PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 184, 2 August 1912, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM THE GAIXERY. {By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Thursday. PRIVATE MEMBER'S LICENSING BILL. When Mr Malcolm introduced his Licensing Act Amendment Bill .to-day Sir Joseph Ward asked if the Prime Minister intended to allow so important a public question to be introduced under the ■wing , of a private member, who could rea-lly do nothing effective. Did the < Jovprament intend to introduce licensing Legislation— only method of tackling the question* The Hon. W. F. M&sey replied that the Government had no'intention to bring in licensing legislation this session. COUNTRY CLUBS' TOTE PERMITS. A couple of questions to the Government showed that country members are quite alive to the claims of country racing clubs which lost permits as a result of the Racing Commission's report. Mr Forbes (Hurunui) suggested in hi* question that the Kaikoura. Club lost ■ its permit because a letter from the | (Commission never got to it and was therefore not answered.

Mr Witty (Riccarton) asked the Government whether it is possible to take away a day from Auckland or Wellington racing clubs, seeing that there are more permits granted in the North Island than in the South Island, instead of taking a day away from the Canterbury Jockey Club, and will they see that in .future -when any day is taken from a racing club that it be allotted so some chrb in the some province. A "bill designed to meet the requirements of many country clubs now complaining has been introduced by Mr G. Hunter (Waipawa). ~~ ' UNDER" WHAT LAW? The i>y-e]ection which must take place for • the seat within the nest few weeks by the appointment of the Hon. Tfaos. Mackenzie as High Commit siioner is already stirring the minds of Parliamentarians. This afternoon Mr 'Russell asked the Prime Minister ■whether the Egmont election will take place under the present law, with the second ballot in operation, or whether he proposed ±o bring , down electoral legislation to enable the election to take place either under the old system, whereby the candidate who topped the poll 'became elected, or under some other system. The Prime Minister replied that, as an ex-Minister the hon. gentleman should recognke that the question involved a matter of policy. AH he could say at present was that the matter -was receiving the very earnest consideration of the Government. This diplomatic answer occasioned a sly ripple of amusement amongst the Government benches. - IMPERIAL DEFENCE. Mr Myeiß -wishes to know from the Minister of Defence whether, in view of the fact that New Zealand was the first of the oversea Dominions to recognise in an effective manner its imperial responsibilities in naval defence by the gift of a :battleship to the Mother Couniry. and of the statement by the Firet Jvorri of the Admiralty to the* effect that any desire expressed by the self-govern-Ing.Llß>nuni6ns for representation on the Imperial Defence Committee would be received with the utmost cordiality, the Government will consider the advisability of approaching the Home authorities wit'u a view to seeing if this Dominion can obtain continuous and effective representation on the -said committee. Mr ilvers points out that by representation on the Imperial Defence Committee the <;<>rernment of New Zealand, would not only have a. more direct and more I'nrhoritive voice in .the countries of tie E:npire where questions of Imperial de-jpne-e were concerned, but would also be .-.ble_ to obtain an inside knowledge of loreign affairs and of the dangers which threaten the Empire, tans enabling the Government to arrive at a wise decision in these matters, based on the true principles of national and Imperial defence. EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT. The report of the Education Commission -wall, it is understood, recommend drastic changes in >bhe administration, of the ediicaijon eyatem, one of them being a reduction in the size of some edu<tut*»n boards, and another is -that a council of advice should be constituted to act as a consultative body in connection •with education matters. PUBLIC WORKS EXPENDITURE. Mr. Russell gave notice this afternoon to move, "That, in order to afford Parliament a closer control of expenditure, particularly of "borrowed moneys, a committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to be called the Public Works Committee, to "whom shall be referred all proposals and requests for expenditure on railways, roads, bridges, grants in aid or subsidies, prior to the same being brought down by the Crown. -the committee to consist of the Prime Minis•teT, •the Ms«ister of Finance, the Minister of Public Works, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Mac Donald, Mr. Myers, Mr. E. ■Newman, ■the Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, Mr. Witty, and the mover. 'INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE. The Prime Minister has taken charge of the Industries and Commerce Department, a position allocated originally to the Hon. J. Fraser (Minister of Public Works),. JOTTINGS. The member for -Auckland East wishes rtq know whether it is the intention of •the Government to establish a State coal ■dine in the ' Auckland district. Mr Mander desires the Minister for Lands to etate whether he will take steps to reinstate the old homestead system of land settlement to apply to ■the poor gum lands north of Auckland. air Minder ateo suggests to the Minister for Public "Works the devising of a.

for Pfibßc devising a scheme whereby votes to local bodies will be available for road expenditure at least three months earlier in the season than at present. In response to the representations of Mr Harris the Minister of- Marine has given instructions to the Collector of Customs at Auckand to inform Oapt. F. J. Bambaud, master of the auxiliary trading 8c&-.r Lena. t»hat a. -certificate of exemption has been granted him in respect of the necessity of carrying a certificated engineer.

. .Mr Myers has drawn -the attention of the Postaiaster-General to the boon Which a small wireless station on the top of the Auckland Post Office would he to the people of Auckland, besides being a convenient subsidiary to the Awanui high power station, and asks vhcther he proposes to erect such a station.

The member for Kaipara intends to 1.9k the Prune Minister whether the Government intends to introduce legislation this eessian to provide for assistance being given to -wives and children of ; prisoners, as under the existing law 'it .often happens that the wife and" children #1 a. prisoner suffer srtat hardshis. b. *