PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 146, 21 June 1890, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(Si TBMWBAPfI,— SPECIAL REPORTER.)

: Wellington, this" day. THE PREMIER'S HEALTH.

UNLIKELY TO RESIGN.

The Premier ia again very ill, and yeeter* day afternoon had to retire from the House, but is much better this morning. It ia now considered extremely improbable be will resign. The probability Iβ he will maintain _ the leadership of the Government nominally, being reliered an far as possible from the arduous duties of that office. MAIL SERVICES. Mr Joyce ask? the Government if they will indicate the Canadian proposals for the Pacific mail service with a terminal port in this colony, and what proportion of the total £150,000 voted by the Dominion for the ocean mail subsidies will be set apart for the New Zealand service. RAILWAY EMPLOYEES, i',, Mr Hutchison moves for a return giving the following particulars in respect of the employees In the railway service during the period of twelve months, ended 31at March, 1890: — (1) Amount of fines and stoppages inflicted; (2) use to which such amount was applied; (3) number of employees (over 18 years of ago) discharged, or who have left, specifying the weekly rat* «t wages payable to them, and the number respectively of married and unmarried who have been so discharged or have'left; (4) the number of employees' (under 18 years of age) taken on. and (a) weekly rate of wages payable to them." .... : .?«& MAJOR CAMPBELL. JSffi^K A rumour which has had currency recently that Major Campbell, ex-Clerk to Parliament, will be called to the Legislative Council, received rather marked emphasis at the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, on the discussion of the Premier's motion instructing the people to convey to Major Campbell on his retirement from the office of the Clerk of the House its acknowledgments of his prolonged and valuable services. The Premier having passed a very warm eulogy on Major Campbell,. / :u , Mr Ballance seconded the motion in another complimentary speech. Sir J. Hall, who followed, suggested that as a token of the esteem in which Major Campbell was held tome more distinguished mark of that appreciation should be conferred upon him. This was pretty generally recognised as a reference to the Legislative Council. The motion wae carried by acclamation. TRAVELLING EXPENSES. On the motion of Mr Fisher it was agreed that) a return bo laid before the House showing the amount drawn by each Minister of the Crown for travelling allowances and expenses from the Bth October, 1887. to the Bth April, 1889. PRIVATE MEMBERS' AND OTHER BILLS. Major Steward's Bill for!the election of School Committees proposes to abolish the cumulative vote, give a clear definition of the term "householder," facilitate the machinery for the election of committees and make provision for the ■ nomination of candidates. The Divorce Bill, introduced by Mr Samuel, is similar in purport) to the measure which occupied the attention of Parliament for the last two sessions, and haa been altered to embody some provisions inserted in the Victorian Divorce Extension Bill recently assented to by Her Majesty. ... ' Sir George Grey Introduced a Bill to definethe hours of labour within the,colony. The second'reading was fixed for July 3rd. This Bill is similar to the Eight Hours Bill of lost session, and provides'that in cases where a dispute may arise as to the length of time of a day's work, eight hours shalf be deemed a legal day's work, if there exists no agreement to the contrary. The Bill does nob preclude an agreement being en* tered into for other than eight hours per day. Other Bills were introduced and read a first time, including Patea Harbour Bill, School Committees Election Bill, Bill to Repeal Contagious Diseases Act, Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Bill, Bill to Amend and ExtendXaw Relating to Divorce, Bill dealing with Native Reserves on the West Coast, Sheep Bill, Cattle. Bill, Auckland Roman Catholic Reserves Bill, Registration of Electors Bill, Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill. The two latter stood over from last session. EARLY CLOSING. Mr Joyce gave notice of his intention to introduce a Bill for' the early closing of shops and the limitation of employees' hours of labour. This is a similar measure to Mr Joyce's Shop Hours Bill of last session, excepting that amendments have been made by which clerks, and others similarly employed, will have their interests considered,. APPROPRIATION ACCOUNT. ' A statement under this heading was laid on the table, showing the net issue from the consolidated revenue and the Public Works Fund for the year ended March 31st, 1890. In the Department of Justice it wae shown that there had been spent on criminal prosecutions, £12,640, being £1,040 in-excess of the sum voted last year apart from £7,575 cost of maintenance of the Supreme Court. For immigration, of the £4,830 voted, £866 was expended. For. special settlements, £19,173 was voted and £7,586 expended. The vote for harbour defences was £6,452, and the amount expended £7,293; for the purchase of native lands, £51,794 was voted and £24,160 expended; for railways, north of Heleneville, of the £15,000' voted £5,842 watt expended ; for the Grahamstown-Te Aroha railway of the vote of £35,000, £2,367 wae expended. The only expenditure on. railways in excess of the sums voted was on the Mangawahoe-Woodville. line, for which £12,500 was voted and £15,646 expended. . ' PROSPECTIVE BILLS. Mr Turnbull gave notice of his intention to introduce an Employment Females Act Amendment Bill ; Sydney Taiwhanga, a Native Land Administration Bill; Mr Joyce, a Seamen's -Representation Bill, and a Representation Act Amendment Bill; Dr. Fitchetb tabled a question whether the Government propose a Contractors' Lien Bill as promised last session, ~ LAND ; SELECTION. Mr Cadman wae allowed to defer his as to whether the Minister of lands will. bo amend the Selectors'. Land Revaluation Act, bo that the interpretation clause shall' include the agricultural lease-1 holders of Ohinemuri county till Friday next. NEW ZEALAND "TIMES , - 1 ON THE ■■-.-•-:;■ SITUATION. • '.'' The '• Times' "refers to. the debate qn the Address in-Reply as a fiasco, and, describes the evening's proceedings as of a very mild type. ■& rather bright and telling speech from Mr Ballance, a brief, reply from the Minister of Education, a characteristic ovation from Sir George .Grey, and a factious discourse ftom the ' member for Sydenham made opV the ©vening'i amusement, obstruction "being openly threatened if the Government refused to adjourn the debate. This coarse was agreed to, and so disappeared all hope of the Financial Statement being delivered next as this was necessarily dependent on the addreea debate-being conclu4ed,lasfc night Ministerial supporters, the are! very confident of.'aenbstiantxaLmajOrity in case of any trial:ol strength. -Some reckon <m X4atletast,and[probably 16, ana' Others less sanguine count absolutely on.

