PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 195, 17 August 1900, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reptorter.)

WELLINGTON, this day. A POSSIBLE MISUNDERSTANDING.

The Government, said Mr Ward yes-.! terday afternoon, has no intention Gremoving the crown and buttons from j the Government messengers v in consequence of representations from the Wellington Star Boating Club that those ornaments are similar'to those worn on the uniform of that club, and are likely to lead to mistakes (great laughter). But it is intended to place a red band round the messengers' caps, (An hon. . member: "Salvation Army,'/): Mr. Ward: The messengers are sometimes the salvation of hon. members. ' PRISON REFORM. . Mr. Witheford, quoting from the prisons report, asked whether the Government will set up a select Committee- to consider the whole question of* prison reform. In asking the' question Mr. Witheford said h_ trusted the Minister would give favourable considerationto this very important matter. New prisons were required, and he thought it would be better for them to put the buildings at some plana along the railway line,'on »ome large area of ground that-could be ..Qultl* vated. Probably by this means the Chinese gardeners, who have practically wiped out the European gardeners, would in their turn be wiped out, and yet nothing would be done to interfere with European free labour,, It seemed to him right that as ___>■ as possible prisoners should have the op-portunity-of doing useful work- at their own trades, and contributing towards the cost of their maintenance. When the present Prisons Inspector wasappointed in"1871, the cost-of their maintenance was £27 14/, and now it had reached' £30 15/4. The cost was pretty well what it would be to maintain a working man in ah ordinary boarding-house. He thought we should try to uplift the unfortunate prisoners., instead of degrading them, because it was only by trying to elevate them that their self-respect could be increased and some prospect given for thpir reformation. , Mr. McjGowan said he was glad the hon. member for Auckland City took so much interest in the question. He himself Lad devoted niuch consideration to the subject, and having in view the steady growth of the population of the colony,, eoupledwith the steady decrease of crime, it was not necessary, to take such steps as, were suggested. The Government already possessed the power to employ prisoners in the direction indicated, on the Tecommendatibn of the Inspector, and wherever the Department saw its way to employ > prison labour for (Public purposes, it would be done. The;planting of trees, for example, would be beneficial in many parts of the country. At the proper time the Government would give due consideration -to the matter. * THE PRESS *ASSOCIATION. ; Mr Hornsby a-ke'd the: PostmasterGeneral if he isi aware 'that Mr H. SBrett, of Auckland, as chairman of directors of the New Zealand Presp Association, has forwarded to -every member of the Legislature a series of statements in reference to the said Press . Association, and. wJifcthejrtJie', Postmaster-General ; will inform.;'the House what is the extent; of the spepial privileges enjoyed by the Asso-; ciatiori under the Electric Lines Act. In asking the! question he said a, circular had been sent to th_! members of the Legislature issued ; by Mr Brett as president of the, New Zealand Press Association three years ago. He -had no hesitation 'in saying, 'that the circular contained statements which were at .variance with facts.' , •

Mr Ward said the: only privileges grantedtP;tbe Press Association were those conferred by the copynght|- The rates charged to the Press; Associa: tion were,very low, and much below actual cost It was in that way, ; that the Association received large cdntributionsi towards the cost of its ness.* He believed the loss to the revenue of the -Country in this way amounted toi £6000 : a year. The whole question was: now .under the consideration of --the Government, and the Writer of the' commnnication; had been requested to indicate to the; Government as to what proposals' from the he would regard as fair. While the Government recognised that it was undesirable that any monopoly should exist in matters of this kihd,, the Government was anxious to deal with the question in an impartial spirit. It* was therefore intended at a later period of, the session to make proposals. which would recommend themselves to the 'House;;,

