Parliamentary Notes.

Hastings Standard, Issue 451, 15 October 1897, Page 2

Parliamentary Notes.

(By Telegraph.)

[From our Special Reporter.]

W Ellington, This day,

Mr Joyce's Inebriates Home Bill, which has frequently been before the House on previous occasions, passed its second reading yesterday afternoon. It received pretty general support, the sole difficulty being one of finance, and many members urged that Government should take it up. The debate, however, lapsed into a personal wrangle, in which Mr George Fisher aud leading members on the Prohibition side of the House fell foul of each other. The second reading of Mr Pirani's First Offenders Probation Act Amendment Bill (which permits prisoners to see the reports of probation officers with a view to their refuting any charges that may be contained therein) and Mr Joyce's Unclaimed Moneys Bill (which passed ail its stages in 1895 but was rejected by the Council) were also agreed to. The Premier gave notice of the introduction of a Bill limiting the fees to be charged by lawyers. Mr Fisher moved the second reading of the Public Schools Bills, which was intended to make material changes in the present Education Act. Education Boards were to be done away with and School Boards were to be set up to exercise the functions of both the school committees and the boards. Mr Seddon objected to the present system being interfered with. Captain Russell favored consideration being given to the measure, but Mr Rolleston thought the changes proposed were too revolutionary. After further discussion the debate was adjourned for a fortnight. The second reading of the Native Land Bill, providing for the appointment of Maori judges to deal with Native lands, was carried on the motion of Mr Wi Pere. The Government ranks are reeking with insubordination on the subject of the maladministration of the Defence Department, and among those prepared to join with the Left Wing in a deputation to the Premier to insist on the resignation of the Hon. T. Thompson and the inauguration of administrative reforms are said to be two members representing Wellington constituencies, and who having been returned by Government assistance have been hastily classed as servile followers.