PARLIAMENTARY NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11787, 17 October 1901, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS AND GOSSIP.

BT TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

WEllington, Wednesday.

WAJKATO TRAINS.

Mr. F. W. Lang asked the Minister for Railways this evening if he could see his way to alter the time of starting of the express trains on the Auckland- line so that the ordinary train should leave Auckland at 8 a.m., and the express at 9.30 a.m. This would be of great, convenience to people living near the smaller stations at which the express does not stop, for it would enable them to pick up the express at the next station. He also drew the attention of the Minister to the necessity of a second daily train between Frankton and To Awainutu. The Minister for Railways replied that the time-table of the AucklandWaikato line was to be considered shortly, and he would then take into consideration the matter mentioned by the hon. member.

HIGH RAILWAY FREIGHTS. Mr. Bollard drew attention this evening to what seems a ridiculously high freight charged on the Auckland railways. He quoted a case where a man imported a bandsaw, with the necessary machinery (not including boiier and engine). He paid £53 freight from New York to Auckland, and from Auckland to Taupiri (a distance of AJ miles) the Railway Department charged £o2 freight. Sir Joseph Ward said the charge on that class of machinery (sawmilling) did certainly seem high, and he was quite piepared to go into that class with a view of making extensive reductions. Mr. Monk asked ?f the Minister was prepared to make unv allowance in this particular case Sir Joseph Ward said he could not do that. PERMANENT MILITIA MEN.

Mr. Bollard thinks the married men in the Permanent Force should be placed on the same footing as married men in the police with regard to receiving Is per day extra. When the vote for the permanent militia was reached this morning the member for Eden again urged the claims of these men, and was supported by Mr. Massey and others. The Premier said there were 60 married men. and the increase would mean a considerable amount, while the efficiency of the force would not be increased. Besides. he was deluged with applicants on the present terms.

FREIGHT ON HUNTLY COAL. A matter of importance to the Waikato and Auckland was raised in the House by Mr. Lang, who asked for a reduction in the freight on steam coal from Huntly to Auckland, a distance of 65 miles. He said it was at present 6s per ton, or as nearly as possible the same as that- on coal from Newcastle, New South Wales, to Auckland. If the Minister could reduce it to 2s per ton it would mean a. large trade. The collieries could sell the coals as low as 2s per ton at the mine, and if they could get it over the line for another 2s, it would have a good sale for steam coal. Mr. Lang pointed out that at the present time one company threw away 250 tons of this coal per month, because the freight was too high. Mr. Fowlds also supported this request. The Minister doubted whether he could accede to the request, but he would look into it.

THE MERCER-AUCKLAND TRAIN

Mr. Massey again urged the Minister for Railways to increase the speed of the Mer-cer-Auckland train, which now takes three hours to do a matter of 43 miles. Sir Joseph Ward promised that this matter would be carefully considered when the Auckland section time-table was under review, and he would endeavour to do all he possibly could.

ROTORUA EXPRESS. Mr. Herries wants the Minister to put on a daily express train to Rotorua. At present, he said, it only ran on alternate days, and he had heard tourists give NewZealand railways a very bad name. Sir Joseph Ward agreed that the tourists' traffic should be encouraged, but pointed out that a daily express involved a very heavy expenditure, but he promised to accede to the request if prospects justified it.

AN ALL-NIGHT SITTING. With, the exception of adjournments for meals, the House has been continuously sitting since half-past two yesterday afternoon. True to his determination to get the remainder of the Estimates through before the House rises, Mr. Seddon has kept his following at the post of duty, and the natural result was that throughout the day there have been more drowsy members in the House than wide-awake ones. Any time during the day one might have counted a dozen pallid, heavy-eved legislators stretched full length on their comfortable benches, oblivious of the desperate struggle waging round the Defence Estimates. The Defence Department was reached at three a.m. Ever since then members have been treating the Government to a string of complaints on almost every item. The Tagus incident alone was responsible for a full three hours' debate. At an early hour this morning a section of the Government supporters went home to bed, leaving Mr. Seddon with a majority, and when they returned refreshed, the faithful watchers, or those of tliein who desired, took their turn in bed ; but it has been a very sleepy House all day, and as lack of sleep is not conducive to sweet tempers, we have had two or three little " incidents" which were not remarkable for the conciliatory tone of the principals. Such tactics as those employed since yesterday afternoon will certainly get the Estimates, or any other business, through, but it is extremely doubtful whether they are conducive to good legislation.

SCHOOL CHILDREN'S TICKETS.

At the present time secondary school pupils are granted tickets or the railway at 10s per quarter, but sometimes the school quarter does not tit in with the railway quarter, and the children then have to pay at the rate of 5s per week for the odd time. Mr. Massey called attention to this injustice to-night, and the Minister promised that tickets would be issued to fit in with the school terms.

PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.

The Bill to amend the Public Health Act introduced by Sir Joseph Ward, proposes to empower the Governor, by Order-in-Council, to prohibit the importation of any material which is likely to convey infectious diseases. Notice of infectious diseases which 1 under the original Act is to be given to the district health otiicer, is also to be sent forthwith to the local authority. Anyone failing to comply with this provision is liable to a penalty of £5. The master of a ship from an infected port must hoist the quarantine signa' or arriving within three miles of the port at which he intends .0 call, and in default he is liable to a penal of £100. Passengers on a ship from an infected place must submit themselves for examination, and any person failing to comply promptly and satisfactorily with any direction or requirement of the examining officer, or who obstructs or hinders him in the execution of his duties, is liable to a penalty of £50. Mails may be landed from a quarantined ship provided that they shall if required by the port health officer, be fumigated before being landed. lhe Bui also proposes that a certificate of exemption from vaccination shall be grunted only by a stipendiary magistrate.

JOTTINGS. Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Hunan, iVI.H K. (Mayo' - of Invercargill) will leave for toe South on Friday for the purpose of welcoming Major-General Kir Hector Macdonald on his arrival.

Mr. Fowlda to-night complained of delavs in handling goods at the Auckland station, and advocated the appointment of a goods agents. Sir Joseph Ward said there bad been no complaints to his knowledge. Country settlers will be pleased to know that the Minister for Railways has promised Mr. Massey to make arrangements for stopping the Rotorua train at Tuakau station on sale days.

Mr. Pirani asked the Premier to-day what was the rate of pay in the case of troopers piaced on leave of absence on then- return to the colony. The Premier replied that the rate was 4s a day.