PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 170, 18 July 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(Bj , Telegrapn.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday, CIGARETTES ABOVE SUSPICION.

The popular cigarette was suspected by the member for Dunedin of containing a foreign matter loaded with drugs, and Having a most detrimental effect on the health of the youths and young men who smoke them. Mr. Arnold accordingly approached the Minister for Public Health, whose reassuring reply was that a≤ one packet of cigarettes at sixpence, contains only onethird of an ounce of tobacco, value twopence, there is no need for manufacturers to resort to the use of bad tobacco, because of its lesser cost. Careful teals by the Colonial Analyst were made last year, when he satisfied himself as to the purity of the cigarettes which- were on sale. GREAT NORTH RCTAD. It was suggested by Mr. Mander (Marsden) that the Government take over the control of the Great North Road , , but the Premier replied that the Government have assisted in the maintenance of the Great North Road. "From time to time, and in view of the fact that the counties north of Auckland now receive a considerable revenue from royalties on timber and ftax. 1 think," continued Mr. Fowlds. "That with the assistance already referred to they should be able to maintain the road satisfactorily, and that there should be no necessity for the step suggested." DRAINAGE OF GUM SWAMPS. The member for Kaipaxa has been informed hy the Minister for Labour that in conjunction with the Minister of Lands, he hopes this session to be able to devise some means whereby the swamps may be drained, and the gum therein contained extracted. A TRIP TO THE SOUNDS. The Opposition member for Courtenay (Mr. Lewis) has moved that there .be laid bffqre this House a return showing (1) the number of trips made by the Hinemou to the Sounds during the recent recess; (2) the number of days occupied on each such trip from the tune of leaving Wellington, until the mum of the vessel; (3) the number and n-ames of the passengers on each such trip; (4) the amount of passage money or other payment made by or on acL-ount of each passenger. It wj? jocularly suggested by Mr. T. Mackenzie, that the number of passengers who suffered from sea sickness, also their ieligious beliefs, should be specified. CONTENTED COUNCILLORS. The Hon. H. Scotland, in moving That iv the opinion of this Council its members ought to receive the same amount of payment as members of tiie other chamber." said he was not actuated by mercenary motives, but if there should be a living wage for workers there should be a living wage for members of Parliament. How could a Labour member be expected to come to Wellington with a wife and a family, and maintain himself and the dignity of his position on £200 per annum. A member might bring his daughters with him. and like the daughters of other members, they would like to be in a position of being present at Government House occasionally. So far as he knew New Zealand was the only self-governins colony where members of the Upper House received less than those of the Lower Chamber.

The Hon. O. Samuel regretted exceedingly that Mr. Scotland had brought the motion forward. Members should not be placed in the position of estimating the nature of their own services. Questions other than those of principle were involved in the motion. Members of the Council were appointed for seven years, members of the House occupied their seats for three years. The latter had to bear the election and other expenses i which members of the Council were not called upon to pay. Then members of the Council had advantages in the way of freedom from the influence of various branches of t-ieir constituencies, influences which members of the Lower House could not escape from. He would be sorry to think that the motion would be put, and to preVJn't anything of the kind happening he would move the previous question. The Council agreed with Mr. Samuel, and quickly killed tne discussion. HALP A MIIXIOX FOR A TtTNNEL. The Midland Railway tunnel, which Messrs John McLean and Sons, of Auckland and Wellington, have contracted to put through Arthurfe Pass, between Otira and the Bealey, will be the largess work of the kind ever carried out in New Zealand. The contract price is £599,----794, and five years -arill be allowed Xα which to complete the work. The tunnel will be five and a-quarter miles long, and the grade will be one in 33. Owing to the length of the tunnel, and the difficulty of obtaining ventilation for steam locomotives, electrical power will be used to drive the trains through the hills. A generating station will be erected on the banks of the Rolleston River. STATE OF FOODSTUFFS. Mr Barclay (Dunedin) moved this afternoon that in the opinion of this House the time has now arrived when, the State should take under its control such existing industries as are concerned with the supply of the necessaries of life to the people. The motion came on when there were on!y ten minutes before the adjournment in which to debate it. and so many members advocated a full discussion that it was talked out. JOTTINGS. When the traffic at Matama-ta station increases, a sta-tionmaster will be appointed. The question of erecting a new post office building at Pukekohe is under consideration. 'Endeavours are being made to secure a suitable piece of land.

