PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10626, 15 December 1897, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

[by telegraph.—special correspondent,] Wellington, Tuesday, HOROWHENUA. A petition Was bo-day presented from Major Kemp, who states he is advised that the Horowhomift Bill proposes to take from him and vest in others the beneficial in terest in lands which he is absolutely entitled to. He is further advised that the said Bill deals with matters now sub judice and awaiting the determination of the Native Appellate Court, and chat) no provision is made in relation to his recent legal expenses in the said proposed Bill. He, therefore, prays that he may be heard by his counsel at the Bar of the House in opposition to the Bill, and that the said Bill may not be allowed to pass.

RAILWAY CLASSIFICATION. Members who reckon railway employees among their constituents are intensely annoyed at the persistent refusal of the Minister for Railways to circulate the Amending Railways Classification Bill. Last night Mr. Cadman informed the House, in answer to questions pointedly put by Mr. Lewis, that ha was going to introduce the Bill for the purpose of redeeming the promises he made last session, whether this means last year, or the short session, is not clear; neither is it) material. What members recognize is that Mr. Cudman's action in delaying the Bill must have the effect of depriving members of the opportunity of sending the Bill to those chiefly interested, and receiving their criticisms and suggestions. Seeing that there is no direct representative of. the railway interest in the House in the same sense that other trades and calling are directly represented, and seeing also that the Bill must ot necessity deal very largely with technical matters of detail, which only those directly interested can hope to fully understand, there would appear to be valid points for the contention that the Bill is being deliberately withheld in order that it may be dealt with by a House entirely ignorant of any but the Ministerial side ot the argument, which will no doubt be ably advanced by Mr. Cadman, The protests which members are continually receiving against the classification lists go to show that Mr, Cadman must of necessity be aware that great dissatisfaction exists among the employes, and his fixed determination to prevent their side of the argument from being done justice to is freely commented on.