POLITICAL NEWS AND VIEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11433, 25 July 1900, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND VIEWS

[BY , TBLEQBAPH.—SPECIAI, CORRESPONDENT.') , ' ' Wellington-, Tuesday. THE NORTH ISLAND TRUNK LINE. Mn. IfbwLDS presented ; two -< numerously- ' signeff petitions ; to-day, urging : the early completion of the North Island Main' Trunk line. Mr. J. Hutcheson -interjected : "By which route '/" ■• Mr. Eowlds-: "That is left for tho House to decide." Mr. Hutcheson: "That's better." In reply to a question by Mr. Lethbridge, r the Minister for Public Works said arrangements had been made for the construction of stations at Ohingaiti and Mangaweka, which would be completed by the time the line was opened. This will allow of the running of trains as soon as the Makohine viaduct is finished, . Replying to a question by Mr. E. M. Smith, the Hon. HallJones said the Department had not rece ved an offer from a private firm to construct a railway from Sentry Hill to Te Kuiti, connecting with the Main Trunk line, for £500,000, the work to be done in two years. Ho did not believe a line of the standard of the Government railways could be built for the money. FLAG STATION AT MOUNT ROSKILL. Mr. Ward informed Mr. Bollard this afternoon that he could not see his way to place a flag station at Mount Roskill bridge. It would be too close to other stations from a working point of view, and a suitable place as regards grade could not be found. PETITIONS. On the petition of P. P. Blackmore, of Auckland, praying that the grant of £100 awarded to him as an old military officer may be increased to £200, the Public Petitions Committee recommond that tho claim be satisfied, and that £100 ba placed on the Estimates for the purpose. The Waste Lands Committee recommends that the petition of P. E. Cheal to be reimbursed the cost of making survey of Mangapapa Block be referred to the Government for consideration. The committee make a similar recommendation on the petition of Ruapekapeka settlers for £400 for road works. The Public Petitions Committee recommend that tho petition of Susannah Cockcroft, for compassionate allowance, bo referred to the Government for favourable consideration.

PHTHISIS IN NEW ZEALAND. Mr. Ell to-day reverted.to this question, and asked the Colonial Secretary if he was aware that 287 native-born persons died during the year 1899 from phthisis, that 123 died between 15 and 25 years of age, and 100 between 25 and 35 years of age. Mr. Seddon, in replying to the' question, said the cases referred to wero mostly hereditary, but there was no doubt the disease was increasing in the colony. As long as they advertised the colony as a place beneficial to consumptives, and stated that there were certain parts of it particularly fitted for curative purposes, we should have an increase. "My own opinion," he added, " is that we should pass the Undesirable Immigrants Bill. That would leave us to grapple with the diseases we have. I'd make very short work of them."

TECHNICAL EDUCATION. Mr. Bollard asked the Premier to-day when he intended to bring down his Technical Education Bill. Mi. Bollard pointed out that technical education was being starved in Auckland and elsewhere for want of funds, and the people were most anxious that something should be done. Mr. fcSeddon said the Bill was well underway, and ho admitted that it was very necessary to pass legislation on the question this session. The colony was suffering from want of funds for this purpose. The responsibility would rest with members if the Bill was not passed this session. OLD AGE PENSIONS. Mr. Seddon is having a Bill drafted, with a view to improving tho Old Age Pensions Act. There are certain abuses creeping in, which will have to be provided for. For instance, somo of the old Maoris are making over their lands to others, in order to qualify for the receipt of a pension. Mr. Seddon would like to make his Bill as perfect ' as''possible;' and with that object in view, he will submit it for suggestions to the magistrates who have been charged with the administration of the Act. If the Act was to be retained on the statute book, abuses must be prevented, and they must take care that it does not become too heavy a burden on the taxpayers.

SERVANTS' HALF-HOLIDAY. Mr. Barclay's first born, which was dead, has come to' life again. It appears that the Labour Bills Committee, to which his Servants' Half-holiday Bill was submitted, have taken compassion on the hon. member, and have promptly considered the Bill, and reported that it be allowed to proceed. Mr. Guinness said he was glad the member had taken the course he had suggested, and that the Labour Bills Committee had so promptly reported on the Bill. He hoped that the hon. member would get his Bill set down for a day that would enable it to be discussed by the House. Mr. Seddon here chipped in with a warning to Mr. Barclay, as a young member, not to again accept any advice tendered from the same quarter. In regard to the advice given by the member for Grevmouth, had it not been for the action of the committee, Mr. Barclay's Bill would have been blocked altogether for this session. Various amendments have been inserted in the Bill by the Labour Bills Committee. Domestic servants are defined to include all females engaged for hire to perform work of a manual character within a private house, boardinghouse, refreshment-room, eatinghouse, or restaurant. Chemists' shops are included in the operation of clause 3 of the Shops Act, 1894, but chemists may open certain hours on half-holidays, and may prepare urgent prescriptions. THE EX-MINISTER FOR LANDS. In token of the esteem in which he was held in by the Department, the officers of the Lands and Survey Department intend to present to the Hon. Mi. McKenzio an illuminated album, containing a brief address, and the signature of everyone in the Department throughout the colony. VETERINARY SCHOOLS. Mr, Stevens asked the Minister for Agriculture if ho will make provision for the purpose of having some of the youths of this colony instructed in the diagnosis of the diseases of animals, and otherwise taught those branches of veterinary science which will enable them to efficiently perform the work of meat and stock inspectors. Mr. Duncan, in reply, said the Government had not lost sight of this matter, and they hoped to do something in regard to it in the large centres. He thought it was a step in the right direction. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. Mr. Arnold asked the Government whether they intend to amend the Education Act this session, and, if so, will they provide for a referendum being taken to ascertain the will of the people on the question of Bible-read-ing in schools. The question was one which he thought should be removed from the political arena. Mr. Hall-Jones said it was the intention of the Government to introduce a Referendum Bill, and he saw no, reason why it should not be passed this session, in which case it would be open to test this or any other great question. RAILWAYS COMMITTEE. ' Mr, Tanner, who was on a former occasion chairman of the Railways Committee, has not been given the chance to fill tho position this session, Mr. Roderick McKenzio having to-day been appointed. Thus Mr. Tanner is tc hive neither the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committeeo nor of the Railways Committee. NOXIOUS WEEDS. The Noxious Weeds Bill has been reported from the Joint Agricultural Committee, with a considerable number of amendments..