PARLIAMENT AT WORE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12910, 5 July 1905, Page 6

PARLIAMENT AT WORE.

! GALLERY NOTES AND LOBBY GOSSIP. [by telegraph.—-special correspondent.] Wellington, Tuesday. Practically the whole of to-day's sitting of the House was taken up with the adjourned debate on the Premier's motion for the setting up of the Education Committee. When the House resumed at half-past seven this evening the galleries were crowded in the evident anticipation, of a repetition of the lively proceedings of Friday evening. In this, however, the onlookers were doomed to disappointment. There were no "fireworks," and after a couple of hours the galleries began to thin. MEETING OP AUCKLAND MEMBERS. The Auckland members are taking steps to hold a meeting for the purpose of discussing local requirements. A consultation was held to-day between Messrs. Kidd and Baume, with the result that it was arranged that Messrs. Baume and Bollard should convene the meeting, which will take place to-morrow evening. STATE COAL MINE FOR AUCKLAND. In the Legislative Council this afternoon Mr. Beehan asked the Government "if they will take into consideration the advisability of securing a State coal mine in the vicinity of Auckland, and to secure a site in the city of Auckland for the purpose of setting up a depot for the sale of State coal." In reply, Colonel Pitt said the Government was aware of the importance of the matter, and he would assure Mr. Beehan that his request would receive every attention. The Government, he said, had already acquired and opened two State coal mines on the West Coast, and the question of the extension of the policy would depend upon the result of that experiment. LOCAL BODIES' LEASES. The Colonial Secretary has introduced a measure dealing .with the leasing powers of local bodies. The principal provisions are as follows: —A local authority may lease its lands or buildings for any term not exceeding 66 years without right of renewal, or for any term not exceeding 21 years—(l) with a provision for a renewal for a further term not exceeding 21 years, at a rent to be fixed by valuation, equal to the letting value of the land, without having regard to the improvements; (2) with a provision that before the expiration of the term a new lease, for a term not exceeding 21 years, shall be put up to public auction, at the upset price of the annual value of the land only (to be fixed by valuation), with valuation for improvements to the original lessee; (3) with a provision that the lessee may, at his option, either have a new lease, or have a new lease put up to public auction.

AUCKLAND PETITIONS. ■Mr. Massey presented a petition to-day from R. E. Lester, asking for an improvement to the road from Okaihau to Ivydale in the north of Auckland. Mr. Masses also presented a petition 011 behalf of John'Nodder (Thames) asking for consideration of his claim to a Crown land grant in the Auckland district, and Mr. Moss presented two petitions, one from William Causlev, of Parawai, repeating a claim for compensation for land taken for the Parawai rifle range, and the other v from William Lodder, of Ohinemuri, who 'asks that his claim for a war medal f may be considered. Mr. Parata presented a petition from some Eotorua natives, asking for an. inquiry into the right of possession of certain land. AUCKLAND EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENTS. The fact that the Auckland district has smaller educational endowments than any other districts in the colony was admitted by the member for Lyttelton (Mr. Laurenson), when speaking on educational matters to-night. He said that Mr. Massey and his party, instead of clamouring for the freehold, should endeavour to secure larger educational endowments for the Auckland province. Mr. Baume, in replying to Mr. Laurenson later in the evening, said tha'fc when ho and the other Auckland members endeavoured to secure larger endowments the member for Lyttelton and other Southern members had cried out that they were displaying a parochial spirit. '

