PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 193, 16 August 1910, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

CBy Telesraph.--Farliainentary Beporter.) WELLINGTON. Monday. iIR HIXFS CHARGES. The Opposition has asked for a Royal Commission to inquire into Mr Hine's charges against members who are alleged to have received commissions from the Government in regard to land transac tions. . Unless Mr Hine will make some definite charge, however, and give the names of those involved, it is not at ail likely that the Government will take action. "It would simply be setting out on a fishing excursion," said a Minister of the Crown when asked about the likelihood of the Opposition request being granted, and that is the opinion shared; •by all members of the Government party, i

BARMAIDS' REGISTRATION. Both the Canterbury and Southland Trades and .Labour Councils have written to Mr Ell, expressing approval of his registration of the Barmaids Bill, which, if passed, would gradually eliminate all barmaids by providing that no registrations would take place after a certain date. The bill, however, ia in a bad position on the order paper.

AMALGAMATION OF LOCAL BODIES.

Mr Ell's proposal that the amalgamation of one district with another shall

be determined by a poll of those interested, instead of by petition to the Govern-

meat, will be included in the Local Government Bill an 3 fhe Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill, She last named of which, at least, is expected to -be passed this session. Mr Ell has received many letters commending the proposal. CHEAP MARRIAGES. The abolition of marriage fees, as charged by registrars, was urged last week by ilr T. E. Taylor, but did noi meet with the approval of the Government. The member for Christchurch North, now contends that the Government should make this concession if it is sincere in iis professions about keeping the -cradles full. "As a rnle, , ' he added, "only the poorer classes take advantage of the registrar's ofnce, and they should not be put to an expense approaching £3." At all events, he urges, -the fees should be remitted in those offices ■where the Government has people permanently employed at general work, of which the registration of marriages is. only an incidental. THE KESTAURANT EMPXOYEE. It is pointed oat that the proposed amendments to tha Shops and Offices Act do not provide for the non-employ-ment of assistants in refreshment rooms after 9 pjn. Refreshment rooms will now be included in the term "hotel," and the conditions prescribed in respect to hours for the assistants in such places are merely that an assistant shall not be employed for more than sfxty hours (excluding meal times) in any one week, or fifty-six hours in the case of persons under tLe age of sixteen years; for more than ten hours in any one day, or for more than five hours' continuously without an interval for a meaL This "will enable assistants to be employed at almost any hours within the daily and weekly limits as at present. BUSINESS AHEAD. The House resumes at 7.30 to-morrow evening, when members will resume their legislative duties after a three days' jaunt in Auckland. The Hon. A. T. NTgata concludes his contribution to the Budget debate, and, -before the Ho.use rises for the night the debate should be formally out of the way. The Opposition ias one cartridge left to fire (•Mr Rhodes), and the Government's box of ammunition is almost exhausted. About sixty-nine members have spoken on the Budget (more or less), and with few exceptions they have run their full hour. Unfortunately several members early in the discussion continued the old fashion of talking at their constituencies, instead of at New Zealand, and others believed that they might be misjudged in. their electorates unless they did likewise; hence came interminable harangues about little things. But one may hope for the -better after tne excursion among , the great mountains and over the roaring rivers. The members should be fresh from a flying session in Nature's open house. They needed a tonic after all the

bickering, the recriminations, the persona] explanations, and it is hoped that mucb of the. mttemes? and pettiness will have been left behind on the high Waimarino. There is much heavy work awaiting the full measure of mentality that the members are able to give. ROADS ON GOLDFTELDS.

The Minister for Mines (Hon. R. ilcKenzie) states that most valuable assistance to the extent of £40,830 has been granted for the construction of roads and tracks in the mining districts throughout the Dominion, from North Cape to Stewart - Island. Roads and tracks into

the rugged ranges and gullies, where a great portion of our mining operations are located, are the most important assistance that can be rendered to our mining industry, not only to facilitate the economic development of mines in full or partial operation, but also to en-> able the prospector and the pioneer miner to penetrate further into the interior of our explored mineral areas, and to permit of provisions and mining plant •being irought into what has hitherto been in many instances almost inaccessible, if not impenetrable country. TWO MORE SCHOLARSHIPS.

It is the intention of the Minister for Mines, in connection with the Schools of Mines, to offer two more scholarships. In his annual mines' statement, the Hon. B. McKenzie says:—"There are at present four scholarships available in connection with examinations in goldmining subjects, and no scholarships in connection with coalmining subjects. In only two years, 'since their inauguration in 1595, have more than two of these scholarships been taken up in any one year. I now propose to establish two scholarships for passes in coalmining subjects, on similar conditions to the scholarships already available for goldmining subjects." The Slinister adds that these schools in our mining districts, and the Dunedin school, in connection with the Otago University, are rendering excellent services to the young generation of miners in this Dominion. The Government assistance granted to these schools during the year amounted to £3,261 8s 4d, making a total of £44,610 granted since their inception in 18S5, being an average of £1,777 a ye*r during the twenty-five years of their existence. The results obtained can only be regarded as highly satisfactory. During the -rear, 100 students from the different mining districts presented themselves for examination.

WATKATO VEESUS BAWKETS BAY. The member for Waikato (Mr W. J. Greenslade) is one of those who strongly advocate the cutting down of large estates, and tie conserving of tie country's interests by means of closer settlement According to the latest returns available there were 24 persons in the Hawke's Bay district who held 548,541 acres of

land of a capital value of £2,903,408. Miles of country in the vicinity of-Napiei were held by one individual. A position of the kind, Mr. Greenslade said, would not be ' tolerated in , any other part of the Dominion. In his electorate there had been the Matamata estate of 95,000 acres. After some trouble the Government had acquired that estate, and it was now settled by 117 farmers, who were assisting to build up the prosperity of the Dominion. Mr Ell: "Does that estate now produce more wealth?"

j Mr Greenslade: "It produces ten times j the wealth it formerly did. " While he j frankly admitted thai .they had to be careful to in no way interfere with those carrying on the noble work of pioneering in this -country. He at the same time thought the policy of 50 years ago could not be the policy of to-day. For instance, when he -went to the Waikato 10 years ago, he found the creameries and butter factories in the hands of private individuals, and he was one of those who saw the wisdom of a change, and he took a prominent part in assisting Mr Wesley Spragg and others who were the then owners in forming businesses into a co-operative company. Thig year the amount paid out by that one company was £300,000 to the farmers of the Waikato ; therefore he desired to impress on the Government the 3esirability of acquiring sneh land 3as were to be found in the vicinity of Napier for closer settlement pnrpose3.