POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15096, 12 September 1912, Page 8

POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES

HOURS OF PAFII.I AMENT.

LENGTH OF TEE SESSION*

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Wellington, Wednesday. .Trrn suggestion that Parliament should transact its business in daylight, was revived in tho House of Representatives this afternoon, when members urged tho Government to adopt some system that would abolish the Into sittings. In. replying to a question asked by Mr. Davey (Christ-church East), tho Prime Minister said that some years ago the, system was given a trial, but it was not found to work well. Mr. Meseey added that it was not anticipated that there would ho any necessity for long hours during tho present session.

Commenting on this answer, Mr. Davey said the so-called trial was made in 1904, and r.-ns a farce, because the older members would not attend in tho mornings when the galleries were not crowded to hear their speeches.

Mr. Forbes (Ilurunui) added a suggestion that instead of being summoned to meet in the last week of June, Parliament should meet a month or six weeks earlier. (Members : Hear, hear.) Mr. Ilradney (Auckland West) said the, .sittings were needlessly prolonged by repetition of speeches. Tho Prime Minister said Parliament should do its work in reasonable Lours, but- it was essential that Ministers should have the whole forenoon freo to attend to Departmental business. At tho present rato of progress the session should close before October 20. Regarding the date of opening the sessions, Mr. Masaey taid the Public Revenues Act evidently did not contemplate the meeting of . Parliament at an earlier date, but ho was in hearty agreement with the suggestion, and would inquire whether effect could be given to it-.

THE MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS.

Speaking in the llouso of Representatives this afternoon, the Minister for Railways (Hon. W. H. Hemes) stated that during the recess ho intended to travel over all the lines of the Dominion, ho would then be ablo to learn from his own observations whether the many requests made by members were reasonable.

A "BROKEN*" PAIR. Soma confusion was caused in the division oil the motion for tho .second : reading of tho Public Service Bill, by tho accidental " breaking" of a pah*. Tho Hon. A. T. Ngata (Eastern Maori) was paired by the eenior Opposition Whip, against the Bill, but as he afterwards explained he .was not aware of the arrangement, and remained in the chamber when the doors were locked for tho division. Under tho.Standing Orders every member present must vote, and Mr. Ngata was first recorded as voting both ways. This error was corrected. Mr. Ngata "following tho courtesy custom of voting as his pair would have done in favour of tho Bill. Even then the division was not correctly announced. The voting -was declared as 36 for and 25 against, bub an examination of the tellers' cards showed that there were 26 votes against the motion. The majority in favour of the second reading was thus ten. POLITICAL PATRONAGE. A reference to the exercise of political influence in the past was made by Mr. Hindmarsh (Labour member for Wellington South) in the debate on the Public Sen-ice Bill. He said that in the organisation of the Labour party he had experienced the immense power of political patronage. Men whom the Labour party expected to bo on its side had suddenly changed their views through appointments to Government, billots or by promises of billets. In the past a vastnumber of people had voted, not from tho point of view of New Zealand, but with the object of obtaining billets in tho Government service. LIMITED MONARCH S. Ministers of the Crown have, in the past, been too autocratic, said the Hon. A. L. Herdman in his speech this morning at the conclusion of the Public Service Bill debate. "We are now clipping our own wings and giving something away. Wo desire the House to make us less autocratic. In' the past, Minister® of tho Crown have been absolute monarchs. We ask the House to make us limited monarch?."

CONTROL OF THE RAILWAYS. Brief reference to the question of control of tho railway service -was made by the Minister for justice in the House of Representatives during tho debate on tho Public Service. Bill. He said it wis his personal view that tho service should be placed under the control of Commissioners. His colleagues did not concur in that view. Mr. Herdman added that lie was confident tho appointment of a now general manager would produce a great improvement in the service. RAILWAY-MAN'S IN JURIES. The petition of A. 11. Phillip's, of Parnell, praying for compensation for ini'uries sustained while in tho Railway )epartment, was to-day, on tho recommendation of the Railways Committee, referred to the Government for favourable consideration. The committee suggested a compassionate allowance of £50. LAST PRIVATE MEMBERS'- DAY. This was private members' day in tho House of Representatives. For the remainder of the session Wednesdays will be taken by the Government, so that ail private members' Bills are " killed'' so far as this session is concerned. lIAURAKI CROWN LANDS. The Minister for Lands has informed Mi*. T. W. Rhodes (Thames) that a proposal to provide an improved tenure for settlers on tho Haurald lands will bo made in the Land Bill which is to be introduced shortly.

LAND AT BICKERSTAFFE.

Replying this afternoon to questions by Mr. Coatos (Ivaipara), tho Minister for Lands said inquiry is being made regarding tho request that some of the lands in tho Biekerstaffo Estate should be mad© available for selection.