LOBBY GOSSIP.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 957, 4 July 1890, Page 13

LOBBY GOSSIP.

When the Registration of Electors Bill is in Committee, Mr T. Mackenzie will move an amendment enabling voters to be enrolled on applioation to the master of a State school or a Justice of ihe Peace.

Chairmen of Committees have bee» elected as follows Stock Committee— Legislative Council, the Hon Randall Johnson ; House of Representatives, Mr Lance ; Middle Island Native Claims Committee— Mr Samuel.

Among the petitions presented yesterday week was one from John Smith Hiokson, Resident Magistrate and Warden of the Dunstan district, Otago goldfields, who has had the misfortune to become almost totally blind, thus necessitating bis relinquishing his only Source of livelihood, R!'d who therefore pray 3 to be allowed to retire on an adequate pension.

Another peculiar petition is that of James Irving, M.D., surgeon to the Canterbury Mounted Rifles, who was thrown from his horse in Hagley Park when on duty, and Buffered such a severe fracture of his left leg that permanent injury has resulted. The petitioner prays for compensation to the extent of £6OO, or a grant of land on which to place his sons, and thus secure provision for his old nge.

James Edwin Macdonald, late Chief Judge of the Native Land Court, petitions the House for further extension of leave in which to rehabilitate his health, injured in the service of the Colony ; or failing such rehabilitation such relief, other than the usual compensation for the loss of office, as the House may consider fit.

A return was laid on the table of the House yesterday week showing the number of wills administration of which has been accepted by the Public Trustee in each provincial district; the number of intestate estates administered; the number of all other estates in the hands of the Publio Trustee ; the value of such estates and expense of their administration. The cost of the return was £359 10s Bd, and that circumstance being mentioned in the House Mr Walker, who moved for the return, said he shonld have liked to have the taxing of that cost, though he had no doubt the return was well worth the money. Sir George Grey expressed an opinion that the groatuesa of the cost proved that the department had got into a complicated stile

In the Legislative Council yesterday week the Hon Mr Wilson asked the Hon the Attorney-General if the Government intended this session to make any alteration in the Gaming and Lotteries Act, particularly iu respect to the totalisator. The AttorneyGeneral was very brief in his reply, saying it was not the intention of the Government to make any alteration in the Act referred to by the hon gentleman this session.

A very large number of notices have been given, among them being oue by Mr Joyce of a question as to the particulars of the advance of £4992 19a 3d to the New Plymouth Harbour Board. Mr O’Conor has table 1 motions bringing shipping companies within the four corners of the Stamp and Property Tax Act..

A meeting of the Parliamentary Library Committee took place yesterday week. The principal rein of husiness done was the decision to' invite, by advertisement, applies tions for the post of librarian.

The Ministerial trip along the route of the North Island Trunk Railway has not been without its uses. It will be remembered that on the occasion referred to certain Ministers and Mr Christie Murray, the novelist, were pilottea by Dr Newman and Mr Bruce,, M. H.R.’s. We are informed that that por. tion 4 of the Financial Statement which all ides to the purchase of Native lands is the of that celebrated tour. In this oonnecfflm, it should be stated, that at the next Native Land Court meeting at Marton the title will be given to the Awarua Block, some 300,000 aores of splendid conntry along the Central route. The Government proposals will enable them to buy this land very shortly.

It is said, farther, that the proposals of the Government re utilising’ the deferred payments are modelled on the speech of Mr Macarthur delivered ,in tae Manawatu last year, and will have the effect of opening np a quantity of rich waste land in the provincial diatiiot of Wellington,

There are some members, too, who are inclined to be dubious about the borrowing proposals which they fear are shadowed in the Statement. The . country members, again, are in some oases likely to object that the proposals with refereuce to land settlement are not sufficiently definite. The opinion of one me;n* ei-*-a Government supporter—is that the Statement “is a very valuable document for people at Horae who want to read n good essay on New Zealand, bnt not muoh use to ub in the Colony who know all about these things.” It seems to be generally admitted, however, that the Statement is an able one.

