PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10414, 12 April 1897, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

(by telegraph.— special correspondent.] Wellington , , Saturday, BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. The Premier announced this afternoon that Mr. Tegotmeior, of the London branch, had been appointed general manager of the Bank of New Zealand. Mr. Butt, the auditor, would go back to the Bank. As to the president, the directors and the Government were looking for a thoroughly suitable men outside the Bank altogether. Had the House adopted the legislation proposed Inst session there would have been no difficulty. The matter was strictly for Parliament to deal with. THE AUCKLAND MEMBERS. The Auckland and several other Northern members propose to ride to their homes overland. They will visit en route the Awakino Block, and visit several districts with a view to see how far tho lands along the route are suitable for settlement. They leave here on Tuesday next. THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE. The Hon. Mr. Reeves made an attack in tha Council this morning upon the Californitin line, as being of little use to the Southern parb of the colony. He desires the the Government to make inquiries as to the feasibility of a now service to West Australia, which would supplement tho (iirocfc European service. The lion, Mr. McLean reminded the lion, gentleman that America subsidised the San Francisco line to the extent of £28,000. New South Wales contributed about £4000, and flow Zealand about £6000 or £7000. The bade with America was of growing importance. He considered that Mr. Reeves had not much acquaintance with tho circumstances under which steamships carried on their trade, the difficulties they had to face, and the great losses they experienced oven when they were subsidised. Tho next difficulty was to get a back trade. If there were no back trade there was enormous loss. TUAKAU BRIDGE. Mr. Massey, the member for Franklin, put a question to the Minister of Lands respecting this much required work. He explained (the position of the progressive districts upon oach side of the Waikato River. Ho thought those districts had been much neglected, and hoped that something would be done before next session. What ho specially asked was that the Minister would get the ground survey niado at once, and an estimate, so that tho bridge might be completed boforo the end of the year. Tho Minister of Lands said he would have the necessary work done. MIDDLE DISTRICT UNIVERSITY. Tho Premier, in reply to a question as to whether tho Government would hike tho necessary steps to give financial aid to the Univorsity for the middle district, said tho subject had been considered. If any financial aid were given, it should be by grant, and care should be taken thab it would be on the condition of providing a university education to the children of the country and poor people. SUNDAY ON THE THAMES GOLDFIELD. Mr. McGowan asked if the Government would issue such instructions as would prevent goldminim: companies on the Northern goldh'elds carrying on their usual avocation on Sunday, so that tradesmen and shopkeepers might bo under no greater disability in regard to the law than those wealthy companies who were depriving the workman of his usual day of rest. Tho Premier recognised the importance) of the question, and paid the Cabinet would coneider the subject. THE ADDRESS TO HER MAJESTY. Tuoro was something like a scene in the House this afternoon, when the address to Her Majesty, as agreed to by a joint committee of both Houses, was submitted for adoption. Several members eaid _ they would not subscribe to the address in the form it was brought. Mr. Hutchison said it looked like a production that had dropped out of Topsyturvydom. It was rigidly criticised all round. Mr. Hutchison drew up and read a bnrlosquo as follows :— "We, the representatives of tho colony which has advanced farthest and fastest in tho race of democracy, beg to inform your Majesty Miat we have held a special session of Parliament to arrange for the acceptance by our Premier of your invitation that the colony should be represented on _ the auspicious occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of your accession to the throne. We desire most heartily to join with all other parts of the empire in celebrating that event, nob only as recognising in ib a triumph of constitutional freedom, bub also as evidencing our sincere regard for those personal qualities, the influence of which has done so mnoh to distinguish the Victorian era. Not in disparagement of constitutional govornmont, but in view of the historical importance of the occasion referred to, we have boon content in Parliament to waive for a time the full exorcise of our rights so that our colony may be represented at tho great ingathering of peoples who owe allegiance to you as Quoon and Empress. Ab the same time we desire to explain as well as mention the fact, as otherwise an even temporary surrender of our privileges might appear to derogate from that freedom, which must remain the grandest monument of your reign. We have met, and are about to disperse, under conditions which would be intolerable if we did not believe they were only temporary, for the purpose of being Vepresonted in London on June 22. We have granted extension of anpplies upon the appropriations of a Parliament the actions of which have been largely repudiated by the results of the recent general election. To you as a Sovereign most illustrious in assisting tho advancement) of constitutional government, the meeting of Parliament) for the redress of grievances and the taking into consideration of measures for tho well-being of I the colony on date of the sixtieth anniversary of your accession, would, if associated with suitable representation in London, hare probably been considered the highest tribute we could pay; but that has been fonnd impracticable. The characteristics of our Premier and the incapacity of his colleagues have necessitated the postponement of the regular meeting of Parliament. The obscurity of our finance, the dubiousness of our administration, and the degradation of democraoy in our Government might bo considered developments that threatened the subversion of constitutional government in our midst were ib nob that wo are porsuaded these developments are only temporary in their operation, and that the present suspension of Parliamentary control will probably lead to its speedy re-establishment on a firmer basis. ,. After further discussion it was proposed thab there should be "no address," seeing that the other colonies were not sending addresses, and as the Legislative Council had completed its business, the Lower House could nob got the assent of the Upper Chamber to any alteration. This was the special difficulty. There was no getting away from the address as it stood. The Speaker put it to the House and ib was adopted by 39 to 20. The address was described by one hon. member as an "awful thing." Tho Hon. J. McKenzie, with grim satisfaction, said it was "nae wonder," seeing that " five University men had a hand .in it." . - STOATS AND WEASELS. Mr. Lang told the House this afternoon that if these animals were nob to some extent exterminated, they would destroy the pheasants and poultry in the Auckland province. NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY. Mr. Lung asked the Minister of Public Works when the money voted for the north end of the North Island trunk line would be expended. The Premier had stated that the work would commence last November. It had hot been started yet. The Public Works Minister said that the matter would be considered in Cabinet. Mr. Lang said that the least the Government could do was to expend the money that had been voted. BEET-ROOT INDUSTRY. Mr. /Lang' , called attention to 'this industry. He believed it would be very successful in the Auckland,, district. The Minister of Undt said ha would make (ke n6C«B»ry f inquiries. ... ■ i,* j . ' / -HOMEWARD BOUND. .;- : Several ; members wank North l by the steamer, which was detained until midnight fee tlieu conveyance. f" ' ■■'',