IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1243, 27 September 1911, Page 5

IN PARLIAMENT.

DAILY SUMMARY. RAILWAY MATTERS DISCUSSED. The House, of Representatives was invited by tho Ministry to proceed with tie Railway Estimates as scon as torinal business had bc«n dealt with yesterday afternoon, but members on both sides took tho opportunity to thrash out a number of Other questions.

The member for Timaru, Mr. Craigie, attracted a great deal of support when ho spoko in critical strain of the condition of tho Chamber as to ventilation and similar matters, and after a somewhat extended discussion it was decided to call for a. report from the Standing Orders Committee in order that immediate steps Plight be taken to remedy tho existing evils.

Mr. G, Laurenson opened up a very different question 'when ho invited members to endorse a proposal that the capital should bo removed from Wellington to parts unknown. The proposal was rejected by 33 votes to 22 without being discussod.

Tho big event of the afternoon was a frontal'attack on the Government by Mr. Massey in conmeotim irith tho advertising boycott. The Leader of tho Opposition accused tlio Ministry* of'using public money.in order to secure a party gain. Tho Prime- Minister mado a lengthy statement in reply, in which attention was diverted from tho real issue by the introduction of a great deal of irrelevant Blatter.

Side by side with this question, the claims of veterans of tho Maori war to special pensions were strongly urged by members of both parries, but the Primo Minister indignantly declared that the old Kildiers were being pressed into service for party purposes. ••■•'"■■■

Towards tho cud of the afternoon sitting some attention was paid to the Railway Estimates, and tho discussion on this subject lasted until half an hour after, midnight. Much of the talk was of the Jccal wants of different districts, but a protest against the differential rates against timbers was taken up by e number of members.

When the Railway Estimates had been passed Air. Massey pointed to tho lateness of the hour, and suggested that a halt slould be called, Imt tlio Prime Minister insisted on raoro work. Tho next class—Public Buildings, .Domains, nnd Maintenance of Roads—was accordingly taken.

This went through .without much trouble, and in spite of further protest tht> Native Department was, taken. Mr. Maseey moved to Teduco an item as a protest against allowing the president of a Ma-ori Land Board to becomb .trustee of the Molcau property for private .individuals. The motion was lost, and the House rose at half-past two this morning. . ' ;