The Bill-winch Mr Hislop has introduced to amend the Employers’ Liabi ity Act will supply all the alterations in the law that the Maritime Council asked the Premier for a month or two ago. In the Rill seamen are brought under the op< ration <f the Act, and are to be allowed a remedy for any injury canned by defect in machinery, rigging, etc., or through negligence of au employer or any person in bis service. The maximum compensation to be awarded to any person bringing an action under the Act is an amount equal to three yeais’ wages, unless the Judge shall, on the recommendation of thress fourtha D a jury, declare that that ss-tion. eruapg the most important clause of fchs Bill is that which provides that when

an injured person is shown to have been for a certain time after bis injury mentally or physically incapable of giving or directing notice of action, he may give notice not later than one month after he becomes capable. The right of aotion extends over a period of six months from the date when the person is capable or fitted to give a direct notice. It also provides that affidavits may be taken before any person authorised to take affidavits in the Supreme Court; and no contract or agreement is to be a bar to proceedings under the Act.

The prohibition of the “truck ’-’ system is another matter mentioned by the Maritime Council, and in reference to which a Bill has been circulated. It provides that wages snail be paid in money, w-ith no deduction as Interest for an advance ; that no contract shall stipulate how wages are to be spent ; that in actions brought by a workman for wages duo, the employers shall not be entitled to & set-off on account of any goods supplied fcojthe plaintiff, nor shall the employer have any action against a workman for goods supplied at any place in which the employer has an interest (always allowing the exceptions provided by the Act) ; no deduction is to be made from wage 3 for sharpening or repairing tools. A cheque may be taken in payment, but the workman has the right to recover reasonable damages for being in want of his money if the cheque is dishonoured. Articles made by a person working on his own account are to be paid for in money, not in barter.

The Shipping and Seamen’s Bill gives effect to the third proposal of the Council by providing that when a seaman is discharged at a port on account of illness, he shall be entitled to have three months’ wages if his agreement covers a larger period of service than that, or, if his service would be less than three months, such sum as would cover his wages for the period, whatever it be. The seaman’s illness must be such as to incapacitate him from work, and the wages are to cease if he recovers bis health before the end of the statutory period.

A petition was presented to the House on Friday from a Mr George Fisher, until recently assistant-csshier of the New Zealand Railways at Christchurch, who alleges that in November and December, 1889, when in discharge of duties as paymaster at Dunedin, he left certain moneys to be banked by the late G. H. Ashcroft That that officer later oe committed suicide, when it was found he had appropriated those sums, and that the petitioner was called upon to make them cood, and then was dismissed from the service. The petitioner prays for an inquiry as he is suffering an unjust sentence, and ließ under the stigma of being particeps criminis in Ashcroft’s misdeeds.

Mr James Atkinson, of WangaDui, petitions the House for a pension, or some remuneration, on the ground of special services rendered by him daring the Maori war, in which he served as Sergeant-Major of the Wanganui Militia and in other positions.

The usual extensive array of more or less justifiable notices fills the Order Paper for Tuesday. Mr Guinness wants the Speaker to state the date on which the present Parliament will expire by effiuxion. The indefatigable Mr Joyce .is moving for a committee to report on the hast means of settling unoccupied lands, and Mr Beetham for a committee on the flax and dairyproducing interests. Mr R. Reeves has a facetious wish to know all about the Chatham Islands “ military expedition,” with particulars about the number of “guns” landed. Among the new Bills is the Bankruptcy Bill, which has been on the shelf since last session.

The Building Lien Bill introduced on Friday gives “ every artizan, builder, eonitaetor, mechanic, labourer, timber merchant, and other person whosoever performing labour upon or furnishing materials of any kind to be used in a building,” a lien on it for labour or materials, whether done or furnished to the owner, contractor, sub-con-tractor, architect, or builder. The land on which the building stands is also subject to the lien. I . _ ’

Dr Fitohett’s question, whether Mr Commissioner Edwards is to sit as a Judge of the Supreme Court at Nelson on the 2nd of Jnly without any amendment of the Civil List Act being first passed, was asked by Mr ‘Perceval on Friday. Mr Hislop, reply ing, said that the regulation of tbe Supreme Court was in the hand of the Judges and not the Government. He understood that Mr Histioe Edwards was to sit at Ne'son. Mr Perceval asked whether the Civil List Acs was to be amended, and Mr Hi-lop replied that a Bill amending tbe Supreme Court Act wonld be circulated that afternoon. Tiie Bill, however, was not put in cironlation on Friday.

