PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 169, 17 July 1907, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Tuesday PURE FOOD BILL.

Very slow progress is being made with the Pure .Foods Bill in its committee stage, the House being keenly on the aleit in regard to the new proposals contained in the measure. Though the ■whole of this afternoon was occupied in consideration of the bill, hardly half it 3 clauses, and certainly not the most important ones were disposed of. There was a good deal of opposition to the clause which prevents manufacturers whose foods nave successfully passed the gauntlet of the analyst from utilising this experience as a testimonial, but the clause was retained unamended. An alteration in clause 12 was agreed to by the Minister in charge of the bill, which left it as follows:—"'Every person commits an offence who sells any adulterated food or drug without fully informing the purchaser at the time of sale the nature of the adulteration, or unless the package containing the same shall have legibly printed thereon a true description of the composition of the food or drug." Progress was reported at the dinner adjournment. ROTOB.UA TOWN BILL. The following reply was sent by Sir Joseph Ward to-day to the president of the Eotorua Chamber of Commerce, in reply to the latter"s message asking for a delay in. the passage of the Kotorua Town Bill. "There has been no undue haste in respect to getting this measure through, the House. The bill was circulated on the 4th instant, and there has therefore been ample time for all those concerned to discuss its provisions and raise any objections that they considered desirable. As the people of Rotorua at a public meeting expressed a desire for the town to be put under the control of the Government, and at a fanner meeting held to object to such proposal there were only a few people present, it is difficult to imagine that the residents do not thoroughly understand the position and Tcnow their own minds on the matter. The local leasehchieis have no rates to pay, they have no roads or streets to maintain, and a3 the colony i 3 providing the whole of the money amounting to a very large sum annually for these purposes, it is essentiaj that the expenditure should be under the administration of the Government, as the Government and not the leaseholders are entirely responsible for the town's upkeep. However, as 1 wish the fullest opportunity to be afforded to the residents to consider the bill, I shall defer proceeding with - it for a few days." PAYMENT OF COtTNCILLOKB. In the <L"pper House this afternoon, the Hon. T. Scotland gave notice oi motion to the effect that Legislative Councillors should receive the same remuneration as members of the House. At present, members of the Lower House receive an honororium of £300, and members of the Council £200. DOMIXIOX OF XEW ZEALAND. Dr. Findlay moved a resolution in favour or designating New Zealand a "Dominion," the terms being similar to those of the Premier's motion passed last week by the Lower House. He hoped the Council would approach the subject in a patriotic spirit. The distinction had been worthfly won, and its assumption meant no pretence of greatness. The motion having been seconded by the Hon. C. Louison, and supported by the Hon. G. Jones, and R. A. Loughnan, the Hon. T. Scotland said that this- little bauble now being <f»ingled was all they were likely to get from the Conference of Premiers. Judging by our criminal statistics. New Zealand should be called the "devil's own country/ rather than "God's own country." The man who called-it the latter ,was either" a fool or a humbug. The motion was carried on the voices, after which the South African Reciprocity Ratification Bill was rapidly put through all its stages, and the Addreag-in-Reply debate was resumed until 4.55 p.m., when it was adjourned, and the Council rose.