PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 273, 17 November 1910, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM TKE GALLERY. (.By Telegraph.—'PaxUamentarr Reporter.) WELLINGTON, tliis day. NEW RAILWAYS. Five new railways are proposed to be authorised by a bill brought down by Governor's message. They are as under: An extension of the North Auckland railway of about ton miles from what 13 known as JlcCarroll's Gap, on the Kai-para-Waikato railway; a branch line from Huntly station towards Pepepe parish, about three miles; East Coast Main Trunk, from the end of the line, as it is at present authorised at Te Puke, to Paengaroa, about five miles, and from Gisborne Southwards 26 miles; FoxtonNew Plymouth (Manawapou deviation), about one mile six chains; Pieton-Huru-nui, two lengths, totalling about nine and a-quartev miles. HIKURAivGI COAL MINERS' COMPLAINT. This afternoon Mx. Mander asked the Minister of Mines Whether 'he would institute an inquiry into the charges made by the Hikurangi Coal Miners' Union against Mr. Beanie, inspector of mines. s>olllo of these, he said, were of a, very tserious nature, and in justice to both parties, should fee inquired into, this ■being the only course by which, bhe matter can be satisfactorily settled. The Hon. K. McKenzie replied that he would probably be visiting the district early nexu, year, and would then take an opportunity to meet the miners in order to ascertain the position in regard to their complaints against Mr. Beunie. In the meantime, he did not see any necessity for a formal inquiry. TE AKAU KOADS. The Minister for Lands was to-day asked by Mr. Maseey to give effect to the favourable recommendation of the Lands Committee on the petition of the settlers at Te Akau. Sir Joseph Ward replied he could only afford the relief alluded to on the recommendation of the Land Board. Up to now the Auckland Land Board had declined to make such recommendation. In accordance with .the resolution passed by ithe Lands Committee, however, the matter had again been referred to the Land Board for further consideration. DUST ON THE B.OTOBTJA LINE. The use of oil as a method to abate the dust nuisance on the Auckland-Ro-torua line was advocated by Mr. Herries this afternoon. The Minister for Railways replied that the dust trouble on the Rotorua line had received a good deal of attention, and at the present time the line was being 'ballasted as quickly as possible <wibh limestone ballast from, the Te Kuiti quarry, which, would, 'he had no doubt, result in minimising to a very large extent the trouble experienced on the Rotorua line during the summer time. So far as oil was concerned, the was aware 'that in America the experiment had 'been tried of overcoming the dust nuisance by sprinkling the track with oil. In New Zealand, however, the cost of oil wa3 prohibitive for such a purpose. Mr. Herries replied that Taranaki oil co'Ud he bought in unlimited quantities ior fourpence per gallon. _. GISBQEHEtNAPIEB. Tt.ATT.WAY. There is excellent authority for stating that the railway between Gisborne and Napier will be started at the Gisfborne end without delay. The Railway Authorisation BUI brought down tonight provides for the construction of the line from Gisborne southwards for 26 mile?, €5ab z iset hao now under consideration a propositi to send a survey engineer and staff into the district immediately, and it is hoped to have all ihe preliminary arrangements well in hand by the end of the summer. The sum of £5000 placed , on the Estimates is expected to cover the cost of the initial proceedings, and a much increased! grant will be made next year for actual formation and construction work. LEGISLATION FOR DENTISTRY. When moving the second reading of ithe Dentist Amendment Bill, the Hon. D. Buddo said it could foe described ac a measure in the interests of dentists' apprentices who failed' to gain registration before the passing of the Act of 1904. Therp Ttfae provision to enable them to sit for examinations to be qualified for practice in the profession. Mr. Allen claimed •fehat some peTcsons were trying to get into the profession in a roundabout way. They had neglected ■to pass the requisite examination in the past and get registered when they had the opportunity. They iwero seeking now to get in by an easier examination than the one originally specified. After further debate, the bill was read a eecond ttme. In Committee, on Mr. Davey's motion, it was decided to insert a new clause to provide that any person may to be registered as a dentist anj may submit himself to an examination >by a competent tribunal set up by the Minister of Internal Affaire, provided that he was either in practice or •working as a dentist, or was an apprentice o-f a dentist at the time or within fifteen months subsequent to (die passing of the Act of 1904, the examination to°be the same as that prescribed under ■the Act of 1880. Applications for registration must 'be made witbin three months' of the Act coming into force. INALIENABLE ANNUITIES. In the House of Representatives tonight the Hon. Jas. Carroll, in moving the second reading of the Inalienable Life Annuities Bill, said that the measure was a simple one. Its purpose was to enable a ifather to provide for a. son or a daughter in such a way* that the annuity could not t>e alienated foy misfortune or improvidence. It would also provide the means for those on the ebbtide of life to keep afloat with a modest competency. In this way a parent could Ibuy for a daughter ten years of age an annuity which -.would 'benefit her at 40 or 45, and would be assured to her, no matter what trials and troubles she might encounter in the meantime. It was a measure which aimed at the welfare of the rising generation, and was well 'Worth a trial. Mr. Masscy: "What is the meaning of clause 03?" Sir Joseph Ward: "It provides clearly and distinctly that tin. annuity shall be inalienable under all conditions, and that bankruptcy Or any other misfortune will not affect the beneficiary. The bill was committed without further discussion. A~PROPITECY OP CHEAP MONEY. Rates of interest were incidentally diseusspd for a minute or so yesterday afternoon in the House of Representatives, it was a question of whether better interest could be got for Taranaki scholarship funds than the 4 i>er cent which the Public Trustee was empowered to give. Sir Joseph Ward commented that a higher rate might be secured at present, but not later on. He believed that money was going to be very cheag in this country.

UNIVERSAL SATURDAY HALFHOLIDAY. Mr. T. E. Taylor asked the Minister of Labour whether it is intended to legislate this session to> secure a universal Saturday half-holiday. It is not intended to introduce legislation this session providing for a universal Saturday 'half-holiday, was the Hon. J. A. jVlillar's reply. | '"■"" POLITICAL INFLUENCE. Replying ts> Mr. Lawry's request tlmt Mr. Xorthcroffc should be asked to give full particulars in regard to hie statements re political influence and the Bench, Sir Joseph Ward said he had already remarked that he was not aware that any political or other influence 'had been exercised in connection with the Magistracy, and ihe did not propose to take any further action in the matter. ANTIQUE TYPE IN POLITICS. Because an amendment suggested by (tie Legislative Council to the House of Representatives was not printed in antique type, the "Commons" bad a fiery debate : a few weeks ago, and the word "antique" was thrown backwards and forwards by 'Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Massey for long minutes. Memories of •that battle were revived ito-night, when an amendment was proposed by the Council in the Public Revenues Bill. Thie time the watchful Government had made no error about the type. It was a bold glaring antique, yet 'the wily Mr. Massey found a flaw. He secured a ruling 'by the Speaker that as the clause in question was an appropriation clause, it had to be introduced by Governor's Message, whether the type was the most respectful antique ever founded. At 7.30 back came the clause under the Governor's aegis, but again there -were rumbles. Mr. Herries wished to know whether a. Governor's Message would also go to the Legislative Council. It seem-1 ed that the Governor, antique type, the Council, the House, and that favourite authority "May" were in for a rough-up, but a little explosion from tne Prime Minister smashed the deadlock. "Let us get on with the work," ihe growled, and the trouble suddenly ended.