Mr ’P'nltou ha« been re-elected Chairman of the Waste Lands Committee.

Members who are interested in Mr Pyk«’s Private Schools Bill mot on Saturday morning and decided to feel the pulse of the House before proceeding further with the Bill.

Mr Samuel’s Divorce 1 xten ion and Amendment Bill provich s that a married person may present a petition for dissolution of marriage on the grounds of the other party’s im-auity, desaitipn f r not leas then seven years, imprisonment, under sentence of peurfl servitude, nr lor a term of seven years and upwards, or for adultery. The court has the power of refusing a decree if it is of opinion that the petitioner’s own habits have induced or contributed to the wrong cotnplained of. The husband shall not be compelled to give security for a wife’s costa'unless she’makcs an affidavit denying adultery, and any wife who declares falsely in such affidavit will be liable to “tns penalties and consequences of wilful and corrupt perjury.” The court may for. bid the publication of evidence until judg.

meat has been pronounced. Neither party can marry for three months after the decree absolute. ... .

The Agent-Generai has cabled ihe Government that, b.e.is in communication with the Imperial authbrities in connection with the San Franeipco mail service, but that no decision has’bfeen come to on ihe subject yet.

The scarcity of copies of the Financial Statement, wnioh has caused a good deal of vexation to the minds of honorable members, is due, wc believe, to the fact that one or two slight errors were found in the edition first published. As it was also considered desirable to add another table to the appendices, the issue was withdrawn for correction.

Two.questions bearing on recent appointments in connection with Native affairß were given notice of yesterday. Mr J. McKenzie, wishes all papers in connection with Mr R Trimble’s appointment to be laid on the table, and Dr Fitchett is to ask the Government whether it is correct that “ Mr Commissioner Edwards ’ is to sit as a Supreme Court judge at Nelson on the 2nd Jniy without any amendment of the Civil List Act being first passed.

A women’s suffrage debate looms large in the immediate future. Sir John Hall intends to move oqjr.tbe first opportunity that the light of voting at elections of members of Parliament should be extended to women.

On Tuesday afternoon the Government confidenly claimed a majority of eleven, but during the evening circumstances happened which would appear to cast a doubt on the accuracy of that calculation. Messrs Fish and Goldie have, we believe, gone over to the Opposition, and Mr T. Thompson, if he has not actually deserted the Ministerial party, is considered very doubtful. Even With this loss, however, the Government assert that they have a majority.

Mr Pyke's excessive anxiety to applaud Mr W.P. Reeves and to converse with him while he was addressing the House, had the effect of upsetting the oratorical balance of the member for St. Albans to such an extent on Tuesday night that the Speaker had to remonstrate with Mr Pyke. The latter gentleman very indignantly resented the curtailment of his interjections, and subsequently displayed a curious anxiety to know whether males or females Wire alluded to in some statistics quoted by Mr Reeves. Eventually Mr R. Reeves gave a remote seat to his namesake, and removed him from Mr Pyke’s cross-examiDation.

Some evil-disposed person has been telling Mr Taylor that the Government propose to .call Major Campbell and Messrs Fulton, Cowan, T. Thompson, and W. D. Stewart to the Legislative Council, and he has given notice of a very severe question on the subject.

The Minister for Public Works gave notice on Tuesday of the following Bills Counties Act Amendment Bill, Gold uty Abolition and~~siining Property Rating Bill, Mining Companies Act Amendment Bill, Thames Harbour Board Bill, Westport and Greymoutli Harbour Boards Dissolution Bill, WestportNgalcawau Railway Extension Bill,' Directors’ Liability Bill.' 'Mr Perceval gave notice of a Gaming-and Lotteries Bill, Mr R. Reeves of a Licensing Act Amendment Bill, and Mr W. D. Stewart of the Bills of Lading Bill.

