PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 168, 16 July 1892, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.)

Wellington, this day. ISLAND FRUIT IMPORTS..

An import duty on island fruib was advocated yesberday afternoon by Mr R. Thompson, who said thab he had received much representation from fruib growers oh the subject, and ib had been pointed ohb thab bhe imported fruibofbeh brought into bhe colony scale and obher objectionable blights. The Hon. Mr McKenzie said the matter was one of great importance and would be carefully considered by the Governmenb. Wibh .regard bo bhe Mighb on island fruib, Mr Hanlon.. bhe Government expert, who was now in the Norbh, would be inebrucbed bo make inquiries and reporb, and if necessary a measure would be introduced this session bearing on the mabter.

LOCAL OPTION.

The Liquor Traffic Local Opbion Acb, which is the title of the Bill, is to take effecb immediately. on its passing. Machinery is provided for taking a poll of tbe ratepayers every three years, and when a majority decide againsb the issue of any license it is enacted thab no license shall be granted within the district. Existing annual licenses are to be terminated at the end of the period for which they were granted provided that the local option poll is unfavourable. - Though a majority of the House is in favour of this measure there is a powerful minority which will obstruct) ibs being carried into law. The Standing Orders Committee are to report in a few days with a view to curtailing profitless discussion in Committee. Any member may call for a division and if a majority of 50 decide, the clause under consideration is to be pub forbhwibb. The whole of the standing orders are recommended to be re-cast with a view to stopping obstruction.

JOTTINGS.

Mr T. Mackenzie asks the Government whether they will this session deal with the whole question of charitable aid.

The Education Reserves Act Amendment Bill of the Minister of Education proposes to exempt all unoccupied education reserves, from local rating. The abbibude assumed by Mr Rees towards the Governmenb during the present session has been freely commenbed upon in bbc lobbies, and he is now regarded us a freelance. Will bhe Chairman of Committees eventually be in opposition ? is freely asked.

According to Mr George Fisher tbe total amount paid by the country during the last 18 months for Ministers' salaries, travelling allowances, travelling expenses, house allowance, etc., and coat'of tbe Hinemoa trip to Sydney (£2,000), totalled up to £16,147.

The Governmenb are not aware thab certain settlers ab Mangere have fenced in reserves in bhab disbricb, bub will make inquiries. The Government sbate, in answer to Mr Buckland, thab bhere is nob bime bhis session to bring in a new Fencing Act. With reference to the protecbion ol hen pheasanbs, aboub which representations have been made from Auckland, bhe Premier states on receipb of further information-ba, will see if the Bill can be amended this session. The compulsory clause of the Education Act having been found practically inoperative, Mr W. Hutchison wants to know whether the Government will this session introduce legislation to enable Education Boards and School Committees to carry into effecb a judicious sysbem of compulsory attendance. *' Clutha " Mackenzie intends moving on Thursday nexb thab bhe Government should bhis session deal with the whole quesbion of charitable aid. The Governmenb measures introduced yesterday were the Dairy Industry Bill, the Codlin Moth Bill, the Stock Bill, the Manual and Technical Elementary Instruction Bill, and the Shipping Acb Amendmenb Bill. _, ''-■„■, According bo bhe Posbmaster. General, Mr T. Mackenzie aspires to be the nexb Colonial Treasurer, but bhe odds are heavy thab Dr. Newman will be appoinbed when bhe Opposition do geb into power. Dr. Newman moves in Committee on the Land Bill that five per cent, of Crown lands in the Wellington province be seb aside as endowments for education. The Factories Act Amendmenb Bui of bhe Minisber for Lands is to provide for the enforcement of better sanitary arrangements in factories. ,' _ _ _ ,_ , Mr Rees says thab the Native Land Court ia a Court which is so manifestly wrong in the majority of its judgments thab ib is filling bhe Supreme Courb wibh libigation. In the House yesterday afternoon, Mr Rees broughb up reporbs from the Joint Committee on Bills, to the effecb thab bhe Tahoraibi Tible Validabion Bill and Kaiapoi Beserves Bill are public Bills. He moved thab the House disagree with the decision of the Committee, and declare that these were private Bills, After a long debate, his motion was negatived by 39 to 23. The Government do hob yeb know whab -relief bhey can give to Henry Piher who bought 3,500 acres pf land at Roborua, bo which bbc natives have denied him access, but they will endeavour to give Piper access to his proPublic Petitions Committee have no recommendation to make upon the petition o( Robert G. Hawes, who alleges over valua-s tion by Mr Seaman. Mr Palmer has presented a petition from Marearet Barns praying for land for military services rendered by her father, P. W. Barns. -