PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 233, 29 September 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

' (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Monday. HEAVY TAXES. A deputation waited upon the Hon. Mr. McNab to-night, consisting of South Island quarry owners and coal mining company representatives and brick makers, urging that their industries were more penalised than any others in New Zealand since they had to pay mineral taxes as well as income tax, land tax and local taxes. The Minister said he was impressed by the requests of the deputation, and promised to look into the matter. MINING TAILINGS. Mr. Poland has been urging with considerable persistency the need for taking action in regard to the Waihou and Ohinemuri rivers. It is now understood , that some provision will be made upon the Supplementary Estimates to enable some steps to be taken so as to cope with the present difficulties arising from the rivers silting up with mining tailings. NORTH AUCKLAND MAIN TRUNK. Messrs. Mander and Houston this afternoon presented a large number of petitions requesting that the North Auckland Main Trunk railway line, as already defined by the engineers as far as Pukekaroro, be permanently fixed, and that the survey of the railway beyond that point be left entirely in the hands of the engineers. POLICE OFFENCES. The Police Offences Amendment Bill was considered in Committee in the Legis- | lative Council this afternoon. The new clauses dealing with the detention of habitual drunkards and fallen women in reformative institutions were briefly explained by the Attorney-General, who said the proposals had the approval of the people carrying on the institutions referred to. The Hon. J. Rigg, at clause 15, said that he thought some of the earnings of people detained should be kept in trust for them. The Attorney-General said he was in sympathy with the spirit which had prompted the remarks of the last speaker. But there was the possibility that any hard or fast rale in the, direction indicated might interfere with the work which these institutions were carrying on. He could not accept any proposal at this stage, but would undertake to have the bill recommitted' if, after further inquiring into tbe matter, he could see his way to do anything. Mr. Rigg said that the question of reform and not profit should be the first consideration. The AttorneyI General pointed out that the alternative to sending a fallen woman to a "home " j ! was sending her to gaol, where she would receive no remuneration for her work. The clause was passed without amend--1 ment.

Clause 18 was amended so as to give a magistrate power to cor :iit a fallen woman to a reformative institution for any period up to 12 months. The bill was reported witn amendments. THE DRINK EVIL. In the Legislative Council this afternoon a discussion took place upon the desirability of the State taking steps to cope with the liquor problem. The Hon. George Jones urged that New Zealand should adopt the French system of putting up placards warning people against the dangers following the constant use of alcohol. This system, he added, had been adopted with considerable success in England, and also by many of the local authorities in Victoria. The Hon. W. Beehan, in supporting the contention in favour of State inebriates' homes, spoke of the value of physical labour in coping with those under the influence of liquor, and instanced the success which had been achieved at Pakatoa Island, Auckland. The Hon. J. Luke also spoke on the subject, and urged that demonstrations of the evils of drunkenness should be included in the school curriculum. HAURAKI PLAINS BILL. The Hauraki Plains Bill, having for its object the settlement of the Hauraki Plains, the present scene of the Piako drainage operations, provides that the Minister for Finance shall borrow the sum of £80,000 for expenditure over a period of years on the work in question. Power is given to the Minister for Lands to grant flax cutting rights over the land for any term not exceeding ten years. Provision is also made for power to purchase or take adjacent lands, the acquisition of which is considered to bo necessary for the more effective carrying out of the drainage or other works in connection with the plains.