PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12069, 12 September 1902, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Thursday.

j THE SPEAKER, AND HIS DEPUTY. The Deputy-Speaker rather scored off the Speaker this afternoon. Yesterday Mr. Guinness moved for leave to bring in a Bill entitled the Crown Suits Act, 1882, Amendment Bill. The discussion lasted till half-past five pm., when it Bad to make way for the orders of the day. It was understood the interrupted debate would take precedence to-day. On looking at the Order Paper, however, it was found that it had been put fourth on the list of notices of motion, and that in consequence there was no chance of its coming up to-day. Mr. Guinness made the matter a question of privilege, find quoted Hansard of August 14, 1900, to show that on a .similar occasion an interrupted discussion on a Bill introduced by a private member was continued on the following day. Sir Maurice o'Rorke said he supposed he was absent on sick leave on tnafc occasion. (Laughter at Mr. Guinness' expense.) He added that it was Mr. Guinness' own fault that the Bill was shelved, as he had started a discussion on the motion for leave to introduce, which was unusual. Mr. Guinness quoted from Hansard in proof of the fact j that Sir Maurice was in the Speaker's chair j on the occasion of the former decision. I (Laughter at Sir Maurice's expense.) Mr. j Guinness then gave notice of another Bill, one to amend the Crown Suits Act. 1381. Sir Joseph Ward said > " I beg to give notice that I will oppose it." Mr. Guin- | ness' proposition is an ingenious one, but I if such tactics are allowed to prevail, iudis- ! crimina.tely, it will make Parliamentary i legislation very difficult indeed. Sir Mau- ; rice O'Rorke has promised to carefully consider the point raised by Mr. Guinness. RACING CLUBS. When the Public Reserves Bill is in committee Mr. Willis will move a new clause giving power to a racing club holding a. meeting on a public reserve, to remove from the course any person whom it is considered desirable to exclude. Mr. J. A. Millar will move a new clause providing that no racing club, holding a meeting en a public reserve, shall have issued to it a totalisator permit unless it consents to the admission of all persons on payment of a charge for admission. THE TOTALISATOR. The Petitions Committee, reporting on a number of petitions signed by over 7000 people, praying for the abolition of the totalisator, recommend the prayer of the petition to the earnest consideration of the Government. DLLWORTH TRUSTEES BILL. The second reading of the Dilworth Trustees Bill was moved in the Legislative Council to-day by the Hon. W. T. Jennings. There is "no opposition to the measure, and it should pass through committee j and its final stages to-morrow without amendment. COOK ISLAND MATTERS. j Mr. Herries has given notice to ask the I Minister in charge of tho Cook Islands-—(1) Why the latest information kid before this House as coming from the Resident Commissioner, is dated March 10, whereas, correspondents of the Auckland newspapers can supply their readers with information dated August 28; and (2) whether he will see that in future the House is supplied with up-to-date information with regard to the Cock Islands- Mr. Herries will also ask the Minister in charge of the Cook Islands, whether his attention has been drawn to letters published in the New Zealand Herald, of the 9th hist., from its Rarotonga correspondent, dated August 23, with regard to serious disturbances in the islands of Mangaia and Aitutaki, and whether he has received any despatches from the Resident Commissioner with reference to the same. COMPLAINTS AGAINST A MAGISTRATE. Mr. Fowlds to-day presented a. petition from Mr. Wesley Spragg, of Auckland, who asked for an inquiry into the conduct of Mr. Thomas Hutchison, S.M., of Auckland. Mr. Spragg repeats the allegations concerning the granting of a liquor license at Maungaturoto, about which there was a good deal of comment a few months ago, aad lie also asks for an inquiry into the magistrate's conduct on the bench generally. The petition concludes as follows : — " Your petitioner believes that the conduct of the said Mr. Thomas Hutchison has been previously impeached by petition from the residents of Masterton, upon which petition your present petitioner is informed Mr. Hutchison was removed from Masterton to Auckland. Your petitioner prays that you will call for the Masterton petition, and inquire into its allegation, and that you will call for any police reports and other records which may exist referring to Mr. Hutchison's conduct upon the bench in the several districts in which he has sat during the last six or eight years, and that you will further call for such evidence as your honourable House deems fit so that a full inquiry may be made into the conduct o f Mr. Thomas Hutchison, and as to his fitness or otherwise to retain his present position as stipendiary magistrate."

THE STUD BILL. Upon the recommendation of tho present Stock Committee it has been decided to refer the Stud Bill, together with the evidence taken thereon, to tho various agricultural associations and fanners' unions in the colony, who are to be invit°J to fo"ward their views upon the proposed legislation.

THE TRANSPORT COMMISSION. Owing to the press of work at the printing office, the evidence taken by the Transport Commissioners, is not ready, and the report (which is completed) cannot come before the House till next week, probably Tuesday. JOTTINGS. Mr. T. Mackenzie gave notice to ask the Acting-Minister for Labour if he will exempt charitable institutions from the operations of the Factories Act. The Shipping and Seamen Act Amendment Bill will be reported to the House next week, probably on Wednesday. Mr. Monk is to ask the Minister for Lands if in future he will pay to the local body of the district one-third of the money received from sales of kauri forests. Mr. Houston wants to know from the Acting-Minister for Defence if he has yet made inquiries into the losses sustained by the Mangonui Mounted Rifles at the fire in the infectious diseases hospital at Auckland during the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, and will he place a sufficient sum on the Supplementary Estimates to cover the losses sustained. Mr. Houston is urging the PostmasterGeneral to provide a sufficient sum for the necessary improvements to the post and telegraph office at Mangonui. Mr. Lawry (for Sir G. M. O'Rorke), is asking the Acting-Premier if the Government will undertake to connect the harbours of Wttitemata and Manukau by means of a canal between the Tamaki and the Mannkau, or would they prefer to give a subsidy of £1 for £1 to any company that would undertake to construct such a canal large enough for tho passage of ocean-going steamers.

The Government is to be ,;sked by Mr. Arnold when it is intended to call for tenders in the colon* for the building of the steamer which is to run on Lake Wakatipu, or if it is intended to import a boat for the purpose? Mi'. T. Mackenzie intends asking the Colonial Secretary if he will instruct the Registrar-General in future to keep a record of the results ot the local option poll of every polling booth in the colony.