POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10707, 13 July 1900, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

(By Telegraph.) (FBOM OTTB SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON, July 12. THE BREACH OF PRIVILEGE. The Committee to which tho breach or privilege question raised yesterday by Captain Russell was referred, reported to-day that Mr Reeves's letter was inserted m "Hansard" by the chief "Hansard" reporter. Mr Grattan Gray, without consulting anyone outside of the "Hansard" staff, also that the Premier had no cognisance of the insertion of the letter. The Committee have now given instructions that no matter not read or spoken in the House skill be inserted in "Hansard" without an order received by the stuff from Mr Speaker. The clause hi the Committee's report exonerating the Premier, was not, I learn, tho unanimous decision of the Committee. it is alleged that the Premier must have seen the letter in type, as his handwriting appears in the shape of corrections in the'printed "Hansard" proof. Mr Seddon wis-htd tn move that a breach of privilege had been committed by the chiot of the, "Hansard" staff, but the Speaker safd it was not customary to name the offender in such a motion, and,' further, that Mr Gray was an oflicer of the House. The matter "is to be further thrashed out to-morrow. Mr R. Thompson; is to move that the Agent-General's letter.'be expunged from the bound volume of "Hansard." HOR-SE SHOES AND BACON. Mr E. M. Smith, the energetic member for Taranaki, still points with pride to the case of horse shoes made from.Taraniikl ironsand, which he has hung up in the lobby.. It appears, however, that Mr Smith's show case wiil have to come down. Most lion, members object to the use of the lobby for advertising purposes, and Mr for one, threatens to. bring up a flitch of Canterbury bacon, and to hang it up under the clock, if the horse-shoes are allowed to remain. THE (MEMBER FOR LYTTELTON. Mr Laurenson, tho new member for Lyt> telton, made his maiden speech to-night, the subject being Mr Fisher's Public Schools Bill. The speech was a most interesting one—clear, earnest, and practical, and the House generally heartily endorsed Mr Massey's remarks when he congratulated : Mr Laurenson in the warmest and most complimentary terms on .his first effort-. The member for Lyttelton did not think our system perfect—-far from it—and he did not hesitate to say.so in the plainest terms. He wanted the Government to rise to the occasion and bring down a comprehensive scheme that would provide for the colony an up to date modern system. The Government would have his support, even il it meant an additional expenditure oJ £50,000. A DIVORCE BILL KILLED. Mr Wilford's Divorce Bill, which among other things makes continuous confinement of the respondent in a lunatic asylum for five years a ground for divorce, met with a sudden death to-night. After speaking at some length in support of the- Bill, Mi - Wilford moved tho second reading proformu, stating that he intended to refer the Bill to the Statutes -Revision," Committee-. Sevens members protested against this course, inasmuch as it prevented them from debating the measure and replying to Mr Wilford's staternetnts. The latter, however, said he had made himself acquainted with the proI codure before 4 .deciding npon itbis course. The Speaker said it appeared-unfair, but it was the fault of the-Standing Orders. "Kill the Bill," one of the members interjected, and this course evidently commended itself toa majority of members, as the second reading was rejected by- 27 votes to 21. THE WEST COAST COAL TRADE. When the West-port and Greymouth Harbour Board Borrowing Bills came up for consideration to-day, Mr G. W. Russell : drew attention to the position of the railway at "Westport over which the coal is carried/and stated that it was paying £13 3s 6d per cent, on its cost of £220:000. He urged a, reduction of the haulage rates to enable consumers to get cheaper coal. Mr R. McKenzie said Mr Russell's statements were misleading. There were other moneys in- . vested in the construction of the line besides the £220,000. He contended that the work of improving the harbour was a'national one. The Government, he siud, controlled the haulage rates, and refused to reduce thcni. As to getting cheap coal, the only way to secure that was by the Government opening a mine and arranging carriage for their own coal, the amount of which consumed per annum was 110,000 ionß. If tliey j did'that it would reduce the price of coal by 10s or 12s a ton. The reason-there was ■ such a scarcity of coal now-was. because the Admiralty were keen to get ifc.-sent to different parts of tho world. Only a little while ago a cargo of three thousand ton_ was sent away from the port,-, and now a cargo of 4000 tons, was going to Hong Kong for the warships. "JOTTINGS. On the motion of Mr G. -W. Russell, the second reading of tlie Canterbury College Empowering Bill was agreed to this afternoon, and the commitment of the Bill set down for Thursday next. Tho Labour Bills Committee are taking a good deal of evidence regarding the proposed amendments to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, witnesses being present from Auckland and other parts of the colony. The Council have made a very important alteration in the Young Persons' Protection Bill by striking out the pel-missive clause. Leave of absence for one week is to be asked on behalf of Mr Hone Heke.