PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 177, 25 July 1908, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Heporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. AUCKLAND STATE COAL. "Will the Minister for Mines, in view of the great increase in the cost of coal in Auckland province, make immediate inquiries with the object of securing suitable coal bearing areas for the purpose of supplying the people of that part of the Dominion with coal at reasonable rates?" is a question of which Mr. Poland gave notice in the House this afternoon. Mr. Stallworthy also intimated that he intended to ask the Minister of Mines whether, in view of the discovery of a good outcrop of coal at Avoca, Northern Wairoa, within a very short distance of a large area of Crown land, and having most excellent facilities afforded by the Kaipara Waterways (the finest navigable rivers of the Dominion) for the distribution of coal all over the Dominion, he will cause inquiries and prospecting to be made, with a view of establishing a State coal mine in the locality? LINKING UP THE 3AST COAST. This afternoon, Mr. A. L. D. Fraser asked the Minister for Railways whether, in contemplation of the early completion of the Main Trunk railway line, and, the Government's proposed progressive policy in the construction of arterial and other lines, he would place a sufficient sum upon the Kstimates to have a complete and comprehensive survey of the proposed route linking Napier and Gisborne? The binding of these two important centres, he said, would complete rail communication 1 between Wellington and Auckland via I the East Coast, developing areas with ' more rich potentialities than any other ; portion' of the Dominion. MANUKAU HARBOUR. In the House of Representatives toj night, Mr. Lang made reference to the j urgent need for effecting improvements ■ to the Manukau Harbour. He said that i the harbour had been long neglected, and I that there had arisen a proposal that it should be taken over by the Auckland Harbour Board. Whether this would be carried out he did not know, but -ie felt convinced that the Government | should immediately send a dredge to One- ; hunga, so that the work of dredging the | Manukau might be carried on without delay, and shipping arrangements facilitated. Mr. Massey also referred to the State of the Manukau Harbour, which, he said, j had been shamefully neglected. The One--1 hunga wharf was sadly in need of repair, ! while the dredging of the harbour was J an absolute necessity. A REMARKABLE INDICTMENT. I In the House thi3 afternoon, Sir Joj seph Ward said that the stringency of I the money market had been a cry raised by certain institutions to force up the rates of interest. He declared that circulars had been sent out demanding the renewal of loans for from three to five yeare at an advanced rate of interest, or an alternative of an immediate discharge of all liabilities. The principals of certain Wellington firms, he said, had been employing objectionable measures. As an illustration he quoted the case of a woman who had been asked to renew a loan at 7J per cent or discharge her liability at once. She applied to the Advances to Settlers office for relief. The amount she required was £50 in excess of the limit prescribed by the Act, but this sura was made up by the Commissioner and a few of his friends, and the woman was saved. PITY THE BLIND. Mr Flatman proposes to ask the Government' (1) whether it will make provision for the maintenance of the indigent blind and other persons who are suffering from afflictions which prevent them from earning a livelihood without parading the streets of our towns with instrumental music, or other means for obtaining a precarious existence, and (2) if the Government are favourably inclined towards the relief of these unfortunate people. Will provision be made for insuring relief at the earliest possible moment? OUB. GEEATEST ASSET. Mr Baume, in referring to the Estimates, said he desired to impress on the Government the desirability of affording every convenience and comfort possible for the mothers of children. There was an increase, he said, in the number of marriages, but there was not a corresponding increase in the birth rate. They wanted to see an increasing number of young New Zealanders, for the country could have no greater asset than this. He was desirous Of seeing the Govern- ■ ment make provision for mothers and • children on the railways, and he furthermore hoped to see free railway passes provided for children going to school or ■work. He .also wished to see some amendment in the way of making batter pro- ! vision in hotels for women and children. ! He quoted one special case in which a man and his wife had been refused ad- . mittance to two hotels because they had 1 a.n infant with them. A member: Is that legal? Mr Greenslade: A reply will cost you 6/6. Mr Baume: It certainly should not he , allowed, and the case is just as I state it. The husband and wife were refused admittance at two hotels, and failed to , gain accommodation until late at night. 'I'H l< , . BUDGET. Sir Joseph Ward's speech in reply at the conclusion of the Budget debate waa generally regarded as a masterpiece. The House was moved to the greatest enthusiasm, and when the Speaker's gong sounded the indication that the hour's time limit was exhausted, there was an emphatic cry from all parts of the House to "go on." "Take another halfhour," called out a member, and there was a renewed outburst of approvel. The Prime Minister looked round inquiringly in the direction of the Leader of the Opposition, but Mr Massey was not amongst those carried away by the enthusiasm, and he signified that he would object to any extension of the speaking limit. il Very well," replied Sir Joseph Ward. "I wanted to speak on the subject of the American fleet's visit to New Zealand, but I shall await another opportunity. I have been playing the hose pretty freely on the Opposition," he laughingly added, "and were I to take another half-hour I would flatten them right" out." The Prime Minister resumed his seat amidst a perfect storm of applause. MR LYONS' RETIREMENT. Mr Wood asked if it was true that Mr Gilruth, Chief Government Veterinarian, had resolved to send in his resignation, and accept a position elsewhere. Mr Massey said he had also heard it ru-moured that Mr Gilruth intended reeigning. He considered it was a very I great pity that the country should lose 3 the services of its most valuable agri- ; cultural officers, when it often happened 1 that an endeavour on the part of the ■ .department might vtery easily brine ,_ about the retaimnent of their services. Another officer the country could ill-

aSord to lose was Mr Lyons, the Government Veterinarian at Auckland. This officer had received an offer of an increased salary in Australia. The increase only was about £75, and surely if. Mr Lyons was worth £70 more to Australia, he was worth a similar amount in New Zealand j in fact, the farmers of Auckland so thoroughly appreciated his services that they would willingly have contributed £ 100 per year amongst themselves to retain him. Hon. R. McNab, in reply, said that he had heard nothing , of the intention on the part of Mr Gilruth to leave the Government service. In the case of Mr Lyons, he had simply received a telegram from the officer, asking to be relieved of his position as early as possible. He had also received a petition signed by some 500 people asking that Mr Lyons should be retained. As Minister of Agriculture, he was at all times accessible to any officer of the department, and he considered it was Mr Lyons' place to have approached him if he" was desirous of any fresh consideration of the matter.