Parliamentary Notes

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 2755, 26 June 1894, Page 2

Parliamentary Notes

(BY TELEGRAPH,) (FBOM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.) WELLINGTON, Jnne 25. Mr Joycels olaims for the Chairmanship of Committees are being aotively canvassed, and be may, after nil, secure tbe Ministerial support. The fines recently imposed at Christchurch on the officers of the Tainui for smuggling cigars have been remitted by the Treasurer. The new members appear to be averse to amending the Standing Orders this session. The Government propose that on private members' days a rule preventing new business coming on after 12.80 a.m. Bhall be relaxed for one hour, providing two-thirds of the members present signify a wish in that direction. • Tbe proposed appointment of Colonel Fraser as Sergeant-at-Arms is to be traversed by Sir Robert Stout to-moTrow. ,An acrimonious debate is likely to follow, in which some unsavory remarks concerning Colonel Fraser are sure to be made by some members of the House. It appears to be recognised tbat the appointment cannot be made .legally' in face of tbe Disqualification Aot. Sir R. Stout "will not decide as to introducing the Veto Bill till the amending licensing measure of the Government is circulated. Tbis bill will probably do away with the one-half majority necessary to make a poll valid with a ,view of inserting one-third or onetfourth. It is expeoted that nothing short of; a bare majority will satisfy Sir R, Stout, and tbat unless this is proposed 'he,, wilL endeavor to go " one, better." in that direction. Members will be invited to approaob the question apart from party lines.

WELLINGTON, June 26, THE STANDING ORDERS.

Under the suggested amendments' of tbe Standing Orders, the Premier proposes to take Thursdays :for Government bus* mess, leaving only Wednesdays open to private members. The election of a Speaker, when there are more than two candidates, is to be simplified. The quorum is to be reduced. Reading the Governor's speech when tbe Commons assemble is to be dispensed Witb. The provisions at present in foroe- in the Imperial and Queensland Parliaments have been embodied in the proposed amendments, with a view of suppressing stonewalling tactics. THE RAILWAY CONTROL.

The Government will probably propose to Parliament this session that the control of railways bo again placed in the bands

of tbe State. Sir R. Stoat's support will be counted on in this event, as be has always been regarded as an opponent of an irresponsible Railway Board.

THE FOX COMMISSION, Mr O'Hara Smith's report re tbe publication by the Evenning Post of Colonel Fox's letter is still in the bands of the Governor. I hear that it will absolve the Defence Department from blame for the leakage that took place, and that the Post' reporter is" freed from the imputation of having got hold of the document in a surreptitious manner. Probably tbe Commissioner will report that a member of the Ministry was responsible for the publication. In connection with the outcome of the Commission, members are discussing the likely successor to Sir P. A. Backley in the Counoil.

JURY LAW.

Mr Gninneea is introducing a bill by which the Scottish verdict of not proven oan be returned in criminal oases. LABOR BILLS. Major Steward is interesting himself in the question of securing proper acoommodation for shearers.

Masters and Apprentices Bill to be introduced by the Minister for Labor aims at preventing employers securing tbe benefits of cheap labor by hiring children to work at oertain trades and sending them adrift again when they have been employed for a year or so. The bill provides tbat a master shall indenture any child who has worked a oertain period at a trade,

THE TOTALISATOR.

An attack on the. totalisator is being made by Mr W. Hutchison, who moves its abolition, and tbat the Government be directed to bring in a bill to effeofc tbat object. Mr Hutchison claims to bave the majority of the^House. Ifjeo, the motion will probably be talked out so as to prevent a vote being reoorded. The assassination of President Carnot will be mentioned in Parliament tbis afternoon, and the Premier will ask the House to pass a resolution of sympathy with Pranoe in the loss of her President.

The Government have finally determined to run Mr Guinness for the Chairmanship of Committees, Mr Steward, on reconsideration, expressing bis willingness to become a candidate, provided be got tbo support of the Liberal party, which, however, will cot be accorded him.