PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12954, 25 August 1905, Page 5

PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

GALLERY NOTES AND LOBBY GOSSIP. [BY telegraph.— correspondent.] Wellington, Thursday. The amount of coal raised from tlie State coal mines since they came into the possession of the Government to June 30, 1905, has been as follows:—Point Elizabeth colliery, 121,893 tons; Seddonville colliery, 59,310; total, 181,204 tons. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. . A Parliamentary return shows that eight estates—Ardgowan, Hamua, Kumeroa, Forest Gate, Argyll, Matamata, Lindsay, and Flaxbourne—have been acquired under the compulsory clauses of the Land for Settlement Act. The price paid was £800,427; the unimproved land tax value was £621,089, and the amount of land tax paid was £4616. The cost of surveying, reading, and so on, was £41,907, and at March 31 last there were residing on the land 392 tenants. The total receipts to date in connection with the estates wore £76,885. AUCKLAND BILLS. The Auckland Harbour Board and Devonport Borough Council Empowering Bill, the Dilworth Trustees Amendment Bill, the Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Bill (providing for an exchange of sections iu Freeman's Bay), and the Auckland Waterworks Loans Amendment Bill, all passed their third reading in the House to-day.

THE FAVOURED SOUTH. The Motueka Harbour Board Bill again came in for some severe criticism to-day. The measure, as already explained, provides for a Government subsidy to the Motueka Harbour of £500 a year for 30 years. The Auckland members generally had a word to say about the particular favouritism shown to'Motueka in this case. Various Northern harbours were cited as having a claim to assistance quite equal to that of Motueka. Mr. Massey said that he did not believe any other member in the House would have been able to induce the Government to do so much for his district as the member for Motueka had been successful in doing. He had, he said, asked for grants for works of far greater importance, but had been denied. He thought they should have justice all round. The Hon. 0. H. Mills said that in the year 1872 the Auckland Harbour Board had received a sum of over £150,000 from the Government Mr. Massey said he would like to see the records of this. He moved an amendment to the effect that the annual grant of £500 to Mbtueka should be subject to the annual consent of Parliament. This was defeated by 32 to 27. Mr. Massey has intimated that he will subject the Public Works Estimates to a closer scrutiny this year than heretofore, and that the Government may look out for some plain speaking if any further proof of favouritism to particular districts is disclosed.