POLITICAL GOSSIP

Evening Star, Issue 14224, 25 November 1909, Page 7

POLITICAL GOSSIP

i [FnoM Our PAitLiAMENTAnv Rur-oniEE.] WELLINGTON, November 25. PITMAN IN PARLIAMENT. - Mr Fisher remarked in the House last night that the Prime Minister had been talking so much " flam." The expression Ma a common one, familiar to the "casual I colonial," but To Rangihiroa roeo and ! gravely asked whether Mr Fifiher's language was parliamentary. Tho Stateguaranteed Advances Bill was under" consideration in committee, and Mr Wilford (Chairman) said he- understod the expression was a contraction of flamboyant. Mr Fisher meeklv accented. "At the same time," added Mr Wilford, "I think members would expedite business if they did not talk in shorthand." A GULF. "I don't see," said Mr Taylor on the Statc-guarantoed Advances Bill, "why in this lending legislation wo should ieavo such a gulf betwen the well-to-do farmer and the wage-earner. We shove ©very- , on© clese aside, arid say :' We have no , cheap money for you, brothers. You go ; and get bled by the money lenders, and pay 6 or 7 per cent.'" OUR AUDIT SYSTEM. "Our eystem of pre-audit is vory good indeed ." said Mr Maesey on the"Stateguaranteed Advances Bill. Ho suggested that wo should supplement it by the Canadian system, and give ateo ali details of public expenditure-. Next scseion tho Public Accounts Committee should have the opportunity of calling the AuditorGeneral, who would be able to give valuable information on tho point, and might give a satisfactory solution of tho difficulty." I SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE. J "Split the difference is the policy of ; this Parliament," said Mr Maegpy ' just j before midnight. " Lct'c say 12.30 a.m., ■ and go home." Tho occasion was u motion by Mr Taylor to report progress on the State-guaranteed Advances Bill, with which the Prime Minister wished the House- to persevere for another eighteen clauses, none of which, he said, wore, contentious. " Oh, but I have eeon one clause 01 a Bill discussed for twelve hoiiru," said Mr Massey, also mentioning that tho previous night he had gone to bed by daylight. /'That was ill the bad old* days, though," said Sir Joseph, evidently in reference to the bad.paesago of a*Bill in Committee, and not to the imminence of dawn when his political opponent rested from hie labors. MAGISTRATES' COURTS PROCEDURE. " This Bill might bo appropriately entitled a Bill to rcduco lawyers' fees," said the Attorney-General, in 'moving the second reading of tho Magistrates' Courts Amendment Bill in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon. lit- Findlay emphasised the point that the Bill aimed at the protection of people who wero entitled to protection. If it became law it would reduce the need for profeesional assistance in half the cases that were now taken in the magistrates' courts. Though that might be hard on the profession, it would be a vory good thing for the public.—The Bill was rend a second time without discussion, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee ACCOUNTANTS. The Hon. 0. Samuel moved the eecond reading of the-New Zealand Society of Accountants Amendment Bill in the Legis- ! lative Council yesterday afternoon. Tho : Bill provides that every person who has j not later than March 31, 1909, applied in , writing to the Accountants Board to bo registered as members of tho society and whoso application has not been granted, j may before March 31, 1910, apply to tho council of the society for registration. Power to appeal to tho Supremo Court is given. The present Act, requiring an accountant before he could be registered to satisfy the Board as to his proficiency, was exceptional in its requirements. The Board had to deal with an immense number of applications from men whom the members of the Board did not know, and it was on a suggestion of a member of tho Board that he had introduced tho Bill He recognised that at this period of the session it was hopeless to get such a Bill as thus passed unless it had tho approval and assistance of the Government,—Tho Bill was read a second time without discussion, and referred to the Joint Statutes Revision Committee. CONGRATULATORY. In the Legislative Council the Hon. Dr 1' lndlay congratulated tho Hon. Sir George M'Lean on the honor recently conferred on him by the King. Indirectly the honor was one winch bad also been 'conferred on the Council. Sir George had had a Ion" and honorable career in both public and private life, and all hoped that he would , he long spared to enjoy the distinction j which had been conferred upon him 1 Sir George M'Lean replied in a brief c-peech, warmly acknowledging the congratulations which had b?en extended to him from one end of the country to the other. STATE-GUARANTEE ADVANCES. the House spent from 7.45 to 12.45 in committee on the State-guaranteed Advance* Bill, progress being reported on clause 61 being passed. The only alterations made were on the motion of the ; Prune Minister, who brought down an amendment increasing from £350 to £450 the maximum amount that can be advanced for the erection of a worker's home. PREMATURE BURIAL. In the Legislative Council the Hon. Captain Baiilie moved that the Government be requested to take into consideration with the least possible delay the desirability of amending the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1908. He explained (as he did last year) that his desiro was to prevent the possibility of premature burial. The Hon. Dr Collins seconded the motion, although he thought the risk of premature burial was very email. Indeed, j the risk could be eliminated by examination by a medical man. No case of trance or catalepsy could be mistaken by a medical man. Continuing, he put forward arguments (which he advanced on a similar j motion last \ear suggesting that the noti- ! fication of births should be made inside ; forty-eight hours in towns and within a week in the country. In West Australia. stillborn children were registered as well as those born alive. This 'should be done jin New Zealand. For statistical purposes j alone it would be valuable. The law should also be altered in the direction of requiring ;i. medical man to view a body after deatii before giving a certificate 01 death. He pointed out that last year a committee had been set up by the Council to go into the whole question, but unfortunately they had not time to present an adequate report. If the Hon. Captain Baiilie were agreeable he .would move next day that the same committee be set up again, with instructions to report on the subject to the Council. Captain Baiilie agreed to the suggestion, and withdrew his motion. SUBDIVISION OF TUAPEKA COUNTY. It is understood that the Local Bills Committee, to whom Mr Malcolm's Bill making provision for the subdivision of Tuapeka County, will report adversely to the measure.