PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 12028, 28 October 1903, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

THIS DAY

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Questions were answered in the Honss this afternoon. CORONATION EXPENDITURE.

The Premier promised to make inquiry into the position of local bodies who might have made payments illegally recently on account of Coronation purposes, and if ha found it necessary to meet the exigency that had arisen legislative action would be invoked. LORD RANFURLY. The matter of presenting a farewell address expressing the satisfaction of the colony at the maimer in which Lord Banfuriy had discharged the duttes of Governor would receive every consideration at the hands of the Government. The Premier added that later on Mr Witheford, who had interested himself over the question, would be informed of the conclusions arrived at by the Government. * THE LAND TAX. Mr Ell was informed that it was not the intention of the Government to bring down a. proposal to amend the law in the direction of reducing the exemption under the Land Tax Act, nor was it the intention of the Government to make provision that loose-in-perpetuity holders should pay tho Kind Tax. Tho only legislation that the Govermnent intend to introduce this session in the Vay of amending the Land Act* was contained in the Bill now before Parliament. . PREFERENTIAL TRADE. The Premier, in answer to Mr Tile, said that in the Tice-rcgal Speech at the opening of Parliament it was stated that ip enable a reasonable preference to be given in favor of certain goods produced in the Mother Country, important fiscal changes were necessary, but how and in what manner it would be for the House to consider and. determine, n paying due regard to our own industries. Ihe lines, adopted bv Canada would afford the best help to tlie British manufacturers, without causing undue irritation to other nations.’’ The Government saw no reason to change their views. Events thp.t had occurred since supported tiie decision arrived at. *

FREIGHTS FOR DAIRY PRODUCE, be Colonial Secretary infortned Mr Svines that the freight rates for dairy products between New Zealand and London were having his closest attention. Considerable correspondence on the subject had passed between the representatives of the shipping companies who control the freight!! between this colony and London and himself, and he hoped to make a definite aiuioun cement cm the subject shortlv. TEACHERS’ SALARIES.

ihe Minister of Education, in answer ta Jlackcnzie, said that the' Public School Peachcrs- Claries Act, 1991, allowed two years to enable the education boards to bring the new conditions info operation without inllictjng hardship upon indiTiduals. Nearly ail the boards had during tkese two years, which have now nearly expired, made such transfers and adjustments in their' staffe a? would avoid, except in possibly few isolated cases, any reduction of the salaries ol teachers. The Otago Board did not appear to have adopted the same course, or, at all events, not to the same extent as the other boards had. The consequence was that the Otago Board were now within about two months of the close of the period of grace referred to. and found themselves with a somewhat large number of adjustments to mate if they wish to avoid reducing teachers’ salaries. If the adjustments allowed bv the notes to the first-schedule of the Act wore made, one teacher would lose. £ls. one would lose £lO, five would lose £5, and one or two others would lose amounts under per annum. All the rest would gain in salary, or, at. all events, would not lose. It was probable that those cases in which there was a loss might be avoided bv transfers at an earlier date. After 51xt'December, *903, the Act did not allow any option to the Minister or to -the Board of paying salaries above the rates mentioned in the schedule. It would bs impolitic, therefore, to make any promise as to what would be done next session. The desire of the Government was that all teachers should receive fair salaries. Inquiries would be made during the recess, but any action taken must depend on the result of suck inquiries STERILISED MANURES. The Minister of Agriculture says that th« bulk of our imported manures are now being sterilised, therefore the risk of infection is very remote. The paddocks in which stock have died from anthrax were now quarantined for a period. It was not proposed to compel the special branding of imported manures, as the steps taken to sterilise them were deemed a sufficient protection. THE BANKING RETURNS. Mr Ell asked whether, in view of the fact that gold is the only legal tender money in New Zealand, the Government will bring down a Bill to alter the banking law, so ai to compel all bankers to state in their quarterly returns the separate quantities of gold coin and bullion held by the banks.—Tbe Premier replied that it was not intention of the Government this session to bring down any legislation generally affecting the banking law of the colony. The information at present supplied miriit bo confusing, but at this late period of the session not sufficiently important to warrant the introduction of specific legislation. • WAITATI INEBRLATES’ HOME.

Mr E. G. Alien was informed bv the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones that a report ha<i been received from the medical officer lately in charge of the WaiUati Inebriates’ Hume, but as it was voluminous and largely in the nature of a treatise on the subject of the treatment of inebriate/? the question of printing it was still under the consideration of Cabinet. JOTTINGS. Owing to the late sitting last, night, the Premier has decided not to take,the second reading of the Liquor Bill this evening. The principal business will be the second readings of the Referendum and Regulation ol Local Elections Bill/?. At an Opposition Caucus held this forenoon to consider the attitude of the party towards the Licensing Bill, it was decided, to give member? an absolutely free hand. The (Secondary Schools Education Bill was introduced by Governor’s Message.