PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 249, 18 October 1904, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

usy Telegraph—l'ariiamcntary Keporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. DENTISTS' BILL SHELVED. The Dentists' Bill was dealt with in committee in the House last night, but it made very little progress, and will not be passed this session. ARCH HILL. Mr Bollard is to ask the Minister for Public Works if he will pla-ce a sum of £1500 on the Public Works Estimates, on condition that the local todies interested provide an equal amount, for the purpose of cutting down Arch Hill or making a deviation of the road? DESTITUTE PERSONS. Mr Hogg moved the third reading,of the Destitute Persons Act Amendment Bill. Mr Taylor moved "That the bill be read a third time that day six month?." The Premier condemned the bill,: whose operation, he said, would noj| be what was being aimed at, i.e., the forcing of wife deserters to provide for their wives and families. Mr Taylor's amendment was then put. the result being its rejection by 40 to 14. This was somewhat of a surprise, but members on the Government side of the House voted with the Government Whip, the question being made more or less one of sympathy with Mr Hogg. . The bill was then read a third lime, the voting in its favour being 44 to 11. THE HIGH COMMISSIONERSHIP. Among the list of questions of which notice was given yesterday was oni , which raised a passing laugh. It was from Mr Taylor to the Premier, and read as follows: "Whether the Rt. Hon. Mr Balfour's proposal for the establishment of an Imperial Council, composed of the High Commissioners for Canada, Australia. South Africa, and New Zealand, explains the delay in submitting for the consideration of the House the j promised resolution protesting against the emploj'ment of Chinese in the Transvaal mines? GOVERNMENT TIMBER SALES. Mr Fowlds to-day asked the Minister for Lands (1) if he will publish a complete list of the tenders received for the sale of Government timber on the Tutamoe and Tangihua blocks, (2) will he state the reasons for selHng lot 4. Tutamoe. and lot 4, Tnngihua, to one firm for £1000 below the price tendered i>3" another firm for the same lots, (3) have other instances occurred where Limber was sokl at less prices than were lendered by other firms for the same lots, (4) what is the reason for selling limber to certain firms below a fair market price?