OVER THE SPEAKER’S. CHAIR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14192, 15 October 1906, Page 7

OVER THE SPEAKER’S. CHAIR.

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT. [Feom Ocn Gobhespondent.] WELLINGTON, October 14.

Tho end of the week finds the session dull and unattractive. On Tuesday the House was preparing itself for a battle worthy of the great Land Bill. The Government had been understood to nail its colours to the most, and to offer the House its choice between the Bill and a dissolution. There were rumours of want of confidence motions and stonewalls, and summer sessions. Events that would be mileposts in tho colony’s history seemed to bo in the immediate future. Then came the rumour, at first a question, a mere suggestion, later on amazed affirmation. The new Ministry had decided to yield to the demands of its opponents, and postpone the Bill, and on Thursday the Premier announced that rumour had been for once a jade of tho strictest veracity. The Bill had gone, apd while Ministers were assuring the country and themselves that their offspring was not dead, but sleeping, the House turned its attention to the prospects of an early adjournment. There remains on the' Order Paper an amount of work amply sufficient to satisfy men far more industrious than the average member of Parliament, but the bulk of it will bo left undone, and the end of the coming fortnight should see members hurrying to their homes or to the Exhibition.

Tuesday saw a discussion in the Legislative Council on the Landless Natives Bill, based chiefly on a proposal to ah low the Maoris to appeal from the'decision of the Native Land Court in cases where they considered themselves aggrieved. This proposal was opposed by the Hon Mahuta T. P. Te Wherpwhero, who confessed, on behalf of his subjects, that the Maori loved litigation, and would indulge in unlimited Court proceedings if provided with machinery for the purpose, and the amendment was rejected. In tho House of Representatives the committee of the whole considered the J Mining" Act Amendment Bill, and spent the greater part of the afternoon debating the clause of the original Act giving power to tho Crown to resume any mineral lease on a fair valuation. Mr E. M. Smith, of irohsand fame, informed the House that this clause had discouraged tho British capitalist and prevented the development of tho colony’s natural resources, particularly in the matter of iron. He was supported in this view by several other members interested in mining matters, but was met by a Socialistic declaration that the wealth of the colony should belong to the people of the colony, and finally progress had to be reported on the Bill. In the evening..the debate on the Land Bill was opened by the Minister of Land®. The shadow of ignominious postponement was already hanging over the measure that in its brief career had managed to wake plaudit and execration from every corner of , tho colony, but the Hon R. M’Nab arid tho Premier defended their protege vigorously, and the leader of tho Opposition led off the attack in all unexpected maimer. The three “ big gune,” with preliminary discussion as to tho time to be allowed the speakers, occupied the-whold of the evening. ' The House observed Labour Day on Wednesday afternoon.' In the evening the Landi Bill was expected to com© on again, but tho rumours of postponement were given point by the fact that the great policy measure had moved down to seventh place on the Order Paper. The House occupied, itself with minor Bills, and, with tho assistance of the Savings Bank Pi’ofits Bill, Mr F. R. Flatihan, Deputy-Chairman of Committees, and Mr T. M. Wilford, managed .to make itself ridiculous. This Bill, which proposes to widen the scope of the donation clauses of the order measures, thus facilitating tho operations of philanthropic trustees, was finally reported from committee with amendments.

Thursday opened with, an announcement from the Premier that the Land Bill was to be postponed until the following year. Sir Joseph Ward explained matters in a brief speech that was founded, contrary to his custom, upon extended notes. The leader of the Opposition, who had been, expected to claim a victory, and to throw a few_ jibes into the Government Benches did not fulfil anticipations. He gave the impression of being profoundly relieved, and contented himself with remarking that the Government must be responsible for- the conduct of its own affairs. Then there was a moment’s tension, hut the House sat in stony silence, and the next business was called on by the Speaker. The better part of the afternoon and the .early hours of the evening saw g. discussion on the Fisheries Conservation Bill, hanging round _ the differences between the aristocratic fly fisher and the plebeian “wonner.” An, amendment by the member for Kaiapoi, designed to give the worm fishers some standing in the fishing community, was rejected. An amendment by _ Mr G. Witty, another sympathiser with the wormer, was also rejected after a very lengthy discussion. Incidentally, the House was informed by the member for Ashburton that the regulation rendering illegal the sale of trout was honoured only in the breach in Canterbury. Mr T. H. Davey succeeded in adding a now clause providing for the gazetting of regulations to govern the netting of trout at the mouth of any river or estuary, or in Lake Ellesmere. Thb Agricultural Implement Manufacture Importation and Sale Bill was put through its committee. stage. Then the Goal Mines Act Amendment Bill cam© on, and Mr James Allen made insinuations about the conduct of the State Coal Mines. The member for Buller moved a mouth to mouth clause, designed to make a miner’s _ time count from when he left the mine’s mouth on the descent to when he returned on the ascent. That, of course, means in effect taking half an hour off the miner’s working home, and after - much diesuesion progress had to he reported. Before the House rose ‘the Maori Lands Settlement Act Amendment Bill and tire Education Act Amendment Bill were introduced by_ Governor’s message. The first is the Ministry’s policy measure in regard to Native lands. The second contains machinery amendments only. The House devoted Friday to the Education Estimates, and gave a further proof of the growth of the interest in educational matters in Parliament and country.. New Zealand has been bo proud of its free, secular and compulsory system that it has allowed itself to fall out of the van of educational progress, and is only just waking up to tire fact. Tire discussion in the House 1 showed a very real demand for reform in various' directions, and it was evident that the now Minister was expected to set about putting Iris-house in order without delay. In the small hours of Saturday morning the House reached the Hospital and Charitable Aid Estimates, and the' member for Olrrisfcclfurch North moved to reduce t|ie vote for mental hospitals by £1 as ah indication of dissatisfaction with the administration of the Inspector-General. There was some plain talking about

the ways and criticism of that officer, and, though the-motion was rejected by 21 to 16, .there was left a feeling that the matter would be heard of again. The Government did not succeed in finishing the Estimates, and the House rose after the first late sitting of the session. /