An amendment of the Fire Brigades Act, is being prepared to overcome defects in the working of the scheme.

■Mr. Herries has been informed that a bill in course of preparation, will enable holders of land under the Mining Act to borrow money for the purpose of erecting residences. The Government will consider the amendment of the Timber and Flax Royalties Act so as to provide for the payment to the local bodies of a portion of the revenue received from the sale of tknber and flax on State forest reserves.

The Government does not propose to consider the propriety of taking steps to create railway employees, school teachers and public servants generally into a separate constituency.

A referendum on the abolition of the "tote," is desired by "Mr. Ell (Christcburch) but is not favoured by the Government, -which replied that legislation on gambling generally will be submitted to Parliament, and the matter can ba teited then.

The attention of the shipping compaaies trading -to New Zealand has been

called to the fact that persona suffering from consumption, are not allowed to land in New Zealand. The Minister for Puolic He-alth says that representations are being made to the Imperial Government, drawing its attention to the need for more careful inspection at the port of embarka.tion.

The debate on the Address-in-Replv in the Legislative Council was concluded to-day, the speakers other than the Attorney-General, being tfie Hons. Beehan, G. McLean, and the mover. The Hon. J. T. Paul, in reply. On the motion of the Honl T K. Mac Donald, the Council deciSeti that the present method of electing their speaker and caairman of committees 'by ballot should be superseded by a more busi-ness-like and up-to-date method. HEIxENSVLLLE HOT SPRINGS. Mr. Stalhvorthy asked if the Government would place a sufficient sum on the estimates to provide for a sanatorium, with, additional baths, caretaker's bouse, and the laying out of the ground; at the Helensville Hot Springs. The reply was that ffie springs were not under the control of the Government but were vested in the Helensville Do.main .board, which the Government had already assisted with £400 durino the last two years. It was thought that the Board should endeavour to secure subscriptions from local bodies and private persons before again asking Government financial assistance. ° Both Messrs. Stallworthy and Bollard hoped the Government would expend soniitnmg at Helensville, which would afford poor people an opportunity of enjo\ing the curative properties ,-,{ {he wa-i^rs Sir Joseph Ward said that the Helensvnle Springs could not be compared in any way with those of Rotorua, which was the centre of the thermal district. The Hon. J. MeGowan mentioned hot springs in various parts of the colony. and said the Government could not be expected to establish a sanatorium at each, of these places. CIVIL SERVANTS' SALARIES. Provision is made in the estimates foi the following increases of s-alarv to Auckland Departmental officers:—House surgeon, Rotorua sanatorium. £375 to i 390; engineer in ciiarge at Rotorua, £3/o to £500 land registrar at : Auckland, £500 to £575? deputv-re°-is-trar, £350-to £370; Native Land Court registrar, £225 to £250; registrar, Supreme Court, £420 to £450; bailiff, district Magistrate's and Warden's Courts Auckland, £170 to £1SO: assistant bailiff, |£140 to £150; Magistrate and Warden, Onehunga and other country districts, £475 to £500; clerk to Magistrate's Court, Thames, £2SO to £290; ditto, Paeroa, £220 to £230; ditto, Coromandel, £ISO to £190: ditto £240 to £250; Magistrate at Tauranga, Rotorua, etc., £525 to £550; Manukau harbourmaster and piloL £230 to £240; Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of • Crown Lands at Auckland, £500 to £025; assistant medical officer. Auckland Mental Hospital, £270 to £300; matron St. Helens Hospital, Auckland, £75 to £100; district agent to Public Trust Ofncc, Auckland, £383 to £4i>o. A number of smaller increases in various Departments are also provided fxr. AUCKLAND ACCLIMATISATTON SOCIETTS CLAIM. Mr. Kidd presented a petition from the Auckland Acclimatisation Society asking for compensation on account of the Government's action in removing the Rotonia fisheries from its jurisdicticu. The petition was referred to the A to L Committee, and will be considered to-morrow. Mr. E. W, Paton, who will give evidence before the committee, submitted a copy of the petition to the Conference of Acclimatisation Societies, and moved —"'That in the opinion of this conference the demand of the Auckland Society for compensation for the loss of the most important part of its district is a just one, and has the approval of this conference." Mr. W. H. Hazard seconded the motion which was supported by several delegates, and carried unanimously.