‘ Mr Izard wishes the Government to extend telephone communication to the Hutt.

Mr Seddon handed in eight notices of motions and questions on Tuesday, one of which was a motion to the effect that districts specially benefited by the construction of railways should be charged with the difference between working expenses and receipts.

Mr Larnach intends to ask the Government, Whether, during the present session, they will bring in a Bill to deal with and prevent hanks and other financial institutions and companies trading in and carrying on any kind of business foreign to their charters ; and, if the Government is not disposed to give notice of such a Bill, will facilities be given to any private member who may bring in such a measure.

We noticed on Tuesday night that Mr Humphreys, M. H.R., has annexed theseat usually occupied by the Government whip, Mr McGregor; while the member for Akaroa was, for the nonce, at anyrate, elevated to the seat hitherto occupied by the Hon the Premier. If Mr McGregor is going to retain • this seat on the Treasury Benches, it would appear that hon members desirous of recording their pairs will be somewhat inconvenienced.

A rather peculiar procedure was adopted in the Legislative Council on Tuesday afternoon The House adjourned at 2.55 in consequence of Mr Ballacce’s amendment having been accepted as a no-confidence motion. In the Council, however, the Government went on with the husiness to the manifest discomfort of Mr Shrimski, who eventually brought the subject up, .whereupon the Attorney-General suggested that the hon member should move the adjournment of the Council himself. The honor ble member promptly did so, and the Council rose.

As Dr Fitch- tt does not care to continue the duties ox an Opposition whip, which he performed last session, Mr W. C. Smith vid perform them.

Mr Daniel Mahonv, an architect who recently instituted a civil suit against the (!o-vern-nent, has now petitioned Parliament for reli f, his grievance being that the Hon Mr Fergusagree.i to pay him as a private architect for drawing pUns and specifications for a jjris-m, police station, etc., at Dunedin.

According to a return pre ented on. Tuesday the following appoi tmerits wm-e made in Wellington to'he U-f no* DeiMrtment during ; -lhe last- financial year:—T. 1-2. Bennett, sublieutenant, Permanent Militia, LlO) per annum ;J. E. Hume, ditto, LloO; W. H. bill, torpedo instructor, L2OO.

The Minister of Education was waited on on Tuesday by a number of members, who urged him to introduce a separate measure for the representation of seamen, allowing them to vote for the ports to which they belong, and leaving the poll epen either for 21 days or between the nominations and elections. The Minister to ffi.^Gßrg.h!” rshr.al.^or the proposal, and intimated that the Government might bring in a Bill to give effect to it.

A Bill to establish arbitration between capital and labour will be by no means an unimportant feature of the session. Such a Bill was given notice of hy Mr Downie Stewart on, Tuesday * It provide* that <J!«nntea Hp.fcw«*r» employers and unions shall be referred to four arbitrators, two annointed by each side, who will call in the Resident Magistrate of the district, if they cannot agree, as an umpire.

The Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill will be very much the same measure as was introduced last session, except that a representative controlling body will be provided for in each district in place of one Council acting in that capacity, as was proposed last year. Some local institutions will also have the management of their own affairs. The Government will undertake the maintenance of the criminal and tramp classes, and drunkards, and the subsidy for outdoor relief will be half what is at present allowed.

Some rather incomplete statistics of the number of votes polled throughout the Colony at the last local option polls and licensing committees’ elections are given in a return presented on Tuesday. There are 84,029 voters on ihe roll, but of 385 districts no returns have been received from 68, According to the return 13,193 votes were recorded at local option polls, and 17,084 at elections of committees,-Seventy-seven committees were appointed by the Governor.

Mr Barron/ whose perseverance rivals that of his illustrious countryman Robert Bruce, has returned to the charge with the follow ng amendment to the motion for Supply : —(1) That in the opinion of this House it is desirab'e that the property-tax, unless it can be abolished at an earlier date, should be annually decreased, so that it shall not exceed three farthings in the pound for the present year ; one halfpenny for the year 1891, one farthing for the year 1892; after which date it shall entirely cease. (2) That any deficiency in the revenue occurring thereby should be made good by further retrenchment in the public service.

