PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 168, 15 July 1908, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. THE THIKD PARTY. In the Legislative Council this afternoon the Hon. Dr. Findlay referred to the statement which had been made by the Hon. John Rigg that there would one day be a strong Labour party in politics. In Australia the worker, with his independent Labour party, got less than the worker got here, and the party preserved its isolation. He urged that Labour had been succeeding in New Zealand in the proportion that it had fused with the progressive liberal party in Parliament. With the experience of Australia, Labour must pause. This country was not to be governed by one class Ulone, and if Labour here wanted what it had achieved in Australia, then it could not do better than form an independent Labour party. STATE COAL MINE FOR AUCKLAND. The reported discovery of a rich coal seam at Huntly as the result of a recent land slip was referred to in the Legislative Council this evening by the Hon. Mr Beehan. He quoted the Press message from Auckland regarding the value of the discovery, and urged that the Government should immediately institute inquiries with a view to taking over control and converting the property into a State coal mine for the advantage of the people residing in Auckland and elsewhere. NORTHERN CENTENARIANS. There are only two centenarians amongst the thirteen and a half thousand people at present drawing old age pensions in the Dominion. - The oldest aged (107) lives at Otaki and the other (aged 104) resides at I :ssell, and a resident of Newton (Auckland) is third on the list, aged 99 years. The age which claims the greatest number* of pensioners is V 4, and there are 1114 Europeans on the roll at that age. PENSIONS AND FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. With regard to what constitutes income for old age pensions purposes, and in reply to the opposition so freely expressed that friendly society benefits are not exempted in the computation of income, it is made clear in the old age pensions report that the word "income" shall be deemed to include 'personal earnings, but not any payments by way of sick allowance or funeral benefit from any registered friendly society. It is therefore to be considered that the Old Age Pensions Act offers a special inducerasnt to a person to become a member of a friendly society, inasmuch as he will in his old age be qualified to receive the old age pension in addition to any benefit that may accrue to him as a member of such society. Furthermore, any person of the required age drawing an Imperial or Colonial pension not exceeding £34 may draw a full old age pension of £26. THE WAIUKU RAILWAY. The fact that the Government will shortly find 1000 navvies on their hands with the completion of the Main Trunk line no doubt causes the local railway leagues to show renewed activity, and numerous petitions have teen laid before the House advocating new lines. This afternoon Mr W. F. Massey presented a petition on behalf of 164 settlers of Waiuku and Mauku, asking for the construction of a hranch railway to con-, nect Waiuku, Mauku and Patumahoe with the Main Trunk line. NATIVE LAND CASK A petition has been presented by Mr Herries on behalf of a number of Bay of Islands Maoris. It is stated that a great injury has been done the natives through the action of the court in regard to cer» tain land known as the Tarairc block, in the Bay of Islands district. The petition sets forth a claim that the Native Appeal Court has awarded the ownership of the block to people living a great distance away, and asks Chat the case be I sent back for reconsideration. NORTHERN RAILWAYS EXTENSION. ; Mr Stallworthy this afternoon presented a number of petitions requesting the completion of the unfinished portion of the Kaihu Valley railway from Kaihu to Waima, and for a flying survey of the proposed extension from Waima to Hokianga, WAIKATO-BAY OF PLENTY CONNECTION. Some 525 signatures were attached to a petition presented to-day by Mr Herries from residents of the Bay of Plenty and Waikato districts. The petition stated that these large districts are isolated from each other, there being no road between them. Those signing the petition therefore ask for the completion of the road from Tauranga, to Cambridge via. Kaimai. ANTI-VACCINATION. An Auckland petition of a rather unusual nature was presented to the House ■by the Hon. G. Fowlds this afternoon. "The great majority of people in the Dominion disbelieve" and reject vaccination," reads the petition, "and -we- therefore pray that a, compulsory vaccination repealing law shall be enforced, annulling all legislation making vaccination. con£ pulsory. JOTTINGS, Through Mr Houston, 24 British gumdiggers at Awanui, Mongonui, have made application to the Government for a month's rations, or the equivalent thereof. John Pilkington is applying for redress relative to native land at Remuera. Jas. Lane, ex-warder of Mount Eden gaol, is applying for 'back pay due to him up to the time of his retirement m ISB4, the amount claimed being the difference between the Government°scale and the rate fixed by the Provincial Government. On behalf of Canon Haselden and 1772 others, Mr Lang presented a petition asking that every issue submitted at the licensing poll should be determined by the majority of those who vote John Swarm, of Aotea, 'Raglan, is petitioning through Mr Greenslade, for compensation for injuries received by a bullet wound in the forearm while acting as a member of the 9th New Zealand Contragent m South Africa. . Pit f Amahana, trough Mr Houston, is petitioning that a portion of land in the Arawhata-Kowhia block may be restored to him. William Owens and 90 others pray for the placing of £500 on the Estimates for the making of the Ruapekapeka road, Bay of Islands. A similar sum is also asked for to enable the construction o5 the Kaiinamakui-Helena Bay road to be proceeded with. \TP^ SSI ? ?■ l v - AUison and F ry. M.P. s, took their seats in the House this afternoon ior the first time since the opening of the session. Both gentlemen ™ m » m , U , ch ira P r °ved health. ' a ~rl Au v ckland - s ynionds-street Cemetery Act nas been circulated. The way in which the cost per head sLSn hae s ° ne "p in «»■■ nectaon with ol£ age pennons is rather

startling. It has >■ riien in ■ «i ntt : . from one shiffiDg per head to e/I^^^E Mr Baume is to ask Justice whether the Government wBl s?" troduce legislation providing that S3K sees of hotels shall foe compelled to i!" ceive at half ordinary rates *11 under seven years of age undeHniZS '" care. r "W