, TWO, 1-INDS OF ACROBATS; , , The-j Goyei*nment: has ho power to interfere in order to put a stop to . ac- j roba-tic feats performed by the child contortionist "Ethel," as the girl is beydnd-the age; feplied-Hon. McGowan ■to.-.'; Mr a E11,,;-. In the course of his reply the , Minister:; of : Jus-, ; tice humorously hinted thasi some members of the House Oc.-; casionally; performed acrobatic, feats. This was; regarded by:'- Mr, Ell; as<-, a * personal .reflection upon himself,, ow-' ing to. his action in connection with the Ministers' Salaries Bill. Mr McGowan, however, assured the hob. member, for i Chrjstchurch that he meant, no personal reference" .to; him', ' and used the words:. in a general sense.. _Mr Ell expressed himself satisfied with the assurance. LIGHT ON RANGITOTO ISLAND; %■. Mr Napier asked the Minister of Marine whether the Government would place a light on« the beacon .on Rangi- . toto Island . He said • the [Auckland Harbour Board had expended £300 oh the Beacon..and the Hgittwdsl urgently required. Recently a-cargo steamer 'had to; lie outside all night because it could hot make its way past Bean Rock -ight." • ; The Minister 6f Marine, who was almost ittaudible"amidst a general chat-. ter on all sidesl of the House, was understood to say that the Harbour Board'possessed authority to erect "th* > light and recoup itself for the outlay; "*;•',■ ' , '-", " ' ■ INVALIDS'FOR ROTORHA. Mr T, McKenzie asked the Minister of Railways if he would arrange cheaprailway* fares .or invalids of limited means who desired: to benefit by. the1 baths- at 'Rotorua i and Te 'Aroha, ;In asking the.question:the hon. member for Waihemo'spoke in terms of 'praise of, -the untiring efforts made by ;Mf Witheford when in England to make the curative properties of; o,ur -sanitbriunis more generally understood;. ■; Mr fSVard, in reply ,saad the, subject, had: been brought/linder the notice; of the j Government "by Mr -yl,Withef ord', early, in the session, when; he had, stated that it was '■' not desirable to. place;ther(^vei_t_eht in;;the position;

of jj.e_i_*iufe upon the persons to whom concessions of the kind, suggested should be rqade. ' Nor had the Bailway Department ever occupied the position o_ a, charitable institution. But, if any: charitable aid board made application to the Governmen in respect -to ; individual cases the department- would see what could be done to comply with the requests. LOCAL BOARDS OF HEALTHS J In reply to Mr Ell, the ; Colonial Secretary said no reports had been received from the local boards as to the general sarutary condition of their districts, and it was considered doubtful whether any advantage would result from such a course. But the districts had been visited by inspectors, and the Bill now before the House would meet all requirements.

ELECTION THICKS AND STRATA- '" GEMS.-; ' ■•*•"■'.-' ,

Mr Smith, in asking whether the Government would deal' with unlawful acts at general elections, complained of people being1 misled by cards.and bogus voting papers and improper in-: terference" with, voters b} r" touts and I canvassers at the polling booths. Mr Ward said he hoped before long 1 to'submit amendments' in the Electoral j Law which would remove in future) the abuses complained of. It might not be possible to introduce a Bill in present, session) 'but it would be in ample time.next session. .Meantime he would.be glad of information from horn members. V , ' " ,; . ; v^ . EYTpN's; v -cASE„".' ■;-■; In reply to a question the Hon; Mr McGowan said that' the Department' of Justice had ■■-,no power; to release Mr Thomas Eyton, imprisoned for- debt at Auckland, and.that the debtor had a right of appeal.; / ,-v- JO TTINGS. The Government is doing what is possible to provide for bridging the larger rivers in 1 the Bay Of Plenty district.' r• ~ ~■-',.-'.'...;. ( ~.,,,';;. ,:-, "'■ •The Railway Department does not see its way to have, lime carried free for any distance over, the Government railway^ instead, of limiting the distance to 100 miles; becanse- in some cases it .Would mean carrying lime free for a distance 0f,350 miles.- The department would 'consider individual cases on their merits; but. would , hot make a concession of general application; ,- ;■'. ' ~. ,- :,_a ,'...-; -' , '

The Railway Department ; does' not see its way/to introduce weekly markettickets at reduced rates, to. enable country settlers to visit the market towhs once a week, seeing that the existing rates are one penny per mile, but if after a reasonable trial' of -the existing reductions, if the department sees its way clear to; make . further concessions, it would make further reductions wherever possible. There is a Bill before the House dealing with the subject of inefeassing the fines for truancy, and the fees payable to- truant officers. " ,

The Government will .shorten - the j time occupied in the, railway journey i bbtyveen News Plymouth and Welling-1 ton whenever the circumstances warrant, the step. ' - , It ; is ' impossible 'to suppress, •by means of legislation, the vice of smoking' pipes and' -cigarettes ainoiegst Y°titig b°ys» and 'thatfthe only way to secure; reform is by force of example and education, says Mr Ward. ;, : The'Goyernment does hot feel; warranted in removing toll,;b^__ on public roads, as it would, deprive many ,of ,^S ipcal bodies of an important source 'ol'ttvehue.'JJJ'fJJ\[f '■'■■■ J~~'-: :r' J r- '" :. ';.' To amend the Land Act, 1892, so as to enable selectors-under the' Laid for Settl.nieht Act to ootain reaisbh- £ bl?;?d?ances on", their improwement's ""rfore 12 months' occupation on their selections^ would ; require - th« most careful, consideration, because:' !many persons who went upon the lands might prove .unsuitable, and the Government might lose Me mont'ey ad-vanced.-—Minister of Lands.