PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume XLIV, Issue 43, 19 August 1892, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

THE CABLE-BATE SEDUCTIONS. In making a statement to the House last night regarding the new cable rates (particulars of which we published on Tuesday) tho Postmaster-General said that the Cable Company had agreed to bear a loss amounting to .£II,OOO. The mercantile community had been asked by the Government, as a concession for the cheap servico with which they were to bo provided, to guarantee) £5000 towards the colony's contribution, and he was happy to state that they had readily responded to the call mado on them. The Dunedin merchants had guaranteed .£1040; Christchurch was prepared to guarantee .£1000; Auckland, Napier, and Invercargill hod promised to join in ; and business men in otter centers had also intimated that they would send their contributions. It was anticipated that the reduced rates would result in an enormous increase of business through the cables, and it was not anticipated that the merchants would be called on to contribute more than half the amount they had been asked to guarantee. It was intended to bring the reduced rates into operation on the Ist October, after the agreement with the mercantile community had been finally completed. Tho Government believed that they had entered into an excellent arrangement, and one which, a year or two ago, ifc would have been thought impossible to havo carried out. It would give New Zealand the cheapest cable service in the world. (Cheers). ABOUT INEBRIATES. The Honse had high game with Mr. Shern. and his Inebriates Home Bill from 11 p re. last night till 1.25 this morning. The little man treasures this measure as the most important of the session. When he marched to the table with h s Bill there was handclapping for many minutes, and whenever ho rose to speak the demonstration was repeated. Mr. Fish attaoked the Bill in a moek-seriouß speech. Mr. T. Thompson said this was due to jealousy, becauee the Home was to be in Auckland -and Dunedin wanted it. Mr. Fish said Dunedin didn't want it. They had no inebriates. Mr. T. Mackenzie thought it was a very necessary measure for Auckland. Mr. Fish wanted to know whether Government approved the measure? Mr. Seddon said '• Certainly." Then there wa3 a mock heroic tirade against the Government for not taking the Bill up, roars of laughter marking every stage. Next, members began taking exception to the diction, and all sorts of catch divisions were taken. Mr. Jas. Mills professed violent antipathy to the word "touching" in one clause, and hod a division as to its retention. Then Mr. Earnshaw wanted the eight hours system affirmed in the work of the inmates, and so it went on. Mr. E. M. Smith was shocked with the levity, and said this was an important measure, and members might yet to thankful to Mr. Shera for having the Home erected, and glad to avail themselves of it. Member after member added his quota of chaff, until the promoter finally lost his temper, and said that hon. members evidently did not grasp the importance of the proposed reform. He had " received' numbers of letters from husbands who wished to have their wives taken care of" — thia speech got no further, for fresh roars of

laughtor stopped itfl progress. By Uiia timo 12.30 p.m. was reached, and Mr. Bees' J^ill t> abolish Iho totalisator, and Mr. Joyce's Hill to socuro Proliibition, which it had been dosirod to burk, could not bo brought on. but the motion to report progress was lont by 23 to 21. And ho the farco continued, the word "separation" in another clause being changed to " classification" by hypercritical members on division, but when at 1.20 a.m. another motion to report progress was lost by 21 to 20, Mr. Eolleaton became indignant, and told the Houho that the proceeding!) woro " disgraceful." Fivo minutes later tho promoter agreed to report progress, and tlio House roso. THE CASE OP FRVDAY. The House w«£» occupied most of yesterday afternoon considering tho case of Nicholas Fryday, of Wellington. According to a statement mado by Mr. Hamlin. Kryday was a mombor of tho Permanent Artillery at Auckland, and desirod to enter tho Police Force. Mr. Hamlin wroto to the the Commissioner of Police (Major Gndgeon) about it, and recoivod a confidential reply to tlie effect that thero were cortain disgraceful charges against this man. Mr. Hamlin afterward* told Fryday 's friends that while thoso chargos hung over him ho would do nothing further in tho matter. Fryday had ever sinco that time been striving to obtain an onquiry into theso