NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 322, 8 October 1908, Page 9

NEWS AND NOTES.

A PROTEST. Yesterday Mr. A. L. D. Frasor (chairman of the Native Affairs Committee) asked permission for the Nativo Affairs Committeo to sit that, afternoon to doal with the Nativo Land Bill. This request brought the Leader of the Opposition to Ins feet with a protest that it would bo unfair to members of tho House to he absent when important business was proceeding. Ho alleged "driving" tactics on tho part of tho Government, and said there was 110 need to hurrv tlio Bill 011 The Prime Minister declared 'that not a single member could say tho House had been "driven. (Hoar, hear.) In no Parliament would it bo possible to avoid a little extra rush at the finish. It was the same in private life and in private arrangements. A lot of nonsense had been said and written on this matter, both insido and outsido the House. Mr. Herries, a member of tho Native Affairs Committee, pointed out the inconvenience of the committee sitting whilst tho House was transacting business. Incidentally lie said the Government could not boast much of their native legislation. Tho Native Affairs Committco was sitting in tho Museum building amongst tho fossils, to tho shelves of which the Native land legislation should also bo consigned. (Laughter.) Tho motion to allow tho committco to sit was carried. THE ARBITRATION BILL. On the receipt of tho refusal of tho Legislative Council to accopt tho reasons of tlio House for disagreement with tho amendments made in the Arbitration Bill, tho House appointed Messrs. Tanner, Hardy, and tha Hon. J. A. Millar, as managers, to confer with tho Council's managers. The conference will probably bo held to-day. Tho Public Petitions M to Z Committeo has recommended that tho petition of Margaret Pinkerton,- of Dunedin, for a compassionato allowance 011 account of tho services of her late husband in both Houses of Parliament should be referred to tho Governnient for favourable consideration. Oil Tuesday ovoning, whilo speaking to tho third leading of tho Education Bill, Mr, Massey pointed out that a teacher of two half-time schools required to keep a horso for the purpose of carrying him backwards and forwards between tho schools. Mr, Massey suggested that in such cases somo extra allowance should bo made. Mr. Fowlds, in reply, stated that the teacher of two half-time, schools drew two salaries. Mr. Massey contradicted this, but it was reaffirmed by Mr. Fowlds. Yesterday when tho House met, Mr. Fowlds got up and said by way of personal explanation that ho hud li'een ill error the previous evening. Mr. Massey said he was quite satisfied with tho Minister's explanation and tho matter .dropped.

A report of tlio Nntivo Land Commission, reviewing an agreement between persons of tho Ngatituwharetoa tribe and tbo Tongariro Timber Company, was presented to Parliament yesterday. Tlio agreement involves 134,500 acres of land,' 82,000 acres of which have milling timber growing thereon. "Seeing the great advantages that will accrue both to the Maori owners and the Dominion," says the' report, "tlio Government and , Parliament should, in our opinion, lend their beneficent aid to the speedy execution ot' the agreement." An Ordcr-in'-Conncil was submitted to Parliament yesterday exempting the, oflico of Inspector of Kiro Brigades from the operations of the Civil Service Act.