PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13011, 31 October 1905, Page 6

PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

GALLERY NOTES AND LOBBY; GOSSIP. [BY TELEGRAM. —SPECIAL COREESPOKDENT.I Wellington, Monday. ■ Mil. Moss, M'.H.R., has just issued a littli pamphlet, in the shape of an address t« the electors of Ohinemuri. In the course of a refutation of a statement in the Marl* borough Press, that Mr. Moss entered Par, liament at the last general election to avenge the wrong which he considered his father, had suffered, and to make the life of Mr.,' Mills as miserable as he might in return,'' Mr. Moss remarks: "Such is fame, that uw til the Mapourika trip was arranged, some) weeks after the election of 1902, I had nevetl even heard of Mr. Mills. It is cheering, however, to find that a private member cai| make the life of a Minister miserable." "" : HELENSVILLE NORTHWARD RAIL, WAY. The following is the division list on th* 3 amendment moved by Mr. Baumo during the discussion of the Public Works Esti-, mates in regard to the vote for the Helena' ville Northward railway, Mr. Baume having; moved to reduce the vote (£30,000) by for the purpose of hearing what the Minigi , V ter had to say in regard to the work on thd line:—Ayes (19): Aitken, Bollard, Bu-, y chauan, Duthie, Fisher, Fowlds, Herries, Kaihau, Kidd, Kirkbride, Lang, Lawryj, Massey, R. McKenzie, Moss, Reid, Russell ;| '/!* tellers, Baume and Harding. Noes (44); E. G. Allen, J. Allen, Arnold, Barber, Bed* ford, Bennet, Buddo, Carroll, Davey, Dun- ' can. Ell, Field, W. Fraser, A. L. D. Fraser* ""'» Graham, Guinness, Hall, Hall-Jones, Hanan,, Hawkins, Hogg, Laurenson, Lewis, Major*' ,t McGowan, Mills, Pere, Remington, Rhode*), Seddon, Sidey, Smith, Steward, Symes,, Tanner, J. C. Thomson, J. W. Thomson,, ' Vile, Ward. Wilford, Willis, Witty ; tellers, Colvin and Flat-man. .> '•;' UTILISATION OF WATER POWER. When ; the votes for the .utilisation 08 water power were considered Mr. ! Herriea .'". said he believed a greater power could be obtained from the Okere Falls than from j the Huka Falls, tne cost would bo less, and the distances from Auckland and Waihi wera less. Mr. Heke spoke of the importance of the Wairua Falls, in the North of Auckland, and said.they would be very valuable ; for manufacturing purposes. Mr. HallJones said that the Government was not tied clown to the sources of power ennme-i y rated in the Estimates, and full consideration would be given to all the i vailabla schemes. ' -. i APPRECIATION AND THANKS. , ; The following resolution was passed at the final meeting of the 'Education Committee of the House:—"That this committee desires to record its appreciation of the excellent service rendered by Mr. Baume to the cause, of education, as the chairman of: this committee, and of the infinite pains and ability with which lie conducted the proceedings and prepared the work of the com- ' mittee. At the final meeting of. the Agri- v cultural and Pastoral Committee of the, House a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Lawry for his services aa chairman of that ; i committee.' ■ . l CONTROL OF RESERVES. y The Tourist, Health, and Scenic Resorts' Control Bill, which was introduced by Sir, Joseph Ward to-day for the purpose of circulation during the recess, provides for the ;_ appointment of a general manager, to the > Department of Tourist and Health Resorts,; in whom is vested the control of the follow- ; ■-. ing reserves:— Barrier : Island; Piha Domain, TeAroha Hot Springs Domain,-,, Sanatorium Reserve (Rotorua), Pukeroa Demain (Rotorua), Kuirau Domain (Rotorua)* Medical Officer's Reserve (Rotorua), "Wha--karewarewa Thermal Springs Reserve, Arikikapakapa Reserve (Rotorua), Forest Reserve, Lake Waikaremoana, Nuhaka Ther- -'" mal Springs Reserve, ' Hanmer v Thermal j Springs Reserve, Pukaki Domain, Aorangi Domain, Te \ Ana Domain, Resolution .. Island. The revenue from these reserves,, y.j and all revenue heretofore received in res- y . pect of the Te Aroha Domain, shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund. There are* a . number of. machinery clauses providing for ' giving power to the Minister to grant the ■ use of any reserve for sports or games, and <; to regulate the same. ■ -. ■-.-,*?■ y BUNGLING LEGISLATION. '" \ ■ Another instance of the bungling legislation introduced by the present Administra- -..'■':■ tion came'-to light to-night when a message was received from the Governor asking tho. House to amend an Act already passed this y session. The Bill in question was en-. titled, "An Act to Amend ' the Workers' Dwellings Act, 1905." Mr. Henries, wit* './.; a merry twinkle in his; eye, mentioned that' .;" ! this was the result of slipshod legislation. ; The Government, had to introduce another; . ; Bill in order to amend one they had passedonly five days ago, and it was possible ibey would yet have to pass' another Act. to ~ v ; amend the Shops and Offices Act. ''' .I' AUCKLAND-PENROSE RAILWAY. , .', When the Public Works Estimates were, under discussion, Mr. Kirkbride drew the ' attention of the Minister for Railways to the necessity for pushing on the duplication V • • of the Auckland-Penrosc railway as speedily.. ) as possible, and he expressed a hope thai the work would be completed 'within the time promised, viz., 12 months. He failed "%_ to see, however, how the work could be v * done in that time, seeing thai such a small ;J j vote had been placed on. the.. Estimates... y He pointed out that -whilst 'it was welF known that the work would cost between, , . £60,000 and £70,000, only £10,000 appeared, on the Estimates. The Minister said the; work would be completed v?ithin the 12 ; ■ months. ' A second vote of £10,000' app'iar*. on the Supplementary Estimates, but tbii; . : makes a total of only £20,000.