charges, but had not as yot been successful. There was_ a long discussion, members stropgly urging that an enquiry bo granted at onco. Tho Minister for Defoneo finally promised to consider tho propriety of granting an enquiry, and let tho House know his decision within a wook. Tho acts alleged wero said to havo occurred 12 years ago, and the matter had been before successive Defenco Ministers. It was questionable whether an enquiry now would do any good. THE CIVIL SERVICE BILL. Objections to tho Civil Sorvico Bill appear to bo hold by a largo seotion of Government supporters. As a result of a meeting of 17 members hold yesterday, Messrs. Saunders, Hogg, Pinkorton, and M'Loan, waited on tho Premier to ascortain his intentions regarding tho Bill. Tho Premier gave them no indication of what these wero, but asked them to pnt their objections in writing for his consideration. This has accordingly boon done by Messrs. Saundcrs and Hogg. Tho reasons urged aro chiefly that tho moasuro is unnecessary ; that it proposes to romovo tho Service from tho control of tho Houso and place it in tho hands of a Board, thus pos-ribly preventing the Legislature at some fnturo "timo from abolishing oxtrancous or obsolete dopartinentß ; that it proposes a compulsory insurance scheme, whereas Civil Servants should bo allowed full control of their own salaries; and that it creates a ponsion system, and tho objectors consider that Civil Sorvants should not bo treated difforontly to omployOs of private porsons. Tho objeotors are to hold another meeting nn Tuosday to consider the Premier's roply. THE LAND I.ILL. The Waste Lands Committeo this morning finished their consideration of the Land Bill, but reserved certain clauses until Wednesday, when it is proposed to reconsider the decision to increase tho rent of tho " oternal loases " from \ to 5 per cent, on tho capital value. There is also nn effort being made to givo tho holders of tboFO leases tho right to r mortgage and creditors tho right to soi^o ■ them, but this is to bo strongly resisted. JOTTINGS. Tho Elective Governors Bill was last ' beforo tho Honso in 1887, when it was lost by 20—55 to 29. Last night it was lost by c ono in a Houso of 55. ( Sir Georgo Grey said last night that he had seen Chartists shot down for advocating E tho Charter, and ho had lived to boo nearly P every changq it advocated como to pass. 1 Mr. Fish is onco more roturning to tho t question of tho unemployed labour fonco beßido tho Parliamentary Buildings, and is f now asking as to tho cost. 1 Tho Ministor for Labour last night ox- I prossod approval of olectivo Justices but not I of eloctivo Judges. I Donis Fox, of Invorcargill, petitioned tho % House to tho offoct that ho was wrongfully 8 oonvictod of killing female seals, and whilo a in prisoii two of his fingers woro crushed by ' a roller. Tho Petitions Committeo recommended that ho shall havo .£2O compensation. _ Mrs. Carrington, relict of tho late Wellington Carrington of Taranaki, who camo to Now Zealand in 1839 as Chief Assistant Surveyor to tho Now Zealand Company, and with Captain Smith surveyed tho City of Wellington, and afterwards occupiod various public positions, is petitioning tho f House (for compensation for her husband's Borvicos. o Tho M to Z Potitions Committeo, reporting on tho potition of Charles William Keardon, tl surveyor, of Hawke's Bay, to tho effect that ho is kept out of monoys duo him for tho survey of tho Mangaohano Blocks owing to the action of tho Native Land Court, re- r commonds that the Land Court grant a ro-hoaring withont delay, and that tho Government register a survey lien over the land for tho amount claimed (-61000). Tho Premier was very off-hand in his - refusal of facilities to tho Leader of the Opposition to considor the correspondenco re tho Council appointments, but when member aftor membor, on both sides of the House, rose and demanded discussion, ho saw that it would bo judicious to yield, and V did so, his last speoch lacking the confident and arrogant tono of the roply ho gavo boforo the adjournment was moved. Si The Labour Bills Committeo this morning • considered tho Conciliation Bill. They pro- s pose to amend it in tho direction suggested OI by Sir John Hall, of making it compotont jj for ono party to a dispnte to compel the other to submit it to tho Board. 0I Tho Agricultural Industries Committeo Si has appointed Mr. T. Mackenzio Chairman, p Tho Weßloyan Methodist Bill has been referred by tho Selection Committee of the tn Council to a Select Committee consisting of p E Hona. Messrs. R. Olivor, D. Stewart, Sto- _ yens, and Capt Baillie.