PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 137, 10 June 1909, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(By Telegrapn.—Parliamentary Reporter:) VtiSHJiS&'mS, this day. SUPREME COURT IN HAiITLTON. air. H. J. Greenslade, M.P., has been urging upon the Department of Justice the desirableness of holding sittings of the Supreme Court in Hamilton. 1 understand that there are reasonable prospects of Mr. G-reenslade's representations resulting before very long in. the desired reform. THE PIAKO SWMEP. Messrs. Greenslade and Poland interviewed the Under-Secretary for Lands yesterday, and urged upon him that as soon as the first portion of tlie Piako Swamp is ready for settlement it should be thrown open for selection. Mr. Kensington gave an assurance that this would be done, and in 12 months' time some 25,000 acres will be thrown open. RETRENCHMENT. The pruning knife, which has been applied to several Government Departments already, has reacted the Tourist Department. A number of clerks employed in the Wellington office received notice this morning that their services would not be required after a- given date. GRANTS AUTHORISED. Cabinet at its meeting yesterday afternoon authorised several money grants. The full subsidy of £1000 is to be paid to the Penguin Relief Fund; a sum of £4000 was authorised to be spent on the Blenheim-Waipara railway; and £5000 on the Gisborne-Rotorua line. Various grants for road-making purposes, including £250 for Maruia, £400 for Pipiriki-Waiouru, and £250 for Kaiteike. were also authorised. OPPOSITION IMPERIAIJSM. One never knows what form the Imperialism of the Opposition is going to ! take. As I mentioned a day or two ■ago, practically all the talking done at the informal meeting of members on i Monday came from Opposition members, who had all sorts of Teasons to give why the Prime Minister should not go I Home, and the session should go on without delay. They all proclaimed their Imperialism, and all failed to rise above petty parochialism. Perhaps the palm for parochialism ought to be awarded to Mr. F. W. Lang, member for Manukau, who actually spoke a column of suburban railway service to show that the country should not be represented at the Imperial Defence Conference. Mr. Lang thinks that the Prime Minister ought not to go to England to attend ihe most momentous imperial Conference ever held, because a suburban train which he thinks ought to run does not run. A BASTESTG FOR THE EON. J. T. PAUL. The Hon. Wi Pere, M.L.C., is an Imperialist to the backbone, and yesterday afternoon, at the meeting of legislative councillors, he was resolved to assert the fact beyond dispute. Wi Pere did so by resorting to the admonitory course of giving the Hon. J. T. Paul a severe tongue thrashing. Mr Paul had been expressing the view that Parliament ought not to prorogue. He was followed by the dusky lord, who levelled at him what Chatham called "the atrocious crime of being a young man." and advised him to hold his peace, and listen to his elders. "The British Empire." said Wi Pere, "is in difficulties, and wants assistance from its outposts. When the Maoris learned that an enemy was likely to attack them, they immediately set about building fortified pas. The Hon. Mr Paul is only a youth. If he was older, frnd had been in New Zealand in the days when there were battles he would speak in another tone. Now, Mr Paul. I would like you to stojp talking in this matter," exclaimed his mentor. "Don't say any rrioTC. If Britain were defeated, where would you be, where would be your pcnv.i, wonld your feet be able to carry your body in a right course when your he'nd was off?" Mr Paul was not visibly affected. TOO EXTRAVAGANT. After it had currency for three day's, Mr. Massey now denies the statement that he condemned the building arrangements made for the present session as "too extravagant." So far as members are concerned, he states, there is nothing to complain of. What he did say Was that he thought that his prediction, made last year, was about to come true, tha-t as much money would be spoilt on these temporary premises as would have rebuilt that portion of the old "building that was burned, and that on top of the expenditure we should have to face the huge scheme for permanent buildings otrtl'med last session. "I expressed no opinion as to the extravagance of the buildings or otherwise," said Mr. Massey. HOW LONG? Speculation is still rife upon the question how lorrg the session is to last. If the Opposition will only display sweet reasonableness, there is n<* reason why it should last more than a few sittings, but there are rumours of war in the air. Ii is said that the Opposition arereeolv«d to make it hot for the Govern ment, and if that be so there will be plenty of opportunity to waste time. On the Address-in-Reply, and again on the Imprest Supply Bill debates members can traverse the whole political field, and speak about anything they please. Nobody wants to curtail the sacred libert/y to air grievances before voting supplies, which is one of the cherished rights of the House, and the greatest safeguard of liberty, which resulted from the constitutional struggles of the past, but there is such a thing as being "agin the Government" out of pure cussednesa, and this may lead to a shocking waste of time and money. Mr. Massey's view is that it is impossible to say what may not happen. The Opposition is not going to allow important matters to go without discussion. "But," says its leader, "we have no desire unnecessarily to delay the proceedings of what is intended to be a short session. There will be the revenues subject, and according to what the Prime Minister stated yesterday there will be a loan bill probably for a very considerable amount. Then there will be a bill of some sort, probably an -amendment of the Public Revenues Act, providing for supply until the time comes for resumption of the session, so that there are unlimited oportunities for discussion, and once a debate is started one never knows where it is going to end. CIVIL SERVANTS ON THE LAND. No delay is ibeing allowed to hinder the operation of the Government's scheme to provide land for the use of retrenched Civil servants, whose superannuation does not exceed £75 a year. The Prime Minister states that instructions have already been given to the Commissioners of Crown Lands in Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, and Nelson to select suitable blocks o£ good land. GOVERNMENT NOMINEES. The Government nominees for the Speakefship and the Chairmanship of GommitteeSj respectively, are Messrs Guinness and Wiiford.

im&H &Nt> TECHNICAL SCHOOL FOR; CAMBRIDGE. Mr H.~J. Greensfade, M.P., interviewed the 'Minister of Education, to-day respecting the establishment of a combined high and technical school at Hamilton and Cambridge, and ifrged that' the Minister should, as soon as possible, visit Hamilton for the purpose of expediting the erection- of the school. The Hon. Mr Fowlds was most sympathetic, arid stated that he was most anxious that the work should proceed as soon as possible to that end- He will visit Hamilton and Cambridge in the course of the next few weeks. The sum of £3600 has' been allocated for expenditure at Hamilton and the claims oT Cambridge will receive every consideration. THE HUNTLY BRIDGE. Mr H. J. Greenslade, M.P., had a lengthy interview with the Hon. A. W. Hogg, Minister of Roads arid Bridges, regarding the delay in the erection of the bridge over the Waikuto River at Buntly. He pointed out that on the occasion of the Prime Minister's visit twelve months ago, a distinct pledge was given that the bridge would be erected. Subsequently he (Mr Greenslade) had received a letter from the Hon. R. McKeiizie to the effect that the plana were nearing completion. So far, however, the erection of the bridge had not been commenced. Mr Hogg, in reply, said he had only recently assumed control, and would immediately have inquiries made and acquaint the member for the Waikato with the result. NATIVE LAND CtfURT. Mr W. D. S. Macdonald, M.P., member for the Bay of Plenty, interviewed the Native Minister to-day, urging the establishment of a Native Land Court at Opotiki. He was assured that the question would receive every possible consideration.