PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10627, 16 December 1897, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

[Br TELEGRAPH,SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,] ' , Wellington, Wednesday.'X THE CYANIDE BILL. ' ' •. The Cyanide Gold Extracting -j Bill * was considered in committee, the Minister of Mines having charge of the Bill. " Some verbal amendments were agreed to. The figures £15,000 were struck out and £10,000 inserted in lieu thereof. This was the only material alteration, a Tho Bill passed through committee, and was reported with amendments. , ,- ■ PETITIONS. Mr. Meredith brought up the report of the public petitions committee on the following petitions: John Lawson, ■ Official Assignee ab Auckland, to recover certain fees, no recommendation to make ; on the petition of John King praying for redress on account of loss through attendance upon a Royal Commission, "no recommendation to makeon the petition of T. R. Brooke, praying for compassionate allowance, "no recommendation to make on the petition of Boecher and 8G others, praying that the Helensville railway may be extended, being a matter of public policy the committee has no recommendation to make; on the petition of W. Keys and 33 others, praying for the construction of a bridge at Tuakau, referred to the Government for consideration; on the petition of H. Worthington, praying for a grant (£500) to open up a road betweon Maungaturoto and Waikiekie, referred to the Government for consideration, RAILWAY CLASSIFICATION. The principal provisions of the Railway Classification Bill, which was circulated this afternoon, are 1, Crossing and bridgekeepers are increased to 6s a day instead of 25s a week with a house, or 30s without. 2. Carpenters shall be classed as tradesmen of the first grade in sub-class 2, .under the heading, "Second division class 2 locomotive," in the said schedule, and as tradesmen of the second grade in sub-class 3 of the same division under tho heading, "Class 3, maintenance." 3. The percentage of on-gine-men in the first grade is increased from 33 to 50 per cent. 4. Firemen aro similarly treated. 5. Apprentices are placed upon the same footing as those in private employ under the Masters and Apprentices Bill as passed on Monday night. 6. Provision is made for' the transference of members of any other branch of the civil service to any office in the Railway Department. This is calculated to excite discussion in view of the fact that no railway servant can pass from division 2 to division 1 of that service. THE MINISTER OF LANDS. I am glad to say the Minister of Lands is better to-day. Mr. McKenzie, however, is not expected to be able to take up his Parliamentary duties for three or four days. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

There is great dissatisfaction on tho part of members with the proposals in tho Public Works Estimates. Some districts have been neglected altogether. This can only be put down to the fact that the Government had to resorvo a certain amount of money in case of the Old Ago Pensions Bill becoming law. Now that it has nob become law, the money will no doubt go to make up a surplus for next year. One striking feature in the Estimates is, that in nearly every case the Government had already hypothecated'the votes for public works, before tho close of last financial year. This early and lavish expenditure of money now boing voted was, no doubt, largely on account of tho general election. As to the Statement itself, the prevailing answer members give to the query as to what they think of it is, " there is nothing in it."

THE HOUSE AT PLAY. The House last night evinced a disinclination to treat the Valine Persons Protection Bill seriously. Jokelets and cartoons came from the lobbies to the House, and from the House back to the lobbies, and roars of laughter emanated ever and anon from impromptu caucuses held on the floor of the Chamber. One or two. members sought to render the measure farcical by moving laughable amendments. For instance, Mr. Monk discovered that the term "women loitering" was indefinite, and suggested that they.should, put instead "walking at a paca not exceeding five miles an hour." He said when be was a lad it ho walked at a less pace than five miles an hour he felt that he was loitering. Ho added, "Five miles an hour will be safe." Captain Russell was sorry to think that his honorable friend represented the type of a fast young man. Mr. Moore asked the Premier if he was certain that "young person" embraced a young girl. Some difficulty arose as to the time limit of street loitering. Mr. Monk then suggested that this was a matter which should bo left to the Governor-in-Couucil. Mr. Flatraan asked if the innocent children were to be pounced upon by the "discreet woman" without warning. Mr. Scobie Mackenzie described the Gill as a "rubbishy sentimental white-flower-of-a-blameless-life nonsense." THE END. The session is expected to ond on Tuesday or Wednesday next, unless the unex pected happens. «