8. The reason for the adjournment is said to have been that Meaers McKenzie and Duncan are on their way to Wellington and telegraphed that they wanb to speak during the debate. PETITIONS. Mr Goldie presented a petition from T*B. Hannaford, Auckland, urging that the evidence taken on a complaint that the Marine Departnenb had pirated his beacon patent was misleading, and praying that a further nveetigation should be made, and auch relief afforded as Government might see fib. Mr Bryce presented a petition from Benjamin Peddie Bayly, of Hamilton, latterly Sheep Inspector, alleging dismissal on inadequate grounds and praying for relief. Mr Goldie presented a petition from Mrs Lindsay, 72 years of age, praying for a land order for 60 acres, her late husband, Samuel Taylor, being entitled to the same for service in tho Maori war from 1841 to J BSO. ? pttftg ' ' * ' JOTTINGS. ■ f^^s*^* The Bible in Schools Bill of last! session will be introduced next week by Mr Tanner. •■* ■::, '•■■'' '&$* A Bill to provide for the Parliamentary representation of seamen is to be introduced by Mr Joyce on Tuesday. >, \. .• -■ Mr Izard is to ask the Government whether they will make provision for the better payment of jurora in. civil and criminal cases. *•*• ■■-'<■■ f : is*?'-- •■' K '-^^ Major Campbell's pension is shown by a return laid before the House to be £466 13s 4d per annum. The other pensions to be paid are as follows : H. McCulloch, Justice Department, £233; H. Morrow, Poab and Telegraphs, , £120; ,R. Wilson, Marine, £65.. 4 o^*m>o»:^ j %^ : .