PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 47, 20 June 1896, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

IN HOUSE AND COUNCIL. (By Telegraph.) (From our Sjircuil < '"rnsjuoi'loil. > Wellington, this clay. The House has got somewhat demoralised in the absence of Sir Maurice O'Borke (whose non-attendance at such a crisis, by the way, has caused a good deal of criticism), and the Opposition members complain that Mr Guinness (the Acting Speaker) has allowed debaters on the Government side an amount of latitude which has contributed largly to stir up the bitterness indulged in at the beginning of the week. Mr Stevens has given notice to ask if the Government will borrow £1,000,000 annually during the next five years for the purpose of completing the North Island main trunk railway line. The Treasurer's statement that the Bank Note Issue Act was introduced at the request of all the banks trading in the Colony is to be challenged by Mr Dnthie. Under Mr Hogg's Medical Pre cti t ioners and Chemists Bill medical practitioners and chemists dispensing medicine are requested to affix to all bottles and packages a label setting forth the ingredients and their quantities in plain unmistakeable English. The first number of Hansard was issued this afternoon, bringing up the debates to Wednesday last. Speaking to the suggested names for the banking committee the Hon John McKenzie excused the selection of the names placed on it by saying that they had been chosen hurriedly, and would not be insisted on by the Ministry. As to appointing a Royal Commission he taunted Captain Russell with having said that the Horowhenua Commission was composed of Ministers' own creatures, a remark he was obliged to withdraw, the leader of the Opposition pointing oat that what he said was that it v. as wrong to appoint civil servants who might have to sit in judgment on their own superiors. Questions were again shelved yesterday afternoon to enable the debate on the Address- in- Reply being at once

proceeded with, but the Premier promised not to constantly transgress in this respect. It wi'l be recollected that by the reputed postponement of questions the order paper assumed immense demensions last session. The member for Invercargill will on Tuesday a- k if the Premier will take the necessary steps to prosecute all the parties connected with the issue of the false bond warrant for i:i0.000 on the firm of John Connell and Company, of London, according to the evidence given in the case recently heard before Justice Williams in Dunedin. Four numerously signed petitions in favor of scriptural teaching in schools were presented to the House yesterday afternoon from the Canterbury district. The measure introduced by the member for Invercargill to give domestic servants a weekly half-holiday, provides that the holiday shall be from 3 o'clock in the afternoon on the day of tiie weekly half-holiday in each particular district. Domestic servants are scheduled as housemaids, parlormaids, kitchen - maids, laundresses, cooks, general servants, waitresses, nurse-girl*, and house assistants. Where more than one domestic servant is employed the employer is to regulate the half-holiday amongst the various servants. The afternoon sitting of the Council only occupied seven minutes. Government introduced two Bills, one to amend the Medical Practitioners Registration Act, and the second to amend the Adulteration Prevention Act. A return of all associations registered under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, ISNI, was laid on the table, and the Minister of Education's resolution setting up a Select- Committee oil banking was again shirked till Thursday. The debate on the Addvess-in-Rtply practically monopolised the whole of yes t? rd ay' s sitting. In continuing it the Minister of Lands vigorously defended his administration, and dealing with the Advances to Settlers Ollice pointed out that up to the first of this month £5n."),202 had been advanced to 2701 people, the average nr.oimt lent being This should be a suilieient reply to the oft-repeated argument that the ollice was not taken advantage of by small settlers. Messrs McGuire and Hall were the other speakers up to the dinner adjournment, but most of the ground which they covered had been traversed by previous speakers. Finding himself unable to dissuade several members of the rank and file on the Government side from talking in the Address-in-Reply, the Premier shortly after one this morning agreed to adjourn the debate till Tuesday, on the understanding that it would then be closed. Henry Austin and Henry Mounsley, two Sydney tourists who were arrested some months ago on an unfounded charge of robbery at the Rotorua Post Office, are petitioning Parliament for compensation for what they suffered. I think it may be taken for granted that no additional member will be called to the Ministry and that there is no intention of appointing an AgentGeneral. Mr Ward's salary will probably be apportioned between the Hon w. c. w alker, who will be Minister of Education and Colonial Secretary, and the Hon. T. Thompson who holds the portfolio of Justice.