Parliamentary Notes.

Hastings Standard, Issue 128, 23 September 1896, Page 3

Parliamentary Notes.

IN HOUSE AND COUNCIL. [By Telkgraph.] [Sprcull to Standard.] Weij.ingtox, This day. The Premier is said to be anxious to terminate the session as soon as possible, and he told the Leader of the Opposition yesterday afternoon that he hoped to ring the curtain clown on Satrtfaß week. T|p» is some talk of a sitting on Saturday next, and notice has been given by the Leader of the House for a of the Standing Orders, which precludes new business being taken after midnight. The members of the Opposition intend to entertain the member for Clutha (Mr T. McKenzie) at a farewell dinner on Saturday evening. By 15 to 10 the Council agreed to the Hon Mr Reynold's motion shelving for three months the Bill introduced In the House by " Charley" Mills, providing for a new trial for the convict Chemis. The Imprest Supply Bill for £300,000 passed all its stages, but not without a protest from the Hon. Mr Reynolds. Leave of absence for the remainder of the session has been asked for the Hon. Mr Arkwright, who has gone to England on urgent private business. In moving in the Council that the report of the Banking Committee, together with the minutes of proceedings evidence, and appendix J>e printed, the Hon. Mr Stevens said that the report was adopted by the Committee unanimously. The Minister of Education paid a compliment to the Hon. Mr Stevens, the Chairman of the Committee, for the patience shown by him in conducting the proceedings, but The Hon. Mr Shrimski could not let the opportunity pass without saying that whenever the Committee tried to approach anything particular they were stopped by the plea that they were going into a private matter. The motion was unanimously agreed to, but it is understood that the report will be debated before the session closes. When the committal of the Chinese Immigrants Bill was proposed the Hon. Mr Shrimski moved that the motion be postponed for 3 months, which was lost by 19 to 11. The Bill then went into Committee without any amendment, save the addition of a clause moved by the Hon. Mr Bonar exempting from its provision any Chinese passenger who can prove that he left China or Hong Kong for New Zealand before October Ist, 1896. The third reading was fixed for next sitting day. In the House a motion that the Banking Committee be granted an ex- ' tension of time for ten days in which ; to bring up its report was agreed to without debate. Mr Graham, chairman of the Com- i mittee, explained that the Committee were within a day or two of complet- j ing the evidence, but it was necessary j before the report could be drawn up j that answers should be received to in- j terrogations forwarded to Mr John | Murfay at Sydney. , The remainder of the afternoon was ! taken up with the consideration of the Land for Settlements Act Amendment : Bill in Committee. Clause 2 caused much discussion, but the only material amendment made was in subsection 8, which was altered to provide that applicants should be deemed landless unless they held town or suburban land on improved value of at least £2OO free of all incumbrance. A motion by Mr Earnshaw to increase the value to £3OO was negatived on the voices. At the evening sitting the Lands for Settlement Bill was again in Committee. After a lengthy debate an amendment by Mr Buchanan, that an applicant for rural lands shall- give reasonable proof of the means be posseses for stocking and cultivating the land and erecting suitable buildings j on it, was killed on the voices. The remaining clauses were passed with minor amendments. The Shops and Shop Assistants Act Amendment Bill was committed. On the motion of Mr Collins a new clause was inserted giving inspectors the right of entry to offices, including banks, and providing that no employe under 21 years of age shall be employed in any office after 6 p.m. without a permit or for more than 10 hours per day. The Bill was reported with amendments. The Usury Prevention Bill was committed. In clause 4, fixing the maximum rate of interest on loans, Mr Seddon moved an amendment to the effect that interest on loans on land should lie 8 per cent, and 10 per cent in any other case. This was carried on the voices after considerable discussion. The for Settlement Act Amendment Bill, the Shops and Shop Assistants Act Amendment Bill and the Usury Prevention Bill were put through their final stages. There is no foundation for the statement that Mr Gray, a member of the Wellington bar, was offered the Magropcj occasioned by Mr Martin's promotion to the Public Trusteeship. As a matter of fact the name has not been mentioned in connection with the TOsmey. The Public Works Statement will probably he brought down on Monday afternoon. i! is not intended to appoint a session closes.