PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4441, 22 August 1901, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

AN AWAKING EAST GRIEVANCE. Some discussion took place in the House yesterday regarding tho claim of Mr John Old, of Awakin 0 East survey district, alleging that because of a departmental error he has been deprived of a portion of his frontage to the Awakino river. The Waste Lands Committee submitted a report on the case, recommending its finding in a former session, that the claim should be decided by arbitration, or in such other way as th© Government may decide, in the event of tho Government being unable to secure the land to the petitioner. Mr Symes held that serious injustice had been done to this settler. Tho Minister of Lands replied that Mr Old had been offered fair terms,but had ask&d too much. Mr Massey endorsed what Mr Syrae s had said, and pointed out that Mr Old merely wanted the case referred to arbitration. The Premier said that ISir John McKenzie, when Minister of [Lands, went fully into this matter, and 'would not go s 0 far oven as the present Minister of Lands in th c case. Mr Seddou added that he did not think the Government should, be forced into arbitration by any individual. Mr McGuire strongly urged that the matter should Sjo submitted to arbitration. Mr Lang also urged the claims of this settler for greater consideration. After further debate of a more or less discursive character, the report was received and referred to tho Government for consideration. WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENTS. The Premier admits that there js an uncertainty as to ■whether agricultural labourers aro included within the scope of the Workmen’s Compensation for Accidents Act; but lie maintains that it was not the intention of the Legislature that thev should be so included. “If there is anv doubt,” said Mr Seddon yesterday, in reply to Mr Flatman, “we should remove that doubt.” The Newl Zealand Act, the Premier explained, is a transcript of tho Imperial Act, and the fact that a Bill had been introduced in tho House of Commons extending the Workmens Compensation Act to agricultural labourers would indicate that the New Zealand Act did not apply to that class of Jhe community. The Premier Bald he had obtained opinions uwon tho ’question, and he would take further advice.

LAW AMENDMENT BILL. The Joint Statutes Revision Commitlee mot ve-terday and considered the Law Amendment Bill, in widen it lias made certain amendments. Clause 4. Under which the acceptance of a proposal between parties at a distance becomes void if the revocation of the acceptance lias been communicated to the proposer before the acceptance, or at the Earao time witli.it. lias been struck out. Clause 7. limitations of actions lor wrongs, baa also been struck out. In clause 8, tho amount which may be claimed as damages for breach of promise of marriage; is raided from £.;00 to £550. Clauses 9 and 12 have been struck out, and a new clause has been inserted enabling tho Supremo Court to grant relief against the forfeiture of any agreement for tenancy of land for breachof any covenant where the person claiming relief is in possession of the land or any profits therefrom under deed, and empowering the Court also to grant relief against the forfeiture of such tenancy for the broach of any covenant against subletting, if the subletting has been made to a person whoso character' is good and whoso moans are adequate. JOTTINGS. Mr Witherford was granted throe days’ leave of absence yesterday on account of illness. Mr Hutcheson intends to ask the Aliniater of Justice, whether the Visiting Justices to the Wellington Gaols have inquired into (lie recent escape of prisoners from Point Halswell Gaol; if not, why not f Air liutchc.son also wauls a return showing how many prisoners have escaped from Wellington Gaol during the past live -ears, and what autnoritv lias inquired into the relation of prison officers to these incidents, also if any punishments have been inflicted on prison officers.

The Mortgages of Land Bill has been amended by tho Joint Statutes Revision Committee so as to provide that the mortgagor will insure the morlgti'-se against any worker’s charge under the Worker.,' Compensation for Accidents Act. "There are 40.000 less women in .this country than there are men. The question is not bow can a woman get a husband, but bow can a husband get a wife?”—A bull by Air Meredith which greatly amused the House. In answer to Air Hornsby, the Alinisfer of Lands states that the Afent-Gen-eral already cables the prices of frozen meat each week, but the question of asking him to distinguish btween "North Island” and "Wellington” in those prices would be considered. The -Minister of Justice holds that it will be necessary for Parliament to make some law controlling private billiard, rooms.

As many concessions have boon made in railway passenger fares during the past twelve mouths, tho Minister for Railways cannot agree at present to Uio suggestion put forward by Air McGuire, that cheap excursion tickets should he issued in, the winter months to extend over a period of three months. The -Hon Air Hall-Jon.es agrees that th 0 hours worked by lunatic asylum attendants are altogether too long. Ho informed Mr Fisher yesterday that the questions of tho payment of asylum attendants and the hours they have to work are now under the consideration of Cabinet. Increases of the pay of clerks and artisan attendants arc already provided for in tho Estimates. IMi.ss Alice Annott, of Patcavoa, Otago. a school teacher whose case axcil od a good deal of sympathy bconuso of the harsh treatment she had met with from certain persons in tho Eongahoro district, where she. was teaching school, has petitioned. Parliament to be reimbursed for th e loss she suffered through the burning of the schoolhouso. Tho Petitions A to L Committee recommends the Government to place the sum of £7O on the Estimates as a compassionate allowance to petitioner, and deduct it from moneys payable to the Otago Education Board.

The petition of Airs Fairchild, asking for an allowance on account of tho death of her husband, the late Captain Fairchild, has been referred by th 0 Petitions Committee to the Government for favourable consideration. Tho Hon AV. At. Bolt has given notice in tho Legislative Council that he will ask the Government if it is in favour of placing a special tax on banks in view of the fact that many officers therein are underpaid, the proceeds of such tax to be devoted to augmenting such salaries.

Tho Minister of Education yesterday told the Council that lie had been offered tho sire “ Traducar -ono of tho finest horses ever known in the colony—for the small sum of £75. However, he required a mate in the transaction - and the mate did not come to the mark; so the transaction fell through. Tho fact that he had been offered the horse for £75 was, the Minister said, a proof of how good judges of horses were sometimes mistaken.