PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 284, 30 November 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

KOTES FROM THE GAIXERT. <By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. THROUGH BOTH HOUSES. The amendments in the Secret Commissions Bill were approved in the House of Representatives to-day. The Legislative Council's amendments, in the Education BUI were adopted. In moving that the House should agree to the amendments made in the Public Holidays Bill by the Legislative Council, the Hon. D. Buddo explained that the only change was the elimination of Empire Day, which had been scheduled for observance on the Sovereign's Birthday. The motion was carried. BLACK OR BROWN? An interesting sketch in Brown and Black wsa giren to the House to-night by the Hon. R. McKenzie. He made a statement which implied that the State coal from Point Elizabeth was like the bat of the fable, which passed itself off as a bird or a mouse, according to circumstances. The Minister remarked that the Point Elizabeth coal was a brown variety, and some members made interjections of incredulity. Unfortunately for 'himself, the Minister continued, the Railwya Department for freight purposes regarded the coal as bituminous and therefore levied an «xtra charge ol 1/ a ton. Then consumers contended that the coal was brown, and insisted on a reduction of 1/ or 1/6 a ton. Members were left wondering whether the Railway Department wa3 included in these consumers. THE COST OF COAL. One of the joys of being a consumer was briefly touched in the House-to-night by Mr. Poland, member for Ohinemuri. He was resisting a proposal tihat an extra levy should be put on the output of certain coal mines as a contribution to the accident compensation fund. If the companies, he said, were asked to pay an extra farthing a ton they put up the price by a shilling for the public. Last year one company had raised the tariff, and quoted legislation as an. excuse. As a matter of fact the alleged legislation had not progressed farther than the bill stage. The price of coal had gone up on the strength of even suggested legislation calculated to increase the working expenses. THE TRAMWAYS BILL. One of the surprises of the session is that the Tramways Bill has passed the House of Representatives. For weeks past the measure has been spoken of as certain to be dropped. Government as well as Opposition members "forecast failure, but the unexpected has happened, and although the House was occupied all night long over the biU, the fight resolved itself into a duel rather than a pitched battle. All night long the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. T. M. Wilford) fought against the passage of the bill. Mr. Wilford put in a challenge at the short title, and held it up for nearly half an hour, then he battled clause by clause, but he was obviously severely handicapped. The Minister was fresh, and Mr. Wilford was jaded. A heavy cold was upon him., and his throat was playing him false. He was on a forlorn hone, like a spent soldier in a trench trying to turn the charge of heavy dragoons. It was " Night or Blucher" for it, and Blucher failed. It was plain from the Press 1 Gallery that Mr. Hardy, the Opposition Whip, was trying to'bring a force to Mr. Wilford's aid, but country members didn't seem to be very keen to' wear themselves out. There was some show of .assistance spasmodically soon after one o'clock, and again at throe o'clock, and later, but it was clear that the Opposition was not out for death or glory. Hour after hour Hutt's member plugged on, but the Ministerial Host steadily and slowly shifted him from his entrenchments. The division bell was kept clanging. Government foJlowers sat about quietly, and moved in and out, waiting about for the bell, and then the plump of each rush to the voting was like a volley weakening the defence, which broke down just before «ix o'clock. So the Minister got his bill,, but the honours of the long engagement were shared by 'his opponent, who had struggled hard against heavy odds.