PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4466, 20 September 1901, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

THE lITJTT RAILWAY. The. Minister of Railways was asked yesterday by Mr Field '■ whether it is true, as reported, that the total cost of straightening and duplicating the Hutt railway line would be less than £100,000; and whether it is. also true, as reported, that the value of.the land reclaimed, after allowing for the road, would. exceed the above amount; and, if the above reports are correct, on what grounds does the delay in proceeding with this most urgently-needed work become iustifiable ?” Sir J. G. Ward replied that there seemed to be some misconception about this matter. The estimate which the Railway Department had prepared for the straightening of .this line dealt only with such work ag was necessary to meet the wants of the Railway Department; but it was quite erroneous to ■ suppose that this would cover the cost of the reclamation of land sufficient to meet the cost of the railway work/ The Railway Department had not contemplated large reclamation works;,. it was not the business cf the department to do so- In the estimate, the only cost taken into account was that of straightening portions of the line and doubling it no as to provide for the increased traffic between Wellington and the Hutt. The Minister. added that this was not a work which could be placed in the first list of, necessary works. There were other works which must take precedence. There were places where there were no railways at all; and though this was un important work, he could hold out no prospect of giving it preference. as against-other necessary works. Even if it were done now, he pointed out, the road works: necessary would have to i.o undertaken by the local bodieg. THE COAL MINES REPORT. ■ The. Inspection of Coal Mines report brought down to the House yesterday shows that for the year ending December 31,. 1900, the output of bituminous and semi-bituminous coal was 79i679 tons for the Northern district, 594,18') tong for the West Coast district, and none for the Southern district. Of pitch coal 37,804 tons were produced in the Southern district, brown coal 80,624 tons in the Northern district, and 259,162 tons in the Southern; 42,538 tons of lignite were produced in the Southern district, making a grand total of 1,093,990 tons, an increase of 118,756 tons on the preceding year. The number of mines in operation, .- including several lignite pits for private consumption, wag returned at 167, employing 2460 persons, and the average output per person wdS 444.71 tons. During the year there were four fatal accidents.

THE AUSTRALASIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The formation of an Australasian Chamber of Commerce in London was brought under the notice of the Government yesterday by Mr Field, who asked whether it was true that the Agent-General for New Zealand 'was holding aloof from the organisation pending the receipt of instructions from the Goyenxment. Mr Field suggested that if this Chamber had been formed with the object l of furthering the interests of the producers, there could not be any better organisation for such a purpose. Mr Seddon, in replying,- said that he had every confidence that the Agent-General would take the right course. Members were aware-that the Agent-General and Produce Commissioner were both very much ' alive, and could be depended upon to do their best for the interests of the colony. It was possible that there might be some

question of working separately instead of joining with the others, but until a reply had been received from the Agent-General ho could not say. He assured the member for Otaki, however, that tho Government was watchful of the interests of the. producers. • THE OPIUM-SMOKING HABIT. Mr Atkinson presented a petition to the House yesterday signed by Wellington Chinese protesting against tho importation of opium. The petitioners state that the quantity imported has for some years past increased, and't is still increasing; that the Chinese population hag decreased in the same period ;. that the opium is used chiefly by the Chinese for smoking, and that the opium-smoking habit has increased among the Chinese' population, and is extending to the colonial youths; that opium-smoking is most injurious and degrading, both morally and physically, to those who indulge in it, and renders them unfit for the ordinary duties of life; and that tho habit is very easily acquired, and every means should ho taken to prevent its acquirement. They therefore pray (hat the House will pass an Act prohibiting or limiting the importation of opium, and controlling the use and sale of the drug. JOTTINGS. The Government intends to introduce legislation which will provide seme simple system of local government for the Chatham Islands. ■ , ’ It is intended by the Government to place a vote on the Supplementary Estimates for the purchase of ancient Maori carvings and other relics of our early history. The Premier informed Mr Lang yesterday that it was not the intention of the Government at present to gazette Queen Alexandra’s oirthday as a public holiday.

Mr Barclay has given notice of his intention to ask the Premier if the statement is correct, appearing in one bl the Dunedin papers on September 13th, that none of the accounts due to local tradesmen for supplies, etc., in connection with the Royal visit, and more particularly in connection : , with the Veterans’ luncheon, had yet been paid ? Mr O'Meara, member for Pahiatua, asked ,the yesterday if it was the intention pf the department to erect a hew post office at Wbodville, or to patch up the present one. Sir J; G*. Ward replied that he was proceeding to Napier on Saturday, and would look at the post office on his wav-

Mr Pirani is asking the PostmasterGeneral if any complaints have been receive.) from Wellington telegraphists in reference to hours of labour, and if so, what, had been done to remedy grievances? Mr Houston desires a return giving an historical account of the two -guns outside Parliament Buildings, when obtained and how obtained, and ho is moving in that direction. A motion on the order paper in Mr Pirani’s name asks for a return of the particulars of the item on the Estimates “expenses connected ' with' Cook and other Islands, £582,”' under! . miscellaneous services, class H.j in the Colonial Secretary’s department. ■- ■ Mr Laurengc-n has given notice of motion to the effect that men employed on railways should be. allowed to occupy seats on public bodies so long as this does no-t interfere with the proper performance of their duties. Mr Herries intends to ask for a return of reports furnished by-Lieutenant-Colonel , Gudgeon, 0.-M.6,, .to the Government - since the annexation of the Cook Islands, or any Instructions sent by the Government tp that officer. An interesting return ig to. be asked for bv Mr Monk in the direction of showing the number of petitions presented to Parliament last session, the number dealt with by the committees and the number of cases up to July 31,. in which the Government has afforded relief, to petitioners. , -

“He (Mr, Atkinson) is a gentleman suffering ■ from political biliousness.”—Mr Wilford- -

Mr Seddon gave notice yesterday of a-Licensing Act Amendment ■ Bill. A petition has been- presented' to the House from the Rev F. W. Isitt and Mr J. Nicol by Mr Hutcheson, stating that the licensing laws are. not being enforced in Wellington.