Parliamentary Gossip.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 228, 24 September 1894, Page 4

Parliamentary Gossip.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY

(BY TBLEORAPH.—PARLIAMENTARY BE

PORTER.)

Wellington, this day. MEASURES TO BE DROPPED. A caucus of Government supporters ha» been convened for to-morrow ab noon, ife i» understood for the purpose of determining whab measures may be dropped this seasion in order to bring ib to an early close. From information gathered from various sources, I should consider ib most probable the Licensing Bill and Municipal Corporations Bill will'be put aeide, among other less important measures. THE HALF-HOLIDAY BILL.. Mb Tregeak, head of the Labour Bureau, was stated in the Council yesterday to have givou evidence before the Labour Bills Committee to the effect that the Sbopß and Shop Assistants Bill would inflicb great hardship on small shopkeepers.^ This is an incorrect representation of his opinion, as he states hia evidence throughoub was in favour of the proposals of the Bill. What) he did say was that small sboopkeepers who depended for their trade upon keeping open at times when others closed would no doubt feel the efiect of this measure. THE LICENSING BILL. Several amendments on this Bill are to be proposed by Mr Tanner. One of these proposes to constitute Parliamentary Buildings ft special licensing district, and have a local option poll of members of both Houses on tho first day of nexb session, and at the opening of each succeeding Parliament, a bare majority ruling. He also proposes that nothing in clause 21 of last year's Act shall be held to affect the position of licenses in any proceedings taken in Addihgton, Newtown and Sydenham East licensing districts. Mr G. J. Smith has also given notice of a number of amendments on the Bill. NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY LOAN. Mr Mitcholson, in accordance with notice given, asked the Minister for Lnnds at, the last, sitting of tbo House if he would out of the £250,000 proposed to ..be borrowed for the purchase of natives lands, repay to.credit of tho North. Island Main Trunk Railway such sums as have been taken from it, and thus enable provision to ba made upon this year's estimates for* further construction of this important railway The Minister in reply admitted thab a sum of £220,000 had been taken from the North Island Main Trunk Railway loan by former Governments, the Stout - Vogel Government having taken £100,000, and the Atkinson Government £120,000, bub thi»b the preeenb Government could not be held responsible for the action of their predecessors. The monoy was taken from loan by Ach of Parliament, and ho pointed out that it would be impossible to repay'it except by similar provision. JOTTINGS. i Iv reply to Dr. Newman, who asked whether the Government intended this session to increaao the duty on fruit, the Premier said the Government would endeavour go give effect to the policy set forth in the Financial Statement, bub that circumstances might) arise to prevent them doing so. The Treasurer repeated the information ho has already given to theHoußd, that the memorandum of amalgamation in connection^ with Jfeho -banks would not te, referred to any Committee till Cabinet had cpine to a decision regarding ib. Tho Government has under consideration thß question of relieving taxpayers of payment on mortgages under the graduated tax. The petition of John Simcock, who lost his right hand through a© explosion in a Government gravel quarryat Kaukapakapa, and has asked tor suitable employment, has been referred to the Government for consideration.