LOBBY AND GALLERY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12256, 1 October 1902, Page 2

LOBBY AND GALLERY.

By Telegraph—Special to Herald.

Wellington, Tuesday. THE ELEOTOUAt* LAW. The following new clausa has been inserted in the Electoral Bill: —" parson who at any time between the issue of the writ and the day of the poll publishes or exposes or causes to oe published or exposed to pubho view any document or writing or printed matter containing any untrue atatemeat defamatory of any candidate and calculated to influence the vote of any elector is liable to a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds or to imprisonment for any period not exceeding three months.”

factories hill. It was generally understood that after tho battle in the House on Friday night over the proposed change in the weekly half-holiday tho Government would drop the Factories Act Amendment Bill for the session. Ministers, however, intend to proceed with the bill, though they will abandon the clause which proposes to give power to owners of establishments coming under the Factories Act and the bhop Hours Act to choose some other day than Saturday for the factory half-holiday.

TRANSPORT COMMISSION. It is said that neither side of the House is particularly anxious to discuss the Transport Commission’s report.

HAWK&'fI BAT PETITION. The Native Affairs Committee has reported on the patition of Christopher N. Fernia and another, of Tongoioi Hawke’s Bay. Tho petitioners allege that owing to the pasting of the Native Land’ Claims Adjournment and Laws Amendment Act, 1901, the survey of jtheir land, the Arapnwanui Block, has been declared void, and they pray for a refund of .£195 13s Cd to cover the dost of the same. The committee refers the petition to the favorable consideration of tho Government.

GENERAL ELECTION. The prevailing impression is that the elections will bo held early in December, bnt I have good grounds for stating that they will take place about tho middle of November. Members on both Bides of the House are in favor of the earlier date. THE HAMILTON CASE. The special Parliamentary committee appointed to consider the petition relating to Mr G. D. Hamilton’s former property at Mangatoro will report tomorrow. Mr T. VV. Balfour, late manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Napier, was summoned to give evidence before the committee, but when he appeared the committee did not hear his evidence, on the ground that there is not sufficient time at their disposal to deal with the matter this session. Mr Balfour will, therefore, have to attend again next session.

brass band association* Tho Public Petitions Committee reported to-day on the petition of Frank Oakes and three others, of Wellington, asking for an annual subsidy for the North Island Brass Band Association towards the expenses of holding brass band contests in the various centres. The committee report that they have no recommendation to make. QOVEBNHENT CAUCUS. . The Government patty held a largelyattended emeus this morning, when it was decided to slaughter a number of bills. Sit Joseph Ward, on behalf of the Ministerialists, expreised the regret felt by himself and the party generally at the retirement of Mr Carnorcsi, and he voiced the hope that Mr Carnoross’ career in the North Island would be a successful one. Mr Carnoross suitably replied, expressing his appreciation of the kindness he had always rece ved from the party and the regret he felt at the severance of pleasant ties. The Acting-Premier also referred to the representation of New Zealand at the South Afriom Exhibition, and those present were strongly of opinion that the colony should be reproiented. After some further discussion the AotingPcemior referred to tho satisfactory condition of tho finances, and assured the party that all tho requirements of i the colony wore provided for for soma time to oome.

TOTAUBATOR BETTING. A report was brought down this afternoon from the Public Petition* on petitions signed by 270 persons who, on the ground that gambling is demoralising to the individual and baneful to the best interests o£ the community, prayed that the totalisator might be entirely suppressed. The committee affirmed the resolution reported to the House on the Uth September, “ That in view of the influential representations made by 7143 petitioners praying for the abolition of the totalizator the committee recommeads the petition to the earnest consideration of the Go eminent."

LAND TITLES PROTECTION BILL. The Hon. J. D. Ormond’s able speech in the Council on the Land Titles Protection Bill has been much commented on. Mr Ormond, in reviewing the details o£ the bill, referred to probably tho weakest spot in the measure, viz.» the conferring of suoh large power* on the Governor-in-Connoil, which, of course, means the Ministry of the day. He strongly opposed the proposal to place in the hands of tho Governor-in-Council the power to decide when litigation could or oonld not be taken. He regretted this growing tendency to give large powers to the Government as likely to some day prove exceedingly dangerous. Mr Ormond also thought thi oolony should do something in the way of compens ition to persons who, through no fau t of their own, had been put to heavy oost There were oases that had probably cost at least .£IOOO each for the defending of Crown grant and Land Transfer titles that had previously been regarded aa unassailable. Tho bill was paired by the Council without alteration.