PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10596, 10 November 1897, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

SPECIAL , CORRESPONDENT. J Wellington, Tuesday.

MINING COMPANIES BILL.: ;• TIE Goldfields Committee of the: Legislative Council had before it to-day tbellining Companies Acts Amendment Bill, j'| The Hon. W. McCullough,'[the chairman, read several letters which had been received from the , Auckland Sharebrokers' . Association •and' from the Associated Brokers suggesting that certain alterations should be made in clause 7, principally in the direction of making the issue of ' scrip certificates in respect of shares optional instead of compulsory. The Auckland Chamber of Mines also 1 telegraphed ;to 1 the effect V- that they had no alterations ,to suggest. A;, communication ■ from. the Wellington Stock and Sbarebrokers' Association. was also ! received suggesting tho' addition' of a 'new sub-clause, L to clause-1: to; tho effect that a transferee may demand from the manager of any mining company, on lodgment of a transfer an ; immediate docket on the back of a certificate that tho within shares havo been trahsferred to A. B. Such docket shall be binding : on' the company, and at any time the last holder may demand the exchange *o£.- : such 1 docketed certificates by a new. certificate under the seal of the company, 'arid 'bearing"the signatures of two directors thereof. The committee after carefully considering the various suggestions '' brought,y; before 'it, decided that it was inadvisable to make any alteration in the clause as printed^

( GOVERNMENT CAUCUS. ', , A caucus of follower;) v the present Ministry was held this afternoon, and-sub-sequently the Government whip furnished the press with the following brief report of the proceedings:— were' 1 32 members present and eight' accounted for. In thecourseof the discussion which occurred there was a general concurrence of opinion that there had been a 'great deal of time wasted this, session, and as members were desirous of getting homo by Christmas it was necessary, thab they should sec to work in earnest! It was '< decided : that the party should unite to get through the work on the Order Paper, and so make,'th'e session a profitable one. . The question of passing tho Estimates was considered, ; and tho suggestion made that they should be gob out of tho way as soon as possible,'so' thab .tho Public Works Statement could bo brought down. Unless this was done, it was pointed out, it was probable thab the charge would bo made against the Ministers that they had kept things, back, so as to rush' thorn through at the last' minute, when there was no time for full consideration,-as had been charged against Ministers in the past. : It was submitted ' thab' tlioro was practically nothing debatable ill the Estimates,' as the increases outside, of the classified departments only' amounted to about £3000. Ministers explained that thoy had no wish to prevent honost criticism,or • fair discussion. The unanimous decision was arrived "at that the departmental . Estimates must' bo got out of the way the first thing; and before they proceeded with the other business. The next matter discussed'fras the question of the sessional committees. . Much anxiety was expressed concerning these committeos, and it was agreed that they should be set up at once, as there are many important Bills to be considered, and that the request of the Opposition as to' the proportion of Opposition and Government members on these committees should be conceded. The Old Ago Pensions Bill was fully discussed, and the party were again unanimous in favour of getting',the Bill through this session. ' l' , i ..... .

THE CHEMIS FAMILY. The Government appears to have taken Chemis and his family under its wing. It is said that after his liberation from prison he was appointed one of the messengers of the House, but) did not take up the appointment. He is now,' it is reported,' holding a Government position on Soam'es Island, while his wife, 1 hear, is one of the charwomen employed at Parliament Buildings, and his daughter is in one of the Government Departments, NATIVE LAND LAWS BILL This Bill Ins boon referred to a Select Committee consisting of Messrs. R. MeKenzie, Carson, Duncan, Graham, Monk, Morrison, Sligo, J. W. Thomson, Pere, and the Hon. J. Carroll. A' vigorous 'protes. was made by the Opposition against Mossrs Carroll and Wi Pere being , members of the committee, in consequence of their connection with native land transactions. Subsequently Mr. Seddon 1 gave l notice to move that Mr. Parata's name' should be substituted for the name of Wi Pere. 1

AUCKLAND MATTERS.

Mr. Holland lias conreiiod a meeting of Auckland members for to morrow, whon a number of subjects of local interest will bo discussed, and' the members' will subsequently have an interview with the l'remier. - • •■ t „■. With regard to the Kohukohu foreshore reclamation, Mr, Houston introduced this Bill to-day, its object beipg to vest tho land in the Hokianga County Council so that the Kohukobu road may bo widened. " JOTTINGS.' Mr, Kaihau presented a' petition from a number of natives in the King Country, asking for the removal of restrictions ' off all lands in their district, which have passed through tho Court; that they may be permitted to lease or sell all unoccupied lands to whomsoever they please; and ■ that the House will favourably ! consider Mr. Kaihau's Bill providing for constitution of a Maori Council., ■■ " ' ' i,;

l'hfl Hon. A. J. Oadman presented a petition from Archdeacon Dudley on behalf of tha Anglican clergy of "the diocese of Auckland, protesting agwng!) any' alteration of the divorco law in tha' direction of providing for the divorce of married parsons on grounds other that) that of adultery. [ Mr. Houston presented {mother petition to-day; in favour of; the completion of . the Whangarei-Kawaknwa railway. •• • •' Mh Mr. R. Thompson presented a petition in favour of the coat of charity being made a charge on the consolidated-fund," • The Waste Lands Committee rccommend that the petition of tho Pollok Settlement Road Board, praying that a sum of £350 be granted for the purpose of .improving the main road running through tho ■ Pollok Settlement, he referred to the Government for consideration. — n V.. » v v*s 4 ! '

Mr. R. Thompson wants to know whether ib is tho intention'of tho Government to have the Shipping and Seamen's Act amended this session so as' to permit our boys to learn to bo sailors. Mr. Maesoy is to ask tha Government whether they will ra-consider tho case of Mr. Henry Tacy Kemp, formerly Civil Commissioner and Resident Magistrate, with the view of making provision for tho declining years of one who, for forty ypars; .has served tlie colony. faithfully and well. I' K. r" 1 The member for ;Marsden is to ask the Government whether it is their intention to introduce the Local Government Bill this session. ( - 1 ! <; 5 ' ' Mr., Massey is moving in the direction of gotti'ns the Minister foe' Railways, ,before the dry season' comes on, to make the necessary arrangements to prevent) a recurrence of • fires • caused by' sparks from railway engines. , ' j'„ _ . Mr. McGowan to-day gavo notice to ask the Government—(l), Whether (.tiiey': are satisfied with the prcaont. location of the Agent-General's ollico in London; (2) will they at an early period take such steps as will make this department of r tho public service of ipore practical value to the colony than it is at present. t 1 '. 1 ' 'Mr.' Lang wants to f.know'- when the Government will introduco the Beet: Root Sugar Bill. 1 Mr. Crowtlier is to ask the Minister, for Public Works if he cap , estimito how soon lie expects that the ty'o gangs of men (one. at. each j end) employed on .'the Stratford East Road will meet; also, how soon we may expect' tho road to be opened right' through for traffic, arid 'whether the • work dono has hitherto been expensive in consequence of slips or any.other obstacles. } He is also to ask, the Colonial Treasurer if all the figures having .reference to imports for 1806 on paper R 18-29, page 2, are correct, particularly those having reference to imports from the east of America, wherein it is stated: that 'dutiablq goods represented a value ,of ■ £292,454 v and Customs? duties ' thereon £313,452.;' WW;,