PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 148, 25 June 1898, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary

Keporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day

THE FIRST SPAR

The first spar of the session took place at an early stage in the proceedings 61; the House yesterday afternoon. The Speaker had anncmnced that, owing- to ill-health, he had granted two months' leave ol' absence to the Clerk' of the House, Mr Friend, and had appointed Clerk Assistant Otterson to fill his position, while Mr j Rutherford would take that of Mr ; Otterson. Sir .Maurice paid a high tribute to Mr Friend, and this was re-echoed by the Premier, who added that he hoped on Tuesday next, after consulting with Sir Maurice O'Rorke, ,to announce the appointment of a permanent officer of tlie House, meaning no doubt the Reader of Bills, a position which has been vacant since the resignation of the late Mr Thos. Bracken. Capt. Russell fully concurred with the- remarks of Sir M. O'Rorke and the Premier as to Mr Friend's service, and he agreed that the time had arrived when the appointment referred to should be made, but the Premier bad stated what he would announce the appointment . Mr Seddon: After consultation with the Speaker. Captain Russell said that the announcement should come from Mr Speaker, who should have full control oi' the officers of the House. This looks as if the Opposition mig-ht again raise this session the vexed question of the control oi! officers of tlie House, and if so the promised announcement will give the necessary opportunity on Tuesday. THE CYANIDE PATENT. A return laid on the table of the House yesterday shows receipts and expenditure by the Government for the year ending 31st March last in connection with the cyanide gold extraction process patent ' right. Receipts, which arc in the form ot royalties, amounted to £676 17/1, and expenditure to £11,414 0/9. In the expenditure column appears the following items: Fees, Button ancl Hell, £232 6/; Stafford and Treadwell, £921 13/6. It is not stated what services were rendered in connection with these lawyers' fees. THE LATE MR GLADSTONE. In moving a resolution appreciative of the services of the late Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, and of sympathy with his widow, the Premier said that it was right they should fittingly recognise the worth of the greatest English statesman and the services rendered by him to the Mother Country, to the Empire, and to the human race. He was one of those who demanded thai, tho greatest freedom should' be given lo self-governing colonies. Mr Seddon referred at length to the late statesman's services, and characterised his efforts for the amelioration of the condition of the people of Ireland as a matter of history. The Leader of the Opposition', in an effective speech, briefly seconded the resolution. During his long political career it had never been charged against Gladstone that he had used his position towards the appointment or advancement of bis political friends or supporters. THE DUKE OF YORK. His Excellency the. Governor yesterday transmitted to the House of Representatives the following despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies relative to the invitation from both Houses of Parliament to their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Dijchess' of York to visit New Zealand: —Downing-street, 18th February, 1893 : My Lord,— I have, the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch of 25th November, in which you draw attention to the invitation from both Houses of Parliament to their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York to visit New Zealand. I have had much pleasure, in communicating the invitation to the Queen, and I am commanded by Her Majesty to express her high appreciation oi the cordial manner in which your Ministers and Houses of Parliament have, requested a visit from her crrandchildren, and a I the same time express her deep regret that circumstances preclude the possibility of the invitation being accepted. Tho Queen does not doubt that Duke and Duchess of York would meet with a most gratifying receplion from her loyal "subjects in New Zealand, and that, their visit would be in every way pleasant and memorable to them, but she commands me to say that there many and serious difficulties. Since the lamented death of Prince Henry of Battenburg there is no Prince other than the Duke of York able to relieve her sons in the discharge of the onerous dutieis which fall to their share as representatives of Her Majesty, who is herself prevented by age "from taking part in public functions, and, in the uncertainty of life, tlie Queen feels that she dare not consent to a Prince co close to the Throne leaving for a long period of time and "making a voyage to a distant part of the world. The Duke of York desires me to add an expression, of the warm thanks of himself and the Duchess for the invitation, ans to say that he sincerely regrets he is unable to pay a visit, to New Zealand, and to bring bis wife to see a country which he regards with the warmest interest. i ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. The Superintendent of the Government Advances to Settlers Office states that it is anticipated that from the 31st March, 1901, the lending department will always have sufficient funds on hand to meet each halfyearly payment without assistance. The first meting of the general board for the purpose" of considering applications for loans was held on the 13th February, 1895, and up to March 31st, 1898, the Board had authorised 5,837 advances amounting to £1,736,20.), and declined 1,841 applications for £419 433. The total amount asked lor by 5.837 applicants granted in full and partially was £2,028 445; 098 applications were declined The net advances authorised numbered 5,139 and amounted to £ 1,505,965. The securities for net authorised advances were valued at £3,151,771, aud they are being endowed by expenditure in improvements of part of the money borrowed, as well as by periodical repayments of principal. The amjrant outstanding, on. the 31st March, IbOS, in respect of instalments was £..,942 5/9 The instalments over one montii in 'arrear on the date mentioned amounted to £922. JOTTINGS. Seeing that the cost of living has greatly increased owing to the rise in the price of flour, kerosene and othe* necessaries, Mr Wilson is asking whether the Minister of Railways will authorise some increase of wages to those employed in the railway workshops, -especially to casual hands.

Mr O'Regan is asking if, in view of the early federation of the Australian colonies and the consequent shutting out of New Zealand, from the benefits of free trade with New South Wales, Cabinet is prepared to favourably consider the advisability of making overtures for free trade with our Austral ian he igh bours. Mr Larnach is calling attention to thef act that there is only a Melbourne mail from the South once a fortnight, and is inviting- the Government to make early arrangements to have a weekly postal service initiated. In view of the buoyant state of the colony's finances, and the continual decline of wages throughout the colony, Mr O'Regan is inquiring whether the Government are prepared to make substantial reductions in customs duties on food, clothing and other necessaries of life.

Information regarding- the position of the Vancouver mail contract is being asked for by Mr Ward. Mr Get*. Hutchison, who is a steward of the Wellington Racing Club, has in hand, a Restraint of Wagering Bill. The total amount of the funds of Friendly Societies in the colony clown to. the end of IS9O was £611,826.

Dirty weather interfered with the usual pomp and ceremony attending on the opening of Parliament.

No application for registration under the 'Trade Union Act, 1878' was received during .1897, all such societies preferring to register-under 'The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1894.'

Major Steward is already to the fore with his Elective Executive Bill. According to the annual report of the Registrar of Friendly Societies there were nine registrations during 1897, distributed as follows: —M.U.1.0.0.F., three lodges; 1.0.0. F., one lodge; A.0.F., one court; F.U.0.D., one grand lodge and three subordinate' lodges. There were seven cancellations of societies or branches which had censed to exist, and of one which had become amalgamated with another.

In giving notice of the introduction of the Referendum Bill the Premier significantly turned to Mr O'Regan, whose bantling the Government has now seriously taken up.

Judging by the reception accorded Mr Wilson when he gave notice to ask whether Government would agree that the House should rise not later than midnight except when otherwise ordered, a large number of members strongly opposed late sittings. The ' Addrcss-in-Keply is to be moved iv the House by Mr McNab nnd in the Council by the. Hon. Lee Smith.