PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 273, 18 November 1927, Page 9

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

THREE BILLS PASSED.

CLEARING THE ORDER PAPER.

EXHAUSTION OF LONG HOURS.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Thursday.

Three of the seven Government bills on the Order Paper were given their clearance in the House to-day. Members were tired after Wednesday's all night sitting, and the debates were colourless. The chamber was never more than half full, and visitors who came to listen did not remain long in the galleries. One or two people prominently connected with the prohibition movement were preseut for a time, but disappeared when it bebecaine evident that the Licensing' Amendment Bill, number seven on the Order Paper, would not be called on.

Amendments made by the Legislative Council tothe Shops and Offices Amendment Bill were agreed to. The Leader of the Opposition said it was refreshing to find that in another place steps had jbecn taken to restore meal allowances to employees. The Slaughtering and Inspection Amendment Bill was put through its final stages and passed, as was the Noxious Weeds Amendment Bill. On the Child Welfare Amendment Bill progress was reported after the short title had been passed. The Coal Mines Amendment Bill was put through the committee stage without amendment and passed. The House rose at 12.5 midnight, after the Public Service Amendment Bill and Railway Amendment Bill had been introduced by Governor's Message. Parliament's Prestige. Though Licensing Bill incidents of the early morning were not mentioned it was clear that a question put to the Prime Minister by Mr. McCombs (Lytteltoh) when the House met this afternoon had prompted the matter. Mr- -McCombs asked: "Will the Prime Minister this session afford an opportunity for the introduction of legislation to restore to Parliament its authority and prestige bv ensuring that the will of Parliament ; shall be allowed to prevail?"

"I am not" aware of any circumstance which will lead me to believe that Parliament- is not master of its situation,** answered the Prime Minister, and there were many approving "hear, hears* from his supporters, and some laughter from the rest of the Hah'b^

German Oil Prospectors. The Minister of Mines was asked by Mr. Veitch (Wanganui) -whether any special facilities had been given to German scientists to prospect for or to become possessed of New Zealand oil deposits! The Minister replied in the negative. No special facilities had been given these scientists. He understood they had been invited to come New Zealand by a company floated in Melbourne which had certain rights on the east coast of the North Island.

The Contributory Negligence Bill waa introduced in the Legislative Council today, on the motion of the Hon, J. MacGregor and read a first, time. - It consists of one main clause and a proviso that, where by the fault of two or more persons damage or loss is caused to one or more of them liability to make good damage or loss shall be in proportion to the degree in which each of the persons concerned is at fault. Provision is made that where it is not possible to establish different degrees of fault, liability is to be apportioned equally. In jury actions the amount of damages and degree of fault will be questions of fact for the jury to decide unless tbe ' judge otherwise directs. Mr. MacGregor proposes that liability for the ; payment of costs shall be in" the same i proportion as liability for damage.