PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 208, 3 September 1925, Page 12

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY. ROADSIDE DANGERS. QUESTION RAISED IN* PARLIAMENT. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary .Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The responsibility of county councils for tlio safety of fencing bridge - approaches was raised in a question to the Prime Minister in the House by Mr. Nash (Palmerston North). The questioner referred to the recent fatality in the Manawatu, where a car went through a fence at a bridge approach and three lives were lost in the river. He suggested that if the fence had been more tucure the fatality miglit not have occurred, as the car was being driven slowly. Would it bo possibh-, asked Mr. NtLsh, to compel county councils to securely fence bridge approaches? The Prime Minister replied that the I matter was really one iuv the county eoiinei!s. but there was a bill in charge of the Minister of Internal Affairs which might enable the question to be raised. it was important, and he hoped that , some member would deal with it. The j bill dealt with a fencing question. As tiie law now stood a landowner was only entitled to place a fencu on a pegged boundary, but it was suggested permission be given occupiers of land to move their fences to the roadside, with j.he local authority's permission. Thus it would give a safer fence for the travelling public, and be more convenient, for the landowner, and in such cases the fence could join up with bridge handrails. Mr. Nash: Will you get the Highways Board to take action? The Prime Minister: I understand the board lias taken action, but no State Department could be responsible for negligent driving. The Nelson System. The Government has agreed, on Mr. Isitl's motion, to furnish Parliament with a return showing (a) the number of State schools in whiih the Nelson system of one half-hour's religious instruction once a week outside school hours by voluntary clerical or lay effort is now Conducted: (h) the average attendance at these lessons; (c) tin: number of schools, highj technical and primary, in which scholars participate in other religious exercises; (d) the average attendance at such exercises; (c) the number of complaint a made to the Department of Education during the period from August 1, 1022, to August 1, 1925, in connection with these exercises by either parents ur teachers. Our Local Mines. Short time in Xew Zealand coal mines is being experienced, when Dominion consumers import coal from overseas. This point was made by Mr. H. E. Holland in the House when the Mines Department's report was tabled. He declared that the new railway freights on coal operated directly in favour of imported cual, which was brought direct to the wharfside. while New Zealand coal had to.carry higher rates of freight on the railways. "'J lie. member for Buller also referred- to the general diminution in coal production, except under cheap labour conditions, on the Continent, the demand foi coal having Uccn reduced by ihc increasing consumption of oil fuel. Mr. V. Jr. Potter (Roskill) declared that the demand for New Zealand coal had been discouraged by continual trouble with the miners, lie hoped the ! Government would continue to import coal, which they could be sure of getting, so long as there was any danger of the miners, through their control over the coal supply, endeavouring to dominate the services and industries of New Zealand. The Minister of Mines (Hon. G. J. Anderson) expressed satisfaction that, while there had been a world-wide diminution in the production of coal, the output from the Xew Zealand mines during the past year increased by 113,000 tons. The Mines Department had a young scientist experimenting for twelve months on New Zealand slack coals, with a view to' ascertaining whether they could be briquetted at a profit. He was satisfied it would pay New Zealand to send an expert abroad to ascertain what was being done to make use of slack coal, of which there was an enormous quantity in New Zealand. It comprised 50 per cent of the output, and this large proportion was, in his opinion, largely the cause of unemployment among miners. If they could get oil and smokeless fuel from slack it would give a great stimulus to the mining industry. A Reef ton gentleman had suc° ccssfully experimented to show that Reefton coal would produce good coke. The railways had to be run at a profit', but the Department had no intention of penalising New Zealand coal by unduly high freights, and would not place it on a worse footing than Australian coal. This question was being investigated, and he understood it only cost Cd per ton more to convey Southland coal to Canterbury under the new tariff. Illness Among Members. A further ten days' leave of absence was granted the Hon. Downie Stewart to-day on account of illness, while Mr. Allen Bell, for a similar reason, waa granted three days' leave. Mr. Burnett (Temuka) was granted leave for the remainder of the session. The Whangarei Harbour Bill. The Local Bills Committee has returned to the House the Whangarei Harbour Board Vesting and Empowering Bill with verbal amendments. Auckland Harbour Bill. The Local Bills Committee of the ■House has reported that slight technical irregularity in the preliminary procedure in connection with the Auckland Harbour, Board Empowering Bill should not ■ho allowed to interfere with its progress. The Committee has made a few verbal amendments in the Bill, which will not restrict the leasing power which the Board desires under its provisions.