POLITICAL POINTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3263, 21 October 1897, Page 3

POLITICAL POINTS.

There i* no life in the ’debate on the Financial Statement. Yesterday there was plenty of room in the galleries, and at times during both afternoon and evening there was barely a quorum in the House. At present it seems hardly likely that the present debate (which so far has been quite devoid of personalities or other spurs to emulation) will last the week out. Mr Sligo was escorted to the Speaker s chair by Captain Russell and Mr Scobie Mackenzie yesterday afternoon, and sworn in as a member of the House. The Speaker yesterday afternoon read an invitation to the members of the House to attend the Palmerston Show (“the premier show of the North Island,*’ as the invitation set forth). The Premier moved its acceptance, and the House agreed. A painful scene occurred in the House yesterday afternoon. Major Steward a&ked the Premier when he would bo prepared to answer questions P Ho said there were 116 on the Order Paper, and many of them asked for information of tho utmost importance to the House and country. Tho Premier said it was not convenient to answer questions at this stage. The only way in which they could get them answered would bo to hold morning sittings. (Criss of ‘*No !’) Captain Russell pointed out that by the Standing Orders questions had to come on after the other Orders of tho Day set down were disposed of. The Premier said that the custom during recent years had been to set aside questions if a debate were in progress. Mr Scobie Mackenzie followed, and quoting from the Standing Orders said that questions should be taken before Orders of the Hay. He asked the Speaker's ruling. The Speaker was understood to rule that custom outweighed the Standing Orders in this respect. After soma notices-of questions had been given Mr Scobie Mackenzie again raised the question as a matter of privilege. The t-peakor said he could not hear him further, having ruled. Mr Mackenzie persisted. Tho Speaker : “ Sit down sir ! I will have to have recourse to the power conferred on me if you persist in a question of privilege. Sit down ; you must not interrupt me Mr Mackenzie collapsed with a smothered explanation, and with chagrin depicted on every feature, and the Speaker called on Mr Morrison to commence the debate on the Budget. Three legislators found themselves sitting abreast at a Government House dinner yesterday under somewhat unique conditions. TheyJ were the Hon Mr Williams (Bay of Islands), Messrs Monk (Waitemata) snd Carson (Wanganui). All are natives of New Zealand; their ages are respectively 75,64 and 55—total, 194 years; and none of them either drink or smoke, Hogg fhinka that tho Gpvernment should lend to settlers at 3 per cent, instead of at 5 per cent** as at present, and make it a charge on the land to avoid providing a sinking fupfi. ** The Public Works Department is. a disgraoe'to the country,’* says Mr Hogg. “Its engineers are antiquated, its plans are antiquated, its specifications are antiquated, the very men themselves are antiquated, and it would be si good thing to send them off on a fugitive expedition in a balloon to the North Pole.** , Mr Joyce has been elected Chairman of the Public Petitions Committee “A to L,” and Mr Meredith M M to Z.” The Limitation for Imprisonment for Debt Bill proposes to consolidate and amend the laws relating to. the imprisonment of fraudulent and dishonest judgment debtors, and the holding to bail of absconding debtors. It provides, inter alia , that no persoushallbe imprisoned for a debt under £lO. Mr Heke is to ask tho Minister in charge of the Hospitals whether he can see his way to facilitate the admission of native girls educated at the native colleges to hospitals to be trained as nurses?

Mr O’Regan is to ask the Premier if he will introduce a measure to make the rating on unimproved values mandatory ? Mr Taylor is to ask whether the Govern-, meat wjll, this Session, introduce legislation wifh a view to placing the charitable aid system upon a satisfactory footing, and for 'vesting'it in boards elected directly by the electors ? Mr E. Q. Allen, is to ask the Minister for Railways whether he will make provision for giving the surface-men. on the railways a fortnightly half-holiday, to be arranged so that half the number of the men composing the various gangs could take a half-holiday each Saturday P ; ; ~ . Mr Heke is to ask the Minister of Education—(l) Whether the Government can see its way to facilitate the employment of native boys or girls as assistant teachers in the native schools ; and (2) whether the Government can aid the Te Aute College Students* Assotiation in the prosecution of their objects to the extent of £250 per annum ? • * 41 My fellow tradfg qnibifiata, the lawyers.” ■r^i^r'J.'H^tftheabu,, ‘(The medical profession is the worst paid profusion in existence, and the conditions; of life of a doctor are worse than those of a common sailor.”—Mr J. Hutcheson, Mr J. Hutcheson: 41 We have not got workmen’s homes in-the vicinity of Wqllpag* ton yet.” • - ' The promien announced last night that the. GoVernmeni intended-taking’*up- several pfi yate'members' Bjlls. . ‘ /