PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4740, 23 August 1902, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

FACTORIES LEGISLATION. Tho Labour Bills Committee of tho Legislative Council has recommended tho excision from the Factories Act Amendment Bill of tho provision requiring twenty-four hours’ notice to be given whoa a warrant shall be desired by an employer to authorise him to extend the working hours of any woman or boy under section 22 of tho principal Act. Tlio provisions of tho amending measure which were to authorise in i borough tlio substitution of another day for Saturday as tho half-holiday is also recommended hy tlio committee to bo excised.

CUSTOMS TARIFF IN NIUE. Power is by legislation to be given to the Governor by Order-in-Council to modify the Now Zealand Customs tariff in its application to goods imported into Nino Island, on condition that tliis modification shall not have tile effect of imposing higher duties in Niue than those prescribed by the New Zealand tariff. Tins' Order-in-Council may also impose a duty not exceeding 10 per cent, to bo levied in Nino on goods shipped, duty-paid in New Zealand, and on goods tho produce or manufacture of New Zealand, and in the event of such order being issued it shall, so long as such order is in force, bo lawful to pay drawback in Now Zealand on goods shipped to Nino. It is also to be provided that in tlio event of tho rate of duty on tobacco proscribed by tlio New Zealand tariff being modified as aforesaid, tho Governor-in-Conncil may make regulations prescribing the conditions under which tobacco on which duty has been paid at Nino may be shipped or removed to tho other islands or to Now Zealand, and imposing penalties for the breacli of such regulations. This legislation is to bo introduced in tho form of a new clause to bo added to the Cook and Other Islands Government Bill. JOTTINGS. Tlio Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, passed this session, has received tho Governor’s assent. Tho necessity of building a new railway station at Dannevirko is being urged by Mr Hall. Til Minister of Railways says that this work is on the list of “urgent works,” to bo proceeded with as soon as tho money is available. Mr Hasoldon, member for Patca: “We hoar a good deal about railway concessions ; nut there isn’t much to bo thankful for in tiioso concessions—it was good business 'to grant thorn.” Sir J. G. Ward, promptly: “You couldn’t got your own party to grant them.” Mr Hasclden, more in sorrow than in anger: “It’s so long since our party was in power that one forgets what they did.” John Gallagher, of 63, Hopper street, Wellington, is petitioning Parliament for compensation on account of services rendered by him as a trooper during tlio Taranaki war in tlio year, 1886. Mr Field is urging tho Government to introduce legislation to provide for the oven distribution, according to taxation, of charitable aid taxation throughout the country, so that the anomaly by which settlers in one district are reouiretl to pay twice as much as the settlers in another district may be removed.

Tim Hon J. M. Twomey: “Sir. I rise to correct tho Hon. Colonel Pitt’s law; water is a meandering something or oHier (T forget just now exactly what M>ey call R in the law, but I know what T 'm talking about! and no man owns mimin', water—ho only owns tho land over which it runs.”