THE COUNCIL SPEAKERSHIP. The appointment of a Speaker of the Legislative Council took place this afternoon, and resulted in the election of the Hon. C. C. B owe it. There were no less than six aspirants for -the position, but the only two who were at all in the running were Mr. Bo wen and the Hon. G. McLean. The other candidates wore the Hons. Feldwick, T. Kelly, Reeves, and Sir Maurice O'Rorke. The election was decided by four ballots. The first ballot resulted in 14 votes being cast for Mr. Bo wen, 11 for Mr. McLean, five for Mr. Reeves, three for Mr. Fe'.dwick, two for Mr. Kelly, and on© for Sir Maurice O'Rorke. On the second ballot 17 votes were given to Mr. Bowen, 14 to Mr. McLean, two each to Mr. Feldwick and Mr. Reeves, and one to Mr. Kelly. The third ballot gave Mr. Bo wen 17, Mr. McLean 16, and Mr. Feldwick and Mr. Reeves one each. The final result was : Bowen, 21; McLean, 14, and Feldwick 1; no votes being cast for the other candidates. ■ Mr. Bo veil was warmly congratulated on his election, which is a very popular one. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT . CRITISISED. The administration of the Education Department again came in for some severe handling this afternoon, when the adjourned debate on the setting up of the Education Committee came on. Mr. Bedford expressed the opinion that the Premier should relinquish the portfolio of Education, which he considered should have the undivided attention of one Minister. Referring to the question of grants, he said that it was wrong that boards should have to go crawling to Ministers with requests which should be granted without any difficulty. 1 As to the salaries of teachers, he asked whether they had. been increased on .an adequate scale. Mr. Seddon said Acts had been passed during the past two years providing for increases in salaries. Mr. Bedford replied that the increase last year was a mens bagatelle. The House, he went 011 to say, was so sensible of the tremendous importance of this question, that he believed it would grant the Premier a-quarter of a, million of money if he asked for it, in order to put the administration of the Department on a proper footing. The country, he deolared, was tired of the manner is which the Premier was "everlastingly toying, trifling, a.nd procrastinating" with the momentous question of education.

"WORKING" AND "TALKING" MEMBERS. Mr. Hardy, • the - member for - Selwyn, who has been regarded as the most silent member of the House, and who spoke only once last session, astonished his fellow legislators by making a vigorous speech this afternoon in connection with the motion to set up an Education Committee. On rising, he made the frank avowal , that he had been told that if he did not talk more his constituents would not send him back. His reply to this, he said, was that if he talked too little, another Canterbury member "Tommy Taylor," talked too much. " Mr. Taylor 'likes talking here, but I like working, and do not care about talking," he declared, amidst the unanimous " hear, hears" of the House. Mr. Hardy, who addressed himself chiefly to a Canterbury grievance, spoke of the political influence which was being brought to bear on the administration of the Department as "a shame and a scandal." DEGREES IN DIVINITY. Sir Maurice O'Rorke has given notice to introduce a Bill to enable the University of New Zealand to grant degrees iii divinity.

A RAILWAY RETURN WANTED. Mr Alison is moving for a return show-I ine—(l) The several lines of railway authorised to be constructed and! not jTrt completed' (2) The (Me each line was authorised. (3)' The estimated length of each line of railway giving the intended terminus. (4) the distance each line has been constructed. (5) The time occupied in such construction. (6) The actual expenditure upon each line to March 31, 1904. (7) The distance each line has been constructed since the financial years of 1900-1, 1901-2, 1902-3, 1903-4, and 1904-5. • (8) The estimated cost of completing each, line of railway. LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT ACT. Mr. Lang has given notice to move for a return showing separately—(l) The number of estates - acquired by the Government under the compulsory clauses of the Lands for Settlement Act. (2) The amount paid for each estate. (3) The amount formerly paid toy each estate by way of land tax. (4) The amount paid! for surveying, loading, and other expenses connected with each estate. (5) The number of tenants at present residing on each estate. (6) '111© amount of rent that has been paid by the tenants of each estate. JOTTINGS. Mr. Bollard and Mr. Moss took their seats in the Houso to-day. " I will sweep their criticisms like mosquitoes into the Pacific Ocean"—so said the Premier in replying to the attacks on his administration of the Education Department. The Dihvorth Trustees Amendment Bill (Mr. Lawry) and the Auckland Harbour Board and Devoiiport Empowering Bill (Mr. Alison) were introduced to-day and referred to the Local Bills Committee. Mr. Field, M.H.R., is protesting to the Government against the recent defence regulations, which have the effect of withdrawing the railway passes to attend shooting competitions to which Government rifle clubsmen have up to the present been entitled, but which have now been stopped as to all competitions, except the annual championship meetings.