PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume XLVI, Issue 23, 27 July 1893, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

MB. T. MACKENZIE IN TROUBLE. A repetition of tlio Brjce incident of 1891 was threatened jnst beforo tbo Housej^oi-o for tlie dinner adjournment yesterday, 1 ut fortunately the mat'or wag smoothed over %yithout tlio expulsion of a member from Pi rliament. The trouble arose in this way— ln speaking in defence of tho Labour Burei v (Air. T. Mackenzie having moved Iho ai - jourmnent), the Hon. Mr. Keoves referred to a letter containing some statements with lespect to tho member for Clutha, whifh the latter characterised as untrue. TLe Minister for Labour appealed to the Kpeakir as to whether this was a Parliamentary cipression, upon which Mr. T. Mackenzie heatedly observeJ, <- If you restrain yomBolf, and behave with more decency ' The Premier immediately rose, and moved that these words bo taken down by tie Clerk. It wag now precisely half-past fivr, and Sir Jolin Hull having called attertion to Iho clock, tho Speaker said that ho could not Aucato the chair while such an important matter was pending. Mr. Bolleston urged the member for Clutba to withdraw Ma re in irk, but on an appeal by Mr. Speaker he declined. Things woio beginning to wear an ugly aspect, when tlio Speaker asked Sir. Mackenzie whether hj wished to make any statement beforo being requested to withdraw from the Chambe r . The member for tho Clutha then explained that the Hou. Mr. Eeevcs, had been quoting lrom a letter which statfd that he hid requested that fivo men should be employed by the Labour Department. His interjection that this was untrue was not intended to mean that the Minister was stating an n: - truth, but had referpneo to the assertion in tho letter. Some intt-iriiption hadoccunrd at this point, and as he considered that Mr. Heeves was stonewalling in order to prevent him from replying to tho question under consideiatiou, be had been compelled to use the words " If you restrain yourself, and behave with more decency, I shall toll you all about it." He now regretted having nsed those words, and he begged to withdraw tlipm. Tho Houeo thereupon immediately rose fr>r tho dinner adjonrnment, a feeling of reliff being apparent that the promised conflict with the Chair had been averted. A little earlier in the afternoon thero Imd beon a brush between tho member for Clutha and the Premier. Tho latter was referring to something alleged to have taktm place at an interview which Mesßrs. T. Mackenzie and Earnsbaw had with him as to the Catling River works. "That is untrue," exclaimed Mr. Mackenzie. Tho Premier called the Speaker's attention to the words, whereupon Mr. Mackenzie said, '" The forms of the House require me to s i v it is incorrect." Tho Premier was proceeding to appeal for oorroboration to Mr. hori - febaw, when that inumber was seen to mil»<» deprecatory gestures. Seeing this, Mi Mackenzie exclaimed, "Ho won'tlie either " '1 he Premier at once asked t bat the words be taken down. Tho Speaker said he iiuleistood Mr. Mackenzie to mean that Mr. han . shaw wouldn't lie. That was no imputation. THOSE CO-OPERATIVE PAINTEHS. Mr. FUh says that the Wellington Club, a wooden building, which he claims absoi I g less paint than cement docs, has been painted for threepence per yaid less than the Po'ice Station and Supreme Court, tho contractor paying his men 9s id per day, and being quite satisfied with tho profit he himself Las mado. This, Mr. FiFh sa}B, shows, that tl<o Government lost .£l2O by having the two buildings named painted on the co-operatho principle, and he claims that if there i* this leakage m work with -nhich he is acquaintod it is reasonable for him to suppose that thero is s miUr loakugo elsewhere. Tho Prem.er cays that if Mr. Fish is to go on discussing' the painting works in the House, their co.-d will indeed be large. The estimate of Mr. Fish was made on erroneous measurements taken by himself and Mr. Bucklaud. Ihe Club, a wooden building, would tako 1. td material than a cement building. The painters employed by the Government earned 83 7d per d-vy. RAILWAY MANAGEMENT. It is considered certain that any Railway Bill on the lines recently published by up, viz , tho giving of a Minister a seat on the Board of Commissioners, either with or without tho power of veto, will be vigorously opposed at every stage by the Opposition. Sooner than consent to Buch a Mil, Mr. Bolleston and his immediate followers would be prepared to revert to political control, but that would only be accepted as a la> t resort. MS. MILLS' TAXATION SCHEMi:. Mr. C.II. Mills doesn't altogether approve of the present sjstem of taxation, and sajs that if he is returned to the House noit session ho will niovo that a tar of £ocr ] cr head bo put on bachelors, £4 on a man and his wife, 30s for each child up to three, 20d for the next three, and 17s GJ for the next, and that a bonU9 be gi\cn by Government for every one after twelve. ABOUT CO-01'ERATIVE WORK*. Mr T. Mackenzie, who yesterday mo* cd the adjournment of tho House to discuss the question of the unemployed works m tlio