PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 161, 9 July 1910, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. POST AND TELEGRAPH CHANGES. The Post and - Telegraph. Act Amendment provides that the Secretary of Post and Telegraphs shall take over the duties of superintendent of electric lines. The bill also increases the assistantsecretary's salary to a minimum of £750 and maximum of £900, and provides for the appointment of a chief telegraph engineer at a salary ranging from- £700 to £800. ' CROWN SUITS; ' The Croivn Suits Amendment Bill, introduced by Governor's Message, pro\"ides that no claim or demand shall be made against the Crown except in respect of the clauses of action specified as follows:—(a) Breach of any contract expressed or implied; (b) any cause of action in respect of which a petition of right will lie against the Crown in common law; (c) any wrong or injury which is independent of contract and for which an action for damages woμld lie if the defendant was a subject of the 1 Crown. No claim or demand shall be made in respect of the following:—(a) assault, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, or erroneous judicial process; . (b). libel, or slander; (c) any cause of action in which malicious motive is an essential element. It is further provided that, for the purpose of determining the existence of a cause of action, the Governor, any judge, magistrate, justice of the peace, or other judicial officer or any member of the defence forces shall not be deemed to be servants of the Crown within the meaning of the law relating to employers' liability. The Deaths by Accident Compensation Act shall be so construed as to bind the Crown, but no claim or demand shall be made by any person against the Crown under this Act in respect of the death or injury of any persons. If any liability to pay compensation is imposed on the Crown by the Workers Compensation Act no claim or demand against the Crown under this Act shall be tried before a jury. Congratulating the Government upon the introduction of this measure, Mr. Massey said he hoped the House would 'knock out the democratic clause; so that if a man was knocked down in future by a Government steam lorry the individual woujd be able to proceed against the Crown for damages, and would also enable farmers to recover for damage sustained by firee caused by sparks from railway engines. The Prime Minister said it would still be necessary to afford protection against the outrageous attacks against the Treasury for all sorts of compensation Legislation was necessary for the ■reasonable protection of the country. The bill was not an opening of the gates to allow of the waters rushing through without restriction. LURES OF TOWN LIFE. Mr F. M. B. Fisher struck a serious vein in the course of the boy labour debate in the House of Representatives to-night. There was a laxity of home life, he declared, and the youth of the city was so taken up with town life and its amusements that lie would not be content to settle down to the quietness of country existence. Picture shows, prize fights, and billiard saloons held out too strong an attraction. If the "boys were taken from the primary or secondary schools and sent to agricultural colleges there might be a. chance of inculcating a love of agricultural and pastoral pursuits, and 'he hoped to see something done in this respect at any early date. COLONIAL MADE AMMUNITION. : The defence report makes the following reference to email arms ammunition:—"The reserve of small arms ammunition, which, is composed of recent improved manufacture, is (being steadily increased, ihaving due regard to the stand of arms in the Dominion. The .303 ammunition as manufactured .by the Colonial Ammunition Company continues to give every satisfaction. Over two ■and a-half million rounds -were expended during the year, ? 'and n<s complaints have been made." "Competitors at the recent TJtaminion Rifle Association -meeting generally testified to'the excellent quality of the ammunition supplied them. A new contraction a' satisfactory basis has been entered into ■witii the Colonial Ammunition Company for the supply of this ammunition, under which a sufficient quantity for present requirements is amply provided for, as also exceptional e-S-Li-d. supplied should • occasion arise therefor. MANUKAU HARBOUR CONTROL. When the Harbours Amendment Bill was under consideration to-night, Mr. John Bollard asked what the. Minister proposed doing with regard to the Manukau Harbour. The Hon. Mr. Millar replied that the bill made no reference to the Manukau. Mr. W. F. Massey said he would like to see the Government meet the Auckland Harbour. Board .half-way. The Mjmukau Harbour should be under the control of the Auckland; Board so long as Onehunga was given-fair representation. The Hon. Mr. Millar said the-Depart-ment was quite prepared to hand- the Manukau Harbour over to the control of the Auckland Board. When the Manukau Harbour Control Bill was before the House last year it was killed by the local people concerned not being able to agree amongst themselves. As to representation, he was willing to hand the control of the Manukan over to the Auckland Board to-morrow, and the endowments, consisting of 4000 acres of land, with it, but. he was not prepared to hand over the: Onehunga wharf into the bargain. NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING. According to a return presented to the House this afternoon, £11,431 was distributed amongst the newspapers of New Zealand for Government advertising during the year ending March 31, 1910. The following are some of the allocations: "Auckland Star" £322, "New Zealand Herald" £322, Auckland Weekly News" £139, "Weekly Graphic" £74, "Canterbury Times" £100, "Canterbury Press" £135, "Dominion" £12, "Wellington Post" £599, "Dunedin Star" £401, "Otago Daily Times" £444, "Lyttelton Times" £424, "Christchureh Press" £401, "Otago Witness" £134.