NOTES FROM THE HOUSE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 33, 14 August 1902, Page 15

NOTES FROM THE HOUSE.

PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

The Estimates were aeain considered on Tuesday evening, but Done of the votes were reduced.

The alleged overcrowding of the troopship Britannic came up for discussion during the afternoon, when members were particularly severe on the Imperial authorities for the treatment meted out to the returning troopers.

The Acting-Premier laid on the table a report •from LieutColonel Daviesand the senior medical officer which did not bear out the allegations made by some of the men. Mr Monk contrasted the sending away of the men with their home-coming. They were sent away with eclat and torrents of bombast, and there was not cvi n a flag hoisted on their return. — Mr Hutcheson said he thought the reports just read had not told them the whole story. This was evidently a case of the usual tactics of John Bull, Esq , when he returned his empties. Eventually Sir J. G. Ward promised to appoint a commission to inquire into the allegations. The Commissioners appointed by the Government were Sir W. Russell, Messrs McNab and Millai .

On Wednesday afternoon and evening the Council discussed the Tied Houses Bill, introduced by the Hon. J. Ri?g. This is a pretty drastic measure, as it makes it unlawful for any brewer to own licensed premise?, and from January 1, 1904, all instruments of title purporting to vest any licensed p>v mise* in any brewer for any stake or interest Bhall be deemed null and void, and the registration of every such instrument shall be cancelled. The Bill further makes it unlawful for any brewer or spirit merchant to advance money to any licensed person, and no action will lie in any court for the recovery of money so lent. From and after the expiration of the term of any existing loan, or, if no such term is fixed, then after the Ist January, 1904, all instruments purporting to secure the repayment of any money so advanced are to be null and void and their registration is to be cancelled.

The debate was eventually adjourned.

A discussion arising out of the third reading of the Loan Bill occupied the greater part of Wednesday afternoon and evening, but the measure eventually passed that stage by 35 votes to 6.

In the Council on Thursday afternoon the second reading of the Fisheries Conservation Act Amendment Bill, designed to prevent the exclusive use by private owners of rivers running through their property containing fish, was agreed to.

A number of local measures were passed through the committee stage in the House, among these being the Wellington Harbor Board Empowering Bill, which was strongly opposed by Mr Laurenson, who stated that both the Auckland and Lyttelton docks were ' white elephants,' and that the scheme for building a dock in Wellington was a hare-brained proposal.

At 5.40 pm. the House adjourned until Tuesday for the Coronation celebrations.