PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 93, 13 August 1896, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

IN HOUSE AND COUNCIL. [By Telegraph.] /from our Special <.'iirri'xj>f>nh'nt. i Wellixgton, This dav. An Imprest Supply Bill for £287,000 was passed through, all stages in the House yesterday afternoon. When the Petitions Committee's report on Judge Kettle-'s petition respecting the status of District Court Judges was brought before the House, Mr Seddon said it was an unusual course for an officer to be placed beyond the control of the Government, and it was not a desirable departure. He promised that the Government would take the oetition and report into consideration. The Minister of Lands says that in he appointment of members of land boards attention is given to those having a general knowledge of the landlaws and the requirements of the district for proposed settlement. He sees no reason to appoint those possessing a special knowledge of the timber trade. Persons joining the Civil Service are now compelled to serve three years in a Volunteer corps. Though the Premier expressly stated in the House yesterday afternoon that the Government had neither approached nor spoken to any person concerning the vacant position of Comptroller and Auditor-General, the opinion is generally entertained that * Mr Warburton is as good as appointed. Mr Pirani complained of "ungentlemanly " statements made concerning members by the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones since his promotion to the Treasury benches, and on being called on to withdraw the remark substituted " unfair." On Mr Collins's motion a return is to be prepared showing the cost of compilation and printing of the New Zealand School Reader, 1895, and the number of Readers at present in use in State Schools. The Council made several minor amendments in the Pharmacy Bill, and fixed the third reading for this afternoon. The second readings of the Dunedin City Borrowing Bill and the Inspection of Machinery Act Amendment Bill were agreed to. The West port Harbor Board Loan Bill was passed through Committee, ajid the Caversham Waterworks Bill passed its final stages. When the Hon. Mr Rigg's Divorce Bill was reached, Speaker Millar gave his ruling that he could not see his way to .lay aside this Bill as it was different from that previously thrown out by the Council, whereupon the Hon. Sir G. Whitmore moved the second reading for that day sis months. The Hon. 'Mr Kelly said the Bill would be the means by one act of breaking up happy homes, while The Hon. Mr Bigg retorted that it wa*s not happy homes that needed this Bill but unhappy homes. —-- ~The Hon. Sir G. Whitmore's amendment was carried by 20 to 11. The second reading was lost. The second reading of the Hon. Mr Bolt's Summary Separation Bill (which is almost identical with an Act passed last year by the Imperial Parfiainerji and extends the power of

Magistrates to deal with separation oases between man and wife) was agreed to, and the measure was rejHfeed to the Statutes Revision ComThe Criminal Code Act (1893) Amendment Bill and the Shearers Accommodation Bill were passed through their final stages last evening. Mr Kelly's Domestic Servants Halfholiday Bill was re-committed, when « boots " were struck oat of the privilege and waitresses included. The Bill then passed its third reading, though Mr E. M. Smith tried to kill qp it by moving that it be read that day three months. Progress was reported on Mr W. Hutchison's Restraint of Incitement to Betting or Wagering Bill. Major Steward's Public Morgues Bill w«b wad a ihird time aad passed.