PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9271, 5 August 1893, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[RV tlegra —STKCIAL correspondent. Ellington, Friday. SLY GROG SELLING.

Mr. Bhera lias asked tho Government if they will strengthen the police force along the North Island Main Trunk Railway, with instructions'.to suppress the sly grogselling which prevails along tho lino in the course of construction. The Premier does not think there is any necessity. A police-con-stable has been stationed there, an I one man who had been employed on tho co operative works, and who had been found selling grog on the sly, had been discharged. Ho, however, intends making further inquiries in view of Mr. Shera's question. THE MAGISTRACY.

Mr. Rolleston is desirous, with a view of giving people in the country districts a voice in the selection of their magistrates, and ot obtaining the services of the best qualified men, apart from political considerations, and also with the view of strengthening the position and influence of tho chief officers of local government, of seeing the chairmen of county councils (x officio .Justices of the Peace. The present system of appointing magistrates, ho says, is an embarrassment to Ministers, has not been conducive to satisfactory results, and has given rise to the impression th»t there has been colour-blindness in making the appointment*, .The Minister of Justice will not admit the colour-blindness, but. admits the embarrassment. Generally he is inclined to favour Mr. Holieston's views, and says the Government will be very glad to consider the advisability of the suggestion, which would have to be effected by amending the Counties Act or tho Justice of the Peace Act.

THE REES CABMAN TRIAL. 1 After question time the Ifouso was threatened with a re-oponing of the ReesCaduian case. Mr. Swan said he desired to allude to tho speech made on tho llth of July by the member for Waip.iwa (Mr. W. C. Smith), who had said something affecting the jury at Napier in the case of Cadman v. flees, At this Sir Robert Stout at once rose, but tho Speaker interfered, and a»ke 1 if Mr. Swan proposed to refer to a previous debate. Mr. Swan said he proposed moving an adjournment of the House to discuss a question of privilege. The Speaker said it would only be allowable if

it were affecting the privileges of the House ; with anything referring to any jury outside the House, they had nothing to do Mr. .Swan urged that he might be allowed to allowed to read a letter lie had received upon the subject, but the ruling was against him. Me could, however, take the advice of the Speaker privately. This, Mr. Swan said, he would do.

OLD SOLDIERS' CLAIMS. Mr. McGuire means to ask the Minister of Defence if he will give immediate in si ructions to the Commissioners of Crown Lands throughout the colony desiring them forthwith to hold courts of inquiry into naval, military, and volunteer claims at the different centres of population in order, if possible, to finally settle the question and give an opportunity to all parties who may have just and equitable claims against the colony to come in and support their claims.

THE LICENSING BILL. Sir Robert Stout's Bill is tho order of tho day for Wednesday, and I am able to say that he and his following are prepared to again "go home with the milk," on Thurs day morning, if necessary. It looks as if the Bill would go through, and the Knight i* determine i that it shall. I cannot understand how the Government have come to give him such a place upon tho Order Paper, since they are now pie lged to legislate themselves on the question. What is going to happen, on the face of such a declaration, should Sir Robert carry his Bill next Wednesday, which seems likely ? Will the Government treat it as a substantive declaration by the House, of want of confidence, and if not, how can they deny the actual leadership of the temperance champion. It will be an interesting situation, and perch nice pregnant with swift coming change. Political events may march quickly presently. When his Licensing Bill is in committee, 0.1 Wednesday next, Sir R. Stout will move, "Th.it, where the total votes in favour of no licenses being granted, and of the number of licenses being reduced, shall exceed tho number of other votes given, then the determination shall be deemc 1 to be that the number of licenses shall be reduced.

HATING ACTS AMENDMENT BILL.

Sir R. Stout will in committee move the following new clauses :— The words in subject i in 2 of section 6 of the Municipal Corporations Act Amen Intent Act, 1871. in lines or.o and two, viz., "which is not endowed out of the public land,' are hereby repealed. The lands and buildings used for a university or a college, which ha* been duly incorporated by any Ac; or ordinance, shall not be rateable property under the Rating Act, 187(5. or the Rating Act,lßß2, or any Act amending the same.

