PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12662, 16 September 1904, Page 6

PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

GALLEEY NOTES AND LOBBY I GOSSIP. S [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] i • "Wellington. Thursday. Replying tc a question by Mr. Witheford, suggesting representations to the British Government to prevent the manufacture of " sweated" goods, the Premier said, should the Imperial Government make any advances in respect to the several! matters indicated in. the question, it may be reasonably inferred that New Zealand would cheerfully respond in elucidating the difficult problem. REWARDS FOR GOLD DISCOVERIES. Replying to a question by Mr. Witheford, suggesting the offering of large rewards for the discovery of payable gold, the Minister for Mines said the reward foi the discovery of a new mining field was fixed by the Mining Act, which provides that the reward should be computed on the basis of the numbei of miners bona fide engaged in mining operations on a new field at the expiration of 12 months after the date of discovery thereof, and the total amount of .the reward should in no case exceed £500. lb was not proposed to increase this amount, as should any person be fortunate enough to discover a new mining field he would have all the advantages resulting from his discovery, in addition to any reward he may receive from the Government. A NEW ZEALANDERS GRIEVANCE. Replying to Mr. Millar, with reference to the*treatment of Kenneth Harper, a New Zealand-born hoy, who wr«i refused admission into America, and placed in gaol in Honolulu by the captain of the 'Frisco mail steamei Sonoma, the Premier said the matter was still under the consideration of the Imperial Government, and even" effort was being made to obtain reparation to Mr. Harper, and the New Zealand Government had urged that the matter be referred to The Hague tribunal. The papers would in due course, and at the proper time, be submitted to the House.

THE LAND COMMISSION. Mr. E. O. Allen asked the Premier to-day if he would state before the end of the session when the Royal Commission on land settlement and land tenure would commence their duties, and also the personnel of the commission. The Premier, in his reply, said the inquiries would be made so as to enable the results to be laid before - the House at the beginning of next session. No conclusion had as yet been arrived at- as Ito the personnel of the commission. The Government would, however, do its best to select gentlemen whose inquiry would be searching and complete, and whose advice and counsel would inspire confidence. THE DOOR OF HOPE. Replying to Mr. Witheford's question regarding a subsidy for the Door of Hope Maternity Home at Auckland, Mr. HallJones said it was opening up a very wide question for the Government to step in and assist private charities. There were numerous similar institutions throughout the colony, and once the Government granted assistance to any particular charity a great many applications would be received, and it would be impossible to draw the line. It was not proposed to make any provision for this institution. TUAKAU STATION. Replying to a question by Mr. Massey, the Premie:,' said the question of making improvements at Tuakau Station had been under consideration for some time past. A very large expenditure was, however, involved, and the work was not regarded as being of such an urgent nature as to render it imperative that it should be put in hand at the present time. There were no funds available for the work this financial year, but it would be put on next year's list for consideration. THE STUD BILL. The Stud Bill has got into troubled waters, and is likely to be lost in them. A committee' was set up some time ago, with instructions to report on the Bill within ■10' days. The 10 days passed, and there was no meeting. To-day Mr. Lawry, on behalf of the committee, asked the House for further time ; but Mr. Massey contended that the committee ceased, to exist 10 days after appointment—that there is, in fact, no committee, and for the matter of that no Bill, so far as the House is concerned. . The Premier endeavoured to lay down the law on the subject, but the Speaker ruled with Mr, Massey, and the matter dropped.

I PREFERENTIAL TRADE. •A return was laid on the table of the House to-day, showing that up to June 30 last extra duty amounting to £13,845 was collected on. foreign goods under the Preferential Trade Act. The largest sum was on gas engines, hammers, and oil engines, £2385. Fancy goods and toys yielded £1397 extra duty; hardware, ironmongery, and hollow-ware, £1268; and'pianos, £1194. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. A return, laid on the table of the House to-day, shows that 757 applications for advances from leaae-in-perpetuity landholders have been rejected by the Advances to Settlers Office, the amount declined being £82,440. The reason assigned for putting settlers applying for loans to the expense of paying for a special valuation after the lands are valued by Departmental officers, is as follows:"The Government Advances to Settlers Act provides for the payment in any event of a revaluation fee with every application for an, advance, and it is immaterial whether or not a speoial valuation of the proposed security is made. A special or up-to-date valuation is necessary in almost all cases where the advancing of money is concerned, but the applicant is not affected either by the saving of the fee or the expense entailed by the inspection." HARBOUR BOARD BILLS. Tks Bill to hand over Shoal Bay to the Devon.port Borough Council is in charge of Mr. Alison. Mr. Witheford has charge of an Auckland Harbour Board Bill to provide for exchange of sites between the Harbour Board and the City Council, and also for an arrangement with Bishop Lenihan to provide for the widening of Fanshawestrect. JOTTINGS. The Minister for Justice says the question of erecting a courthouse at Huutly is now under consideration. The Premier, in reply to Mr. Berries, said the Question of leasing the native school reserve at Galatea was under consideration. The Native Minister says the Government will endeavour to make satisfactory arrangements with the natives for the settlement of the Te Akau block. A petition from settlers in the parish of Whangamarino, Waikato, for £200 tc form a bridle track along the bank of the Taniwha Creek was presented to the House to-day. The Minister for Public Works says the section of the Stratford to Kawakawa railway, between Toko and the Douglas Road, will be opened for traffic early in December. The Minister for Railways promises to get a Departmental report on the proposal to fence the railway line between Rangiriri and Huntly, and to fully consider the matter. The Postmaster-General, in reply to Mr. Hordes, expressed the hope that necessary improvements to the telegraph line between Whakatane and Matata would be effected at an early date. The petitions asking for the repeal of the law which gives the Maori councils power tc levy a dog tax have been referred by the Native Affairs Committee to the Government for favourable consideration. Mr. Massey presented a petition to-day from settlers on the Lockerbie Estate, Morrinsville, asking the House to fix the liability for roading the estate, the Assets Board and the Waitoa Road Board having both declined responsibility. Mr. Kirkbride to-day urged the connection of Hunua with Papakura by telephone, asd that the Postal Department should not consider the construction of telephones solely from a revenue point of view. Sir Joseph Ward said the cost ot construction would he £375, and the annual deficiency was estimated at £33 15s. He had agreed to construct the line if the deficiency was guaranteed foi five years. The application could nsifc be treated differently from others.,