PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7366, 19 July 1889, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

[Br Telegraph.l [from OCR SPECIAL corrkspondknt.) WELLINGTON, July 18. The question of regulating Gas Companies, particularly in the direction of limiting dividends, inspecting books and balance sheets by an independent auditor, abolition of meter rents, and testing quality of gas, came up in the House this afternoon. In reply to a question the Premier said the position of the gas question was unsatisfactory. Government were considering the matter, and would probably mate some proposals, but it was quite impossible to do anything this session.

The report of tho Commission ou the Lincoln School of Agriculture is now under consideration of the Government.

The Railway Commissioners intend trying the Swauscheiff light in the railway carriages on the Wellington line, and if satisfactory their use will be extended to other lines of the colony.

Notice waa given to-day by Mr W. P. Reeves to ask the Minister of Justice wheu the Bankruptcy Amendment Bill referred to iv his Excellency's speech at the opening of Parliament on the 20th June last will be introduced.

It is being susgested by Mr T. Maoken zie that the Government should consider the propriety of granting to bodies power to prohibit the sowing or planting of gorse upon county road boundaries.

A question was tabled to-day by Mr R. Reeves whether the Colonial Treasurer has given his attention to the desirability of consolidating the loans of the colony. The Government are being urged by Mr Seddon to reserve from selection by the Midland Railway Company of the 750,G0u acres authorised to be set apart for mining purposes, as much as may be sufficient to increase the mining industry, and to do this at an early date. -

In considcratiun of tho extreme rigour of the Bealey district in mid-winter,' the Government are being urged by Mr W. P. Reeves to provide work for the unemployed ou some place nearer the sea level.

A proposal is to be made by Mr Fulton that the Government should, under clause 17 of the Licensing Act, take immediate steps to appoint one cr more inspectors outside the local police force.

In connection with the great gasworks question which is occupying so much attention during the present session of Parliament, notice was given to-day by Mr Feldwick to move for a return; showing— (1) The gasworks in operation in the colony, and where situated; (2) owners of the same, whether private companies or municipal bodies; (8) price to the consumers of gas supplied from each gasworks ; (4) amount of capital of the Companies respectively; (5) average dividend paid during past.three years; (6) dividends paid last year; (7) other sums, if any, paid to shareholders; (8) amount of reserve fund standing to credit of Companies or other accumulations which have not contributed to shareholders. '•-,

Notwithstanding the resolution passed last evening, I am informed that there is no intention whatever on the part of Government to interfere with the Licensing Act during the present Bession.. '/"-«*' The Public Petitions Committee had the Christie-Ward petition under consideration to-day. It will probably be some time before any decision is come to as a large amount of evidence may have to be caUeu,

The House was' in a merry mood'this evening during the debate oh the'' t Wi« ennial Licensing Committees Bill, when attempts were being made to add the clause granting the franchise to women. The discussion took rather an .amusing turn, the bachelors in the House coming hi for a good deal of chaff. When the Eight Hours Bill was reached members abandoned all seriousness, and jokes and laughter became almost ihcepsanti At a later stage, however, the House grftw mote orderly, and debated' the question fairly. In addition to- Mr' _*u£lor;* Mr Fisher and Mr Seddon Were the leading champions of eight hours legislation. Mr Seddon referred to Mr Firth's' eight Hours mill as an instance of the need <&>* an eight hours law. It had to compete with mills where men worked ten honjv\a day. The Bill was ultimately by a : motion that the Chairman leaVe >J *S_e chair. ■_. ".;'''' '■".,'•. ' "''"j;'' v i°" The yote this evening on the proposed clause in the Triennial Licensing bestow the franchise on women, .showed that if the issue, was brought • aqp-Wjy before the House it would be carried. The clause was lost by 35 to 38, but sabse--1 quently Mr baunders Baid that- he another members, though in favor of female franchise, had voted against the proposed clause as inopportune. The. mieralso said he had voted against what he considered a right thing. He believed in the female franchise, but he objected to endangering a useful Bill by the insertion of the female franchise clause, " - i! [FROM OITO CO-tKxMPOITOPMT.. '\'.7'7 WELLINGTON. Jtdj : AßU The Library Committee to-day •■ ; ooftaidered a telegram from ! Collier's medical adviser at Auckland, stating that he wo-fcl be in a position to resume duties jas Librarian in three months. The Committee agreed to grant him leave o£-ab-sence for four months on full pay. , .-.■■•*. «' Mr Downie Stewart . baa been i Appointed Chairman of Committee to whom the Chattels Bill has been referred, and Mr McArtbur Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. %> i i: Until recently hand magnifiers andteading. glasses were exempt from duty, anil that thoaghprovisioa was made in last session's tariff duty is now being collected thereon.* Acting in the interests of the leadi&jr importers at Dr. • Fltchett and Mr Boss have been iiiterviewi Ing tbe Colonial Treasurer and Seexetfty to the Customs, who have promised Ijo eive the matter favorable consideration.'^ To meet the objections of Messrs .Ba_lance. Fish,'and Perceval to _the JBhop Hours Bill, Mr Joyce has agreed to introduce a permissive clause in Committee making it __>-ional with the local Borough Council to say whether it shall be brought into operation or not Its committ-i Is fixed for the 6th prox., and the member in charge is sanguine of getting it through. .The Aghews, who were released from gaol this morning after serving a month, immediately set to work by waylaying Ministers with their land grievance. At the instance of Mr Speaker they were removed from the Parliamentary preeinots by a stalwart member of the Co-ustabolarj.