WOMEN'S FRANCHISE. The principle of the women's franchise was carried on the interpretation clause of lie Electoral Bill. JOTTINGS. Ministers do not see any difficulty in instructing till postmasters to hold for distribution to applicants, the different elector forms required for registration and transfers, and to forward all such forms, when prop ely filled in and signed, to the proper quarter, free of charge. The Department of Labour have over 200 labour bureau stations, 196 of which are outside the large cities.

The Minister for Defence thinks it, would be waste of time to discuss the question of di-banding any volunteer corps, until Colonel Fox's report comes up. This will be as soon as possible.

The Hon. Mr. Reeves has informed Mr. Duthie that positive engagements were not, in all cases, made for the 2578 person* reported as sent by the Labour Bureau during tho year, to private employment. The Premier intend" considering the question of giving powers to local bodies to make by-laws to regulate the use cf bicycles, and indicate the responsibility of bicycle-riders on hilly toads. The Government know nothing of men on co operative works tit Haw era said to be earning from 15s to £1 per day. The tariff will not at present be altered in the direction of removing the duty on timber - dressing or planing machinery, though it cannot bo made in the colon)'. Th" Government says the matter will be considered when the tariff is under revision. The Ministry have informed Mr. Mitchelsoti that it is possible that the AgentGeneral purchased 700 lantern-slides on New Zealand subjects from a Dundee firm, that official having a gene.'al authority to buy what was required. Mr. Mitchelson said he id asked the question for a gentleman who had spent large sums in photographing the beauties of New Zealand. The Minister for Education hopes the Education Boards will this year get much more, money than they had last year.

Mr. Hogg will ask the Premier if ho will direct proper appliances for the restraint of lunatics to be provided at the various [>'.<! ; '-« station". "" Mr. Meredith intends asking the Minister of Education if lie will include in tlio education estimates for the current year a sum to be oflfmed by the various Education Boards ad prizes to boys attending the State schools for proficiency in elementary drill. Mr. T. Thompson has notified to ask the Government if they will, in accordance with the report of the Public Petitions Committee, favourably consider the request of certain petitioners that Mr. S. Vaile be heard at the bar of the House in support of his scheme of railway management. A return, showing the number of men actually employed on the public works .it the end of each month, from January, 1891. to .June, 1 H!)8, has been laid before the [louse. This shows there has beon comparatively steady progression, the number at the opening of the period being 1089, and at the cU»e 11JD0. The lowest number was in May, 1891, when they sank to 907, the highest being in Juno last. The Public Petitions Committee have no recommendation to make in the petitions of J. H. Hannan, of Auckland, praying that, the grand jury system should be abolished.

The Waste Lands Committee have referret] to the Government for favourable consideration the petition of Moses S. Breach, of Ivaipara Harbour, who prays to be allowed to retain the whole of bis land,

i and which was said to bo in excess of that to which lie was legally entitled. Mr. Palmer presented a petition to-day from James Camp, Auckland, claim for military services. An amendment to tho Electoral Bill, giving the vote to shearer# as well as travellers, will he moved by Mr. W. J. Kelly in committee. Mr. Hogg baa notified his intention of moving in committee on tho Noxious Weed Bill that any local authority may by public proclamation prohibit any ot the paints j named in schedule A of tho Bill being planted in hedges or otherwise, and may on reasonable compensation being given effect tho eradication and destruction of such plants. Mr. Fish will in committee move a new clause in the Electoral Bill the effect of which is to postpone the Woman Franchise until all the electors and adult women shall have pronounced in its favour through the ballot-box. Sir Robert, Stout has received many tolegrams of congratulations upon the lirsb defeat of tho liquor party. Ministers propose to take Wednesday from private members for Government business. The opinion prows that Sir R. Stout as the loader of the temperance party now dominates the House, and that the Government can only find safely for declaring quickly an effective policy upon the liquor question. As tho revenue must be materially affected by such legislation, the absence of the Colonial Treasurer is unmate, and is adversely commented 011. The Public AccountsC-ommiUee continued the examination of Hon. J. B. W hyte. When they resume on Tuesday they will consider the report on tho issue of tho Canterbury scrip, tho only issue yet dealt with.