HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 211, 5 September 1900, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

* ' When the House met yesterday af•tetnoon the Speaker laid before the Hous<s a letter from the Controller and Auditor-General, which was referred to the Public Accounts Committee.

, '. BREACH 03? PRIVILEGE. . Before the House proceeded to the •presentation of reports of committee, Mr Graham desired to draw attention to a report of the proceedings of a committee, before the report had •been brought down, published in the iWairarapa "Leader," owned by Mr Hornsby, who was a msmber of the committee referred to. Mr Horasby explained that he had published the article in reply to an ex parte report which appeared in the rival paper, in ignorance of the fact that he was committing ai breach of privilege. The Premier in moving that no. further action be taken in the matter declared that it Avas quite an everyday matter for members of the House to act as Parliamentary correspondents . for. newspapers, . whereby, no doubt, .they contrive to eke out an appreciable . addition to their- honorariums, but as to Avhether the public was in any way. benefited by garbled and partisan reports furnished by these gentlemen is another matter. In this case Mr Hornsby escaped with a mild \ reprimand. - : • '

THE RAILWAYS

■A' Bill to consolidate the laws relating to the Government railways was received by message from the Governor, and was read a. first time.

N.Z. ENSIGN.

' On the motion of the Premier the order for the second reading of the New' Zealand Ensign Bill was struck out, as the Bill is to be introduced in Jhe Legislative Council.

UNOPPOSED RETURNS.

On- the motion of Mr Hornsby it was resolved that there be laid on the" table a return- showing the quantity of* game exported in a frozen state from the principal ports of the colony during- the past five years, and the persons and companies by whom it was exported. •.

NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENTS.

On the motion pi Mr.MaNab.it was resolved >iiiat-a return be laid before the Hoifee showing- up ,to date the names of all,:members, of the New Zealand contingents ;who have been killed in action,..' died of diseaser or accident,- or Wye been returned to the colony in iin invalided or wounded state

COAL-MINES,

Mr G. W.jEussell asked the Minister 1 jor Mines ■whether' the Government will •submit proposals-this session to. open one orntore State coal mines, so that the output- may be increased. The Hon. MrcMJcGowan said the matter was underr^he,'.^consideration of the Government. '-The-only case where a large reider -was lost to the colony was in 'the case pf a demand from, South Africa;'wJiicfi-could not be met in the time' specifiedv-

. NEW PLYMOUTH HAEBQUR " -'^ENDOWMENTS.

In reply to Mr Smith, the Hon. J. G. Ward :s>id; thjßre" was no obligation on f.the; part- of- tie-. Government to set '. aside further endowments for the New Plymouth^ Harbour Board-. The question of ..removing- the district prison .and employing the prisoners on bour, work's 'Would receive consideration". ■ ,;■': , PETITION OF, W. D,. LESLIE. ; "Mr Houston aisked whether the Governnient will give effect to the recom- , mendation-of the Petitions Commit- , tee on the petition of W. D. Leslie, of Whangaroa, and. place a sum of £200 I on'; the Supplementary. Estimates for \ tite purpose, Mr Ward said the matter would come under consideration 'with., other, .recommendations ■ made ' this session. . ;...PETKOLtiGICAr EXAMINATIONS. In reply to Mr Napier the Minister of Mines said- Government, had placed a suni of £600 on the estimates to ilefray the cost of petrolbgical examinations in London, by one of .the Vvery highe.st authorities of geological ' specimens from the colony. It was not intended to propose' a similar sum for petrolbgical examinations in the colony. , S ■'■ ' .-■ ' FRUIT PULP. ■._.,, ... Jn reply".to Mr Napier, the, Premier. 'said the' Government would give care-. ' ful consideration to the proposal to admit'duty, free to the colony, fruit pulp of bananas, guavas, oranges, pine apples, and other fruit which cannot be grown in New Zealand. : \ ' ' VOLtrNTEEE- AND DEFENCE .-APPOINTMENTS. In reply to Mr• Buddo the Defence.^ Minister "said the Government would, ns far a? possible, 'keep open the^ •vyeancle^ in the volunteer and defence' forces in 'order that' they' may be. ifUled. by applicants from the coniin-. "gents how serving in South-Africa. • ' cb-OPERATIVE WORKS. '"'■'ln reply; to Mr Gilfedder. the Minis- " iWof Lands said' the ■(iovernment do; not intend to remove the co-operatiye

clause stipulation in connection with votes to be expended by County Councils. \

MAIN. TRUNK RAILWAY.

Mr Witheford had given notice of a question as to whether the Government will 'recommend for appropriation £250,000 for the North Island Main Trunk Railway; but in view of (he fact that a deputation of North Island members is to wait on the Premier in the course of a day or two, be asked that the question stand over until .Friday.

PUBLIC BATTERY AT WAITEKAURI.

Mr Palmer asked the Government whether they have yet decided to erect a public quartz crushing battery at Waitekauri. The Minister of Mines said that nn experiment made in that direction was not satisfactory, and he could not promise that the Government would' tindertake the responsibility proposed. THE PERMANENT FORCE.

■ In reply to Mr Bollard, the. Premier said the members of the Permanent Force who joined in 1597 were now receiving an increase of pay under the new regulations, as compared with the former regulations. He did not approve of married quarters being inside the barracks, but would prefer that houses outside should be provided. Proposals drawn up by the officer in command were now under consideration. He was hot inclined to revert to the old pension system.' Mr Bollard askt}d why members of the force were so dissatisfied with the existing conditions. The Premier replied that until the hon. member's question appeared on the order paper he had not any idea that any dissatisfaction existed.

BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY,

Mr Lang1 asked whether the Government will introduce legislation this year to encourage the beet sugar industry. The Premier said a Bill had been drafted dealing- with the matter.

CO-OPEEATIVE WORKMEN",

In reply to. Mr MacKenzie, the Hon. J. G. Ward said that in order to enable co-operative workmen to record their votes by electoral rights it would be necessary to amend the whole Electoral Act. As to proposal to allow cooperative workmen to travel to their homes at excursion rates, if differentiation was made in one case it would have to be general. It would require that a special train should be put on every day, because the men could not all travel on 'the same day. The recent reductions in the railway rates had made, them veiy low.

PPJSON RULES,

In reply to Mr Ell, the' Minister of Justice said under the present system of management in.gaols young criminals are kept apart from the men.. The question of additional cells was under consideration. In the case of lunatics they could only-be temporarily placed under the care of the police until they could be committed to an asylum, but where a prisoner was simply suffering from" excessive indulgence in drink it was a gross injustice to send him to

prison.

THE PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY. Mr MacKenaie asked whether the Government will take steps to make this library more available than it is at present to the- public occupying. '■ public, scholastic anu scientific positions. He said many valuable books were rotting on. the shelves because tlie people had no access to them". Though there was an unlimited run of trashy French novels the valuable books of reference were only available to a select few. The Hon. J. G. Ward quite concurred in what the lion, gentleman had said, and lie would be glad to go into the question with,a view^to providing for a larger use of the'library. EMPLOYMENT FOR SETTLERS.

In reply to Mr O'Meara, the Minister of Lands said the Government could not undertake to provide continuous work for needy settlers, but they would as far as possible be given the. preference where, local works are being carried out. SPECIAL. ALLOWANCES TO VOLUN-

TEERS.

Mr -Allen asked the Minister of Defence whether he will provide for some special recognition of the services of volunteers who "have to retire on account of age. after many years of efficacy. The Premier said special medals were awarded from three years' service upwards. ' ,*.