The Minister for Public Works informed Dr Newman on Tuesday that he had intended to present the draft report of the Railway Commissioners with the Public Works Statement this week, bnt as he did not think he would be able to do that, he would endeavour to lay the Commissioners’ report on the table within the next day or two.

To Bay that the division which took place just before 4 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon was a great surprise would be to inadequately represent the position. Numbers of members were known to have speeches more or lees long and able in preparation, and Mr Macarthur aud Mr S coble Mack on sis wsrs specially mentioned as contemplating extensive oratorical display. When Mr Hobbs sat down, however, the Speaker slowly but steadily went through the preliminary formula, and no one got up even to say “just one word before we go to a division.” Mr Fish made one or two convulsive movetreats, and Mr Bryce appeared to fidget with what looked like notes, but at last the ayes and the noes had been called for, and the Speaker gave the order “Ring the bell.”

In consequence of his privileges having been restricted on Tuesday night, Mr Pyke gave notice on Wednesday of his intention to ask the Speaker “ Whether he considers it “disorderly’ for a member of this House to interject ‘hear, hoar,’ or ’no, 1 or ‘yes,’ or to ask a question which is material and pertinent to the issue'under debate whilst another member is speaking ; and if not, on what ground, or for what cause, did he call the member for Dunatan to order, when that member was exercising his privilege as a representative of the people.” Having delivered this notice, Mr Pyke took it up to the ulerk with many elaborate lows en route. He then gave the Speaker a piaoh of snuff and returned to his seat after a most overpowering obeisance.

The Bill to amend the Juries Ant whioh the Colonial Secretary has introduced re. duces the radius within which jurors may be selected from 20 miles to 10, and provides that jurors in civil cases shall receive 10s per day instead of 103 per case.

Mr Richardson is to ask the Government whether they will recommend that a substantial bonus be given to any person who shall invent a machine for dressing phormium tenax ; such machine to take in the green leaf, and without further handling turn it out cleaned, bleached, and diied ready for paoking : the cost of dressing not to exceed that now incurred, aDd the value of the fibre to be not less than 50 per seat, more than fibre now cleaned by the ordinary process ?

As will be eeen from the report published elsewhere, things got slightly mixed ia connection with the pair list, it seems to be conceded, however, that if all had voted excepting the Speaker and Mr Mills) the Government would have had a majority of eleven. However, a fair trial |of strength may be made on the formal question thattne Speaker leave the chair in order that tbe House may go into Committee of Supply.

The d-s-rableness of doiog away with oral nr pub ic noixiin ticn of otu iuiate* for the General Assembly has bcuu discussed pretty extensively recently by members of tie House, and Mr Liwry. who haa been moviDg iu the matter, finds that the feel.ng in favour of the change is almost un minimis, the principal objection to the present system being that it is contrary to the spirit of the ballot. The Minister of Education ba« t wa believe, promised to endeavour to effect the reform, ani it ii probable that a large deputation will wait on him short y ami urge him to amend the electoral law in that respect.

The Legislative Council Bill introduced by Sir George Whitmore provides for the lepeat ot section 34 of the Cuu&iitutiou Ac', and that every member who shall be summoned to the Council shall hold his seat for 10 years, but any member whose seat haa become vacant by resignation or effiuxion of time may be again sumlftoned if be-riß eligible and haa not become disqualified, Section 3S of the Constitution Act is also repealed, and clause 3 of the new Bill provides that whenr. after ik© passing of the Act. the Speakership becomes vacant, the Council shall have power to elect one of its members to fill the vacancy, and the Speaker so elected

■ball remain in offioe until hia seat as member of the Council becomes vacant by resignation or effiuxion of time.

Mr Kerr gave tbe House a chapter cat cf the early hiltoryof Taranaki on Wednesday and asserted that the first loan that province ever raised they borrowed from him—£3ooo. In reply to anxious inquiries as to whether be ever got the money baok, Mr Kerr assured the Honse that be did, though he refused the security they originally offered him, which was the town of Waiter*.