IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1257, 12 October 1911, Page 5

IN PARLIAMENT.

DAILY SUMMARY. . THE COMING OF THE END. Tho question in which members of Parliament show most interest just now is "When will tho session cad?" The Prime Minister told them last evening that ho saw 110 reason why the business should not bo finished by the end of next week, but ho reserved until next Friday his statement as to what business is to bo done and what "Bills arc to bo dropped. Most members would liko such an early conclusion, but probably few expect it. The House is to sit next Monday evening, and tho Public Works Statement is to be delivered on that occasion. In the early part of the afternoon tho House discussed at length an unfavourable report by tho Public Petitions Committee upon tho petition of an owner of buildings destroyed at Onehunga by tho Health Department. Supporters of tho potition pointed to tho general principle involved, and contended that the houses had been destroyed, in the public interest, during a plague scare, and that tho owner was entitled to compensation. The Primo Minister supported a proposal that the report should be referred back to the Committee in order that tho contention mentioned might be carefully considered. Tho repoTt was referred back accordingly. Less ground than usual was covered in the weekly discussion upon Ministerial replies to questions by members. A matter of somo interest raised by Mr. Hcrries was that of tho resignation of Mr. A. Keefer, late president of the Tairawhiti Maori Land ljoard. The Native Minister denied that there had been any interference with Mr. Keoler in his judicial capacity, and promised to table the correspondence relating to tho resignation. Mr. James Allen and tho Prime Minister spent a few animated minutes in discussing Budget inaccuracies, and tho Hon. J. A. Millar and Mr. W. C. Buchanan came into conilict over tho state of railway cottages at Cross Creek. The House was swept by a' mild storm of rhetoric from tho Prime Minister, inspired by certain "statements" which he attributed to Mr. Massey, at Levin, just before the proceedings came temporarily to a halt at half-past live. At the evening sitting, tho House adopted", without much discussion, the Primo Minister's motion approving of the Pacific Cable Board's schcmo for a now cablo from Auckland to Sydney. This cablo is to bo laid underground from Auckland to Doubtless Bay, and tho transmitting station at the latter place will be done away with. The work is to cost -£175,000, which is to come from surplus reserve funds,' and the benefits are to comprise groater rapidity of cabling, reduced working cost, and increased business. Sir Joseph Ward repeated his forecast of an "All-lied" cable, and messages at sixpence a word. The Auckland University College Amendment Bill, the University of Otago Council Bill, and the Tramways Amendment Bill were considered in Committee, and reported with amendments. The Methodist Church of New Zealand Bill was put through Committee without amendment, and the House rose at 0.19 ».m.