chambered collar, showing that an attempt was made to give relief, it wasdriven to l'etono with a football team, and tho sores were oxaminod there and in town, and on both occasions were found to be bleeding, - Mr Martin stated that in several cases servants wero forced by their masters to use horses unlit for work, and he felt bound to punish with imprisonment, The Minister added that he approved the action of the Magistrate. Mr Cadman futher suggested that efforts should be made to prevent cruelty to horses by overloading, Only the previous day opposite his own lodgings he saw a small horse, only a hack, harnessed to a cart loaded with gravel, being flogged unmercifully by two men. lii answer to Mr Willis, the Premier said yesterday that ho would put the police upon the track of Eugene, a professed medical healer, i who was originally a bookmaker, and who bad predicted tho destruction of the city by an earthquake,— times,