PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 215, 11 September 1925, Page 10

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

- a NOTES FROM THE GALLERY. V COAL MUTES BILL. • AMENDED IN COMMITTEE. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. Amendments made in committee to the Coal Mines Act a consolidating measure, provide that no new leases shall be granted to persons who liold land contiguous which, with a new lease, would "bring the total area held to over 2000 acres, excepting tho Minister is satisfied that the configuration of this or other considerations of working the coal are such as to render it desirable. Clauses relating to the sick and accident fund are deleted, and provision is made for the transfer of moneys standing to the credit of this fund to the Coal Miners' Relief Fund, which shall be administered by the Public Trustee. The Miners' Relief Committee shall consist of not less than three nor more than five elected members, through whom payments shall be made. Kaitangata Relief Fund. The Goldfields and Mines Committee reported to the House to-day that it Ims no recommendation to make upon the petition of W. Wilson, of Mornington. and fifty-two others, the surviving relatives of those killed in Kaitangata mine disaster in 1879, who prayed that money remaining in the fund be distributed among them on a per capita basis. Forest Law. An amendment of the Forests Act, in charge of Sir R. H. Rhodes, has been considered by the Lands Committee, which deleted a clause enabling loan liability to be transferred, to the State Forests account from the Lands for Settlement account when ■ settlement areas arc reserved for forest purposes. Undesirable Immigrants. The Statutes Revision Committee, reporting on the Undesirable Immigrants Exclusion Amendment Bill, introduced by Mr. Fraser. says that the effect of the bill, as drafted, is to make the provisions of the original Act of 1919 applicable only to subjects of ihe State of Germany or Austria-Hungary, as those States existed on August 4, 1914. The subject matter of the bill involves a question of policy and the committee, therefore, has no recommendation to make. The Spahlinger Cure. Reporting to the House of Representatives on the petition of H. B. Gray and 103 others, the Public Health Committee stated that, having carefully considered the evidence, including that of Drs. Vainltih§ and Chishofin (who recently met Spahlinger jn Switzerland), it w?as of opin-> ion' that whilst thef* information avails able was insufficient. to justiiy reoomi •cnendation that any definite action be taken at present, the Government, through the Department of Health, should keep in touch with the development of the alleged cure, with a view to taking advantage of any favourable results from this or any other methods <Jf combating consumption. Shearers' Accommodation. Having agreed that the objects of the Shearers' Accommodation Amendment Bill could -be obtained by regulations. under the Shearers' Accommodation Act, the Agricultural, Pastoral and Industries Committee recommended that Mr. Langston's bill be allowed to be withdrawn. The measure was withdrawn accordingly. ..Infant School For Milford. Mr. A. Harris, member for Waitemata, has been advised that the Government lias consented to the setting aside.-of £3800 for an infants' school at Milford. Stamp Duty Refund. A committee of inquiry of the House of Representatives to-day recommended to the favourable consideration of the Government, a refund of stamp duty paid by Martin Savoury Dunne, of Auckland, on an agreement to purchase land, which agreement was not completed. Scenic District Roads. The petition of C. T. D. Farley and 433 others of Karekare, praying for action in the direction of repairing and maintaining roads m west Auckland scenic district, so that they may be accessible to tourists and residents of the district was reported on by a committee of the House-of Representatives as follows:— (1) That, if not already ratable by law as is understood to be the case, the committee recommends legislation to make Cornwallis Park and Kaitarakahi Park liable for rates; (2) that as regards Waikumete-West Coast Road, the committee recommends that the Auckland City Council and Waitemata County Council should confer with a view to the City Council making some contribution to the construction and upkeep of this road, and that, failing some fair and equitable agreement, petitioners should again approach Parliament," ■ Lights on Vehicles. 7 ', ; A one-clause bill introduced by the Minister of Internal Affairs provides that the Lights on Vehicles Act is not to apply to motor vehicles that are for the time being subject to regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act in regard to lighting. Miners' Phthisis. : On behalf of the Goldfields and Mines Committee, Mr. Rhodes (Thames) reported recommending the favourable consideration of the House to petitions by several widows for pensions or compassionate allowances on the ground that their husbands had really died as the result of miners' phthisis, though the death certificates had not given this complaint as the cause of death. Favourable consideration was also recomE£ i!?, 8 - P etition of a victim of thronl P^ thl . Sla who had lost his pension the S ha ??S S° ne to Australia on granted to oldTliTT slloUld pofc be died at the c„J dy « Whose husb *nd had that she was *6y ?° me ' ° n the S™" l "* ; o^age and a i a d 1 0 T s VnU C s: iPfcofthe; Reports on Bills Committees rennrfn,i ' Mr. °? «veral bills. ] tion Amendment Bill wa, f cc °mmenda- \ to be withdrawn on thl ! rGCon imended 1 objects could he obtainfd° _% * " lat ita I legislation. a "7 existing J ♦It was reported that Mr p , ; Undesirable Immigrant* -c-„ ,' * User's 1 involved a question of ££?& ! recommendation was made T» n ° mendations were made that tiiflT Transfers Amendment ance Amendment Bill. District o„. f" Abolition Bill, Child Welfare Bill p'* 3 ests Amendment Bill, Whangarei'Har hour Board's Empowering ° Bill and . Wanganui City Council Empowering Bill be proceeded with, with certain Uliendments in some cases.