PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 12258, 27 July 1904, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

THIS DAY. [Feoxi Our. Pauuamjotahv RKror.Tr.n,] In the Hgmso a week's leave of absence was granted to Mcsrs G. Fowlds and E. \\. Alison" on account of urgent private bnsinc.vs. Mr It MTCemde brought up a matter of privilege. lie had tabled a. question asking what action the Government intended to take regarling the railway officer at Westport who loaded a truak' with seven cases of geglmitc, which were run over tho railway lino a distance of seventeen mjlcs. and then discharged into a ship. As the question appeared on the Ord?r Paper it had keen doctored, and contained less serious tellections regarding tho department. He objected to have questions censoicd by the General Manager of Railways, or even by the Minister.—Mr Speaker said that neither the Railway Department nor the. Minister was responsible for the alteration, which had been mado by his direction in accordance with the rule laid down by May's ' Parliamentary Practi.e.' which prevented ironical expressions being employed in regard to a question. He held that.asking when a Minister intended to promote a particular officer for alleged default was an ironical interrogation within that m!c.—-Thereupon the member ofr Motueka. inlimaicd that be would move on Friday challenging Mr Speaker's action in altering his question. The Legislative Council resumed this afternoon, and passed the Imprest Supplv Bill. J ' '