Parliamentary Notes.

Hastings Standard, Issue 475, 13 November 1897, Page 3

Parliamentary Notes.

IN THE HOUSE AND COUNCIL

[By Telegraph.]

[From our Special Reporter.]

Wellington, This day

WASTING MORE TIME. When Mr Meredith caught the Speaker's eye this afternoon with an inteWHptiog motion to going into supply, urging that the construction of the railway from Culverden to Blenheim should take precedence of all other lines, jubilation was manifest among the Ministerial following, for it was recognised that the motion was a bogus one and had merely been proposed to prevent a more serious matter coming before the House. It was consequently anticipated that the question would be put and negatived practically without debate, but the occupants of the Treasury benches iu so reckoning were doomed to disappointment. The ball was set rolling by Mr Fraser advocating the claims of the Qtago Central and Heriot-Roxburgh lines, and then came protests against preference being given to the lines mentioned in the motion from Mr Gilfedder (who advance:! the claims for the extension of the Orepuki liue to the banks of the Waiau), from Messrs Lethbridge and Lang (who pressed on the attention of Ministers the need of pushing on the North Island Trunk railway), from Mr Monk (who eloquently espoused the cause of the Kaipara extension), and many others who indulged in special pleading for railways in their own particular districts.

The result of the prolonged discussion was that the consideration of the Estimates was staved off till the evening sitting. NOTICE OF AMENDING BILLS. The Premier has given notice of introducing a private Benefit Societies Act Amendment Bill to give effect to the report of the Royal Commission. The Minister of Railways has given notice of a Railways Classification Amendment Bill. TFIE RAILWAYS DEBATE. At the evening sittings, on the motion to go into Committee of Supply being proposed, Mr G. Hutchison said it was becoming apparent that the Government had lost the confidence of the colony, and were being regarded with contempt all over the country. He referred at considerable length to the necessity for the Magisterial bench being kept free from political control. Mr Seddon accused the Opposition of blocking the business for the last six weeks, and they would have to answer for it to the country. The men and women of the country sympathised with the Government because of the difficulties they had to contend with. The Government had nothing to fear from the verdict of the country. He agreed the Magistracy should be free from political control, and asserted that it was free from that control; no Minister dared interfere with a Magistrate, and that was a sufficient safeguard. At 11.10 the motion tbat the House go into Committee of Supply was agreed to.

THE ESTIMATES. When the Premier gave an assurance to the Leader of the Opposition last night that the Police and Defence estimates would not be taken it was expected that the other Departments would be disposed of before break of day, but the vote for trawlers in connection with deep sea fisheries provoked a lengthened discussion, Captain Russell eventually asking whether the rumor that was current in the lobbies that the vote was for the benefit of the member for Awarua, receiving a prompt denial at the hands of the Premier. The Opposition were, however, averse to letting the item pass at the present stage, and some Ministerialists supported the contention.

Mr Seddon backed down to the extent of compromising by reducing the vote by one-half (to £1000), which was to be taken as an indication that the vote would not be expended unless the Bill giving effect to the proposal was assented to. Time after time an appeal was made to the Premier to adjourn, but in vain, and when motions to report progress was moved the stragglers trooped in the lobbies to swell the Government majority. The Ministers were freely baited, and the Premier in place of wearing his big boots as was his wont for the last two Parliaments when an attempt was made to debate the Estimates at any length, was mildly complaisant, freely expressing his desire to meet the House in a reasonable spirit. Up to the breakfast adjournment the following Departments were passed : —Customs, Stamps, Education Miues and Agriculture, and a start was made on the Railways. The total vote of ±*819,000 for working railways was passed at noon. Mr Allen complained of the bullock driving on the part of the Government and moied to report progress. The Minister of Lands said he was willing to defer the lands and survey votes and that the House should adjourn immediately Class 12 (public and school buildings was passed. This course proved acceptable. Answering Mr Buchanan, who pointed to the necessity for increased grants for country districts, the Premier said the vote for school buildings would be so allocated to meet'the cases of districts where the population was increasing. The vote passed, and the sittings of the House which had lasted nearly 23 hours cosed at 9.10 a.m.