Catlins District, said that one of the ' unemployed " on tho Otago Central Hatlway recently went to purchase a £5000 farm, and produced drafts to the amount of JE2OOO. He o ntends that in the Catlins Kivcr district ''unemployed" of tho •' right colour " are brought up to do work, while tho settlers of the district, expert at the work required and sorely needing it, arc passed over, lln Labour Bureau « as being- used as a. political machine. Mr. Taylor said he didn't befeo any applicant for work was asked his political colour. If ho thought so, he would not support the Government. Mr. Farnshaw said, though he sympathised with Mr. Mackenzie as to tho getting of the Catlina residents on to needed public works, he knew absolutely that no consideration as to colour was shown by tho Labour Bnreau. Mr. Fish said that had the contract system beon retained they would not have these continual discussions as to this man being taken on or that man not. A member knew if he didn't get tho men in his district work his political oppou-nts would, and make capital against him. Also, it was a monstrous system that because a man had been sober and taved money and got a little pi ice, ho was not to bo employed, and that preference shonld be shown to the man who had been improvident, or who drank away his substance and had nothing. If these were to be put down as relief works, men of means should not be sent to them, but if thoy weie not relief works, and wore to be the system for carrying on the public works of tho colony, then a man with a few shillings a week coming in to him had as much right to employment as a man without a sixpence. The Government had claimed that capit il.sts and local bodies should helptocopo with the unomployod difficulty— this from a Government which had been doing its b t st to crush capitalists. The local bodies bed qnito enongh to do to attend to their permanent charges. The discussion which followed lasted tho whole afternoon, the Premier and tho Minister for Labour w armly dc • fending tl.o system of the Buraau Tho Minister for Labour said that not only was " colour " nov?r questioned in applicants for employment, but he himself thought porssns who might ho considered interested in the political leanings of thj applicants did not oven know nho was employed. The office ra of the Bateau were instructed in giving employinont to give preferonco to the people already in the district in which the work was. JOTTIXOS. Mr. Rhodes says Ministers romance <=n much when they speak in public that njien thoy havo a good caso people won't behove them. Tho Colonial Treasurer has given notice of an Imprest Supply Bill for Friday. Tho Financial .Debate is to tako precedence of all business to-day, but tho Premier says that if Local Bills should bo prejudicially affected by this ho will grai.t special facilities for them later on. Tho Labour Bills Committee cannot get a meeting, as no quorum lias beon fiiod. The Colonial Treasurer tried to put this right at 1.20 this morning, but tho Speaker would not take tho motion at that hour. Mr. T. Mackenzie yesterday told tho House that his opponent at the next election is now going round his electorate claiming to be tho "working trim's friend," and informing tho elcotoro that if thoy rotnrn him to tho House thoy will never be short of work. Mr. Joycp is to ask if tho Government is aware that tho kindergarten system is being taught to children in a public school m school hours under the direction and supervision of tho Wellington Board of Education ; if bo, will the Minister intimate to all other Boards of Education that kindergarten instruction may be imparted in all the public schools of tbo colony. Mr. Ehodos said the incroaao in the revenue last year had been caused through "the fortunate decease " of some old colonists. It was only when a ripple of laughter had gone round the Honse that ho claimed to have said " unfortunate." The members of the Opposition are likely to give tho Cheviot Estate Disposition Bill general support, which will ensure its becoming law in spite of the objections of eomo of the Government supporters to the cashsale clause. Adviooa from Auckland state that Mr. C idum's chances of election for the vacant seat are very hopefal. The Labour Bills Committee meet to morrow to oonsider the main clauses of tho Shops and Shop Assistants Bill. It is understood that the fixing of the weekly halfholiday will he left to the local bodies. Mr. Shera has been appointed Chairman of the Publio Accounts Committee. The natives at Porirua objaet to Goverrment taking 200 acres of land held by them and said to be absolutely necessary for Asylum pnrposes. The chiefs when examined before the Native Affairs Committee of the legislative Counoil to-day objected to cxohange this land, whioh they say has been oocupicd by their ancestors for several generations, for other property which the Urown are prepared to offer them. Ministers do not intend to answer questions to-day. It is hoped that the Financial Debate will be oloßed at Friday night's Bit tiii?, whioh is expeoted to be * late one. Tho Hon. 6. F. Bioh»rd«on speaka thj« evening.