PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 104, 26 August 1896, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

IN HOUSE AND COUNCIL

[By Telegkaph]

Special to Standard,

Wellington, This day.

On the Legislative Council meeting yesterday an adjournment was made till the following clay, as the Minister of Education (the Hon W. C. Walker) had just received news of his father's death. Immediately the House met Mr G. J. Smith gave notice to ask whether the Government supplied the information contained in a leading article of the New Zealand Times on Monday commenting upon the Prohibitionists' attitude towards Mr Macintosh's [leave of absence, and he followed this up by asking leave to make an explanation as to his action in the matter commented upon, but the Speaker refused to hear him in regard to a comment made by a newspaper. Mr Smith pointed out that the Minister of Lands on the occasion of the " base liar" incident was permitted to Hansardise comments of the Evening Post, and protested against different treatment being accorded himself. He proposed to discuss the matter as a breach of privilege, but again the Speaker ruled against him. Captain Russell and Sir Robert Stout questioned the Speaker's decision, but were promptly ruled out of order, and the Speaker at once declared the House in Committee of Supply. Immediately the Chairman of Committees was in the chair Sir Robert Stout moved that progress be reported with leave to sit again in order to challenge the Speaker's ruling. The Premier protested against the leaders of the Opposition not accepting the ruling of the Chair, and after a spirited debate the motion was only lost by the Chairman's casting vote, the division being 32 on each side. While Mr Guinness was bound to vote so as to support the Speaker's ruling, it is admitted that under the circumstances the vote was something like a censure on that ruling with 32 members. Little progress was made during the afternoon with the Estimates. The Justice vote again came under review, and two hours were spent over the Hokitika Gaol, the " Left Wing " taking up the stand that there was much extravagance in the Premier's electorate in connection with the gaol there. After considerable discussion a reduction of the salary of the gaoler (£300) by .£IOO was carried by 26 to 25. Mr Seddon told the Committee that the gaoler would still be paid £3OO, which drew "from Mr G. J. Smith a retort that making a reduction in salaries was simply a farce. At the evening sitting the Justice Department was again attacked, Mr Tanner moving that the item £SO for matron of the Hokitika Gaol be struck out. This was lost on the voiees. Mr Earnshaw then moved to omit the salary of the principal warder (£150), but this was defeated by 32 to 24. On fee motion of Mr Seddon the vote was reduced by £IOO. The Prisons vote was then put through minus the reduction made in the ease of the Hokitika Prison. On the vote for " Office of Industries and Commerce, £925,"' another lengthy discussion took pla.ce, finally passing without reduction. The votes for Postal and Telegraph salaries passed without alteration. Mr G. J. Smith gave notice of his intention to move that the House dissent from the ruling of the Speaker that an article quoted by Mr G. J. Smith from the New Zealand Times was not a breach $ jemioge, i