THE PITH OF PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 18 August 1910, Page 6

THE PITH OF PARLIAMENT.

WHAT THE SPEAKERS ARE SAYING. VIEWED FROM THE PRESS GALLERY. THE KING COUNTRY AND LOCAL OPTION. (By Telegraph.) (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, This Lay. '-No recommendation" is the finding- of the Public Petitions Committee upon several petitions recently, praying for the granting of local option in the King Country. The (Committee consider the matter one of ipolicy. During the past few days the Prime Minister has been indisposed by an attack of influenza. On making his •first appearance in the House yesterday afternoon Sir Joseph Ward was accorded a hearty ovation. He remained in the Chamber only for the afternoon. The Native Minister, in the Prime Minister's absence, assumed the leadership of the House. GOVERNMENT BILLS. Several good measures were transferred last evening from the order 'paper to the venue of several Parliamentary Committees. The Shops and Offices Amendment Bill. Inspection of Machinery Bill, and the Tramways Amendment Bill were read a second lime pro forma, and referred to the Local Bills Committee. The Mining Amendment Bill and the Coal Mines Amendment Bill were sent to the Mines Committee, and the Kauri Gum Amendment Bill to the Lauds Committee.

THE MEIKLE CASE AGAIN. The claim of J. J. Meikle for compensation for alleged wrongful imprisonment has been revived. The Prime Minister states that he «wil[ not place a sum of money on the Estimates; but 1 gelation enabling :the case to be dealt with will be suomittcd t" Parliament this session. Discussing the matter in the House, ■Mr Wright said he hoped the Prinie Minister and the Hon. Mr Carroll would persuade the other determined imombers of the Ministry to sec that i-omething was done to settle the case •once and for all.

The repeal of the Act requiring .vendors of guns and ammunition to stake out and pay for a license for ■the pale of these poods, and the necessity for the issue of a permit to natives, has been urged by Mr Vigor (Brown. The Prime Minister has pro•mised to give the matter consideration.

EXCHANGE OX CHEQUES. The Government has been urged, .in view of the large amount of work transacted between the State and the different banks of the Dominion, to provide for exchange on cheques. The Prime Minister pointed out that this concession would mean that the State would have to pay exchange on all cheques paid or received by the Government through the •banks. It cannot be given. The 'Government has no control over tu«» exchange rates mad'e by the banks, t'omjjared with those of any other ■countries, they are not excessive.

'NEW ZEALAND-BUILT LOCOMOTIVES. Th'e twenty-four cylinder-balanced compound tender engines built under contract 'by Messr s A. and G. Price, sof Thames, have been up to standard, 'and specifications, remarks the Minister for Railways in his annual railway statement. They have given 'highly satisfactory results in practical every-day work. The same firm svcre successful tenderers for a further ten locomotives, and it is anticipated' these will be delivered- during the year 1910-11.

THE DEADLY PEA-RIFLE. The member for Thames (Mr E. H. Taylor) was last night informed by the Minister for Defence that deadly pea-rifle is already subject to legislative provisions. Section 2(5 of the Police Offences Act, 1903, makes it unlawful for firearms of any kind to 'be sold to, or carried by, any person under the age of 16 years, and for the x lur P oscs of the section i"firearm" means any gun or pistol of a less calibre than .303, whether acting by tho force of gunpowder or BlOt

NO HARM DONE. In reply to Mr Poland's suggestion that the Chairman of Directors of the Bank o- New Zealand should ■|be called upon to explain his recent remarks in regard to financial conditions in this country, the Prime Minister 'thi s afternoon stated that he had read the remarks in question; •but as they have been generally contradicted throughout the country, ■and the position and .progress of the Ueiiiinion are in themselves the most satisfactory answer to criticism of the kind, he was of opinion that no serious harm had been done, and that the matter may be allowed to rest.

FORECLOSED. 'five action of a financial institution in foreclosing upon a property for £oUOO, when their own computation showed it was worth £I7(J,OU(J, /was the alleged charge set forth in a which the member for Waiipawa moved 1 in ilie House yesterday ishould be considered by a special (Parliamentary Committee. The pe'.itionei in question is A. G. D. •Hamilton, of llawke- s Bay.

Mr T. E. Taylor raised a protest to the adoption of this course, which he said formed a dangerous precedent. The matter should be considered by the ordiuarv Petitions Committee.

Mr Massey took up a similar attitude, in view of the fact that the ipetition had, years ago, been reported against by a previous Committee. Mr Taylor emphasised the danger of such a precedent, when the case had been investigated b}' the Courts, as it would, he said, open the doors to unsuccessful litigants _ in every .constituency in the Dominion. A 'Parliamentary Committee was, he -added, an imperfect jury to do justice in a ease of the kind.

Mr W. Frascr also raised an objection to the motion. "Why, he asked •should they set up a Committee nil ■less there was new evidence forthcoming.

Mr Hall, in replying. explained that the previous Committee had

•be«n set up in the last.days of a (session, and that Committee had fbeen unable to fully investigate, the case. They had made no report; but recommended the petitioner to petition again if necessary. After having exhausted the resources of the ••Courts, a Special Committee wa do•eided, as the ordinary Petitions Committee had not sufficient time to investigate the case. It would occupy ;five or six weeks. Petitioner desired to place before the Committee the evidence adduced in the Law Courts, which had not been considered by the previous Parliamentary Committee, ffhe House agreed to set up the Special Committee as desired.

ENGINE FAILURES. Considerable attention has recently (been devoted in America'to the question of engine failures, and many of the railroad companies are keeping records of the mileage run for each locomotive breakdown," remarks the Hon. .T. A. Millar, in his railways statement. The Minister explains' that there is, however, great di.*similaritv in the basis adopted by the roads concerned.

The result achieved on the New Zealand railways during the past two /years were ns follows: —(For the year J9OS-9. 24.462 engine miles were run Cm- each failure on the Auckland section; 4(5,897 engine miles for each failure on the Wellington-Napier, New Plymouth line, and G9.594 engine miles for each failure on the lilurunui-Bluff section. During the year 1909-10 there were no failures on the Ksiihu section. Some 26,766 jiniles were run for each failure on the Kawakawa section; 15,362 miles 4'or each failure on the Whangarei section; 27,274 miles fo'. tfnch failure on the Gisbomo section; 35,344 miles jf'or each failure on the North Island Main Trunk line; 127.272 miles for >r?ach failure on the South Island .Main Trunk line and branches; .18.163 ••niles for each failure on the Picton section; 38,073 miles for each failure on the Nelson section; 209,852 miles for each failure on the Westport section; and 26,545 miles for each failure on the Westland section. Taking the whole railway system, 48,990 •miles were run for evciy engine failure that occurred.

, '".Judged on the basis adopted oy American roads." adds the Minister for Railways, " i'. must be eoncedeci that New Zealand results, which i.r.-r-lude everv failure occurring to enpines employed in running services irrespective of th'c period of train delay constitute a very good record.''