FROM THE GALLERY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8190, 3 August 1912, Page 6

FROM THE GALLERY.

PROMISCUOUS DISCUSSION. NOTES AND COMMENTS. Promiscuous and kaleidoscopic variety marked the discussion in the House or Representatives yesterday atternoon. when the sitting was devoted to criticism and appreciation of the Ministers roplies to sundry questions answered the previous day. This gave members a wide latitude, and the discussion jumped abruptly from one subject to another, without continuity or method. outstanding interest were various references to the political disabilities of civil servants and railway officials, the subject being opened by Mr T. M-. Wilford, and many speakers urged the view that public officials should be relieved of their virtual prohibition from participation in politics. Even the debate on this question was interlarded with miscellaneous references to other topics, and the discussions dragged to the full length of two houre allowed. Most members occunied their full ten minutes and a stentorian “Time” from the Speaker was often the signal for four or five members rising simultaneously. A great part of the evening was taken in discussion of Hon. Mr Hardman’s Prison Amendment Bill. CIVIL SERVICE AMENDMENT. The Civil Service Amendment Bill, of which the Hon. A. L. Herdman. gave notice yesterday, is a small measure giving power to enable persons to bo transferred from one department to another. PEA RIFLE NUISANCE. Discussing the pea-rifle nuisance Mr Q. V. Pearce, M.P., said that some of our brightest and best boys were shot by these weapons, which resulted in considerable loss and damage each year. The toll was probably two or three boys annually. He hoped the Government would take action to abate this nuisance. The rifle could kill at a distance of three hundred yards, and he had himself seen a horse shot by one of these rides. FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS. About twenty-five members of both branches of the Legislature met yesterday morning to consider the formation of a branch of the Empire Parliamentary Association in New Zealand, Ibis body was an outgrowth of the Coronation festivities last year, and its function is to facilitate closer understanding and more frequent intercourse of Parliamentarians in different parts of the Empire. Sir Arthur Guinness (Speaker of the House of Representatives) presided over the meeting. On the motion of Mr A. S. Malcolm, seconded by the Hon- C, H. Mills, it was' resolved that a branch of the association be formed, and the following provisional committee was appointed to consider what steps should be taken to give effect to the terms of the resolution Sir Chas. Bowen (Speaker of the Legislative Connell), Sir Arthur Guinness (Speaker of the House of Representatives), Hons. G. Jones and O. Samuel. M.L.C. s, Hon. C. H. Mills, Hon. R. H. Rhodes, Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Messrs A ; S. Malcolm, A. M. Myers, hnd D. Buddo. Mr Malcolm was appointed hon. secretary, and the committee was instructed to report on the 16th inst. WAIPOUA RESERVE. In regard to the Waipoua Forest Reserve, Mr J. B. Coates (Kaipara) said that the Government had 1 been selling large areas surrounding the reserve. This reserve was the largest kauri forest in New Zealand, and it would he quit© easy to ©reserve- it. There were only two caretakers—a totally inadequate provision—and a snark could set the whole forest ablaze. Forty thousand acres was a large area to he tied up. and the country should be opened. The reserve would yield 300,000,000 feet of milling timber. A PECULIAR CASE. Mr A. H. Hindmarsh presented a petition with some peculiar circumstances. Petitioner was a tram conductor in Wellington, and said that when evidence was being taken on the Tramway Bill in 1910 a member of tho Christchurch electric car service referred to petition©:

in terms which had acted detrimentally to his welfare and promotion in Uugton service. The evidence was ' published in the 'Evening Post' newspaper at tho instigation of the M ellmgton tramway management for reasons best known to themselves, thus causing W U J’ petitioner much distress of mind which will continue until he is in a position to vindicate himself. This can only bs done by tho witness responsible for those false statements either reritymg them or apologising for having made them. Petitioner prays for an inquiry as i» likely to bring about a vindication of Ins character and abilities. TAUPO EXTENSION. A petition presented by Mr W. D. S. MacDonald from the Taupo Totara limber Company had reference to a P’°; posed extension of their Putarurn-Mol.ai tramline to Taupo. The distance would bo twenty miles, and the extension, connecting with Lake Taupo steamer?, would "at once tap the entire disarm, and lead to a large amount ot settlement at present impossible. Ike developed territory is stated as J,ooo.oiw acres, of which 800,000 acres are name lands and 330,000 acres Crown lands. Tho bringing in of this country for settlement, it was said, would be ot immens© and i mined into benefit to> tns xjominion, while petitioners own fifty miles of track. u*ed lev timber and goods trotfic which could, with the proposed extern sion, lie made into a light line capableoi carrying goods and passengers fm ,1)50,000. Petitioners asked that the lands benefiting from the line should contnbuto towards the cost. LESSON FROM PANAMA. Mr G. V. Pcarco (Patea) desires to know from tho Minister for Inbhc Works whether ho will send a man to inspect the machinery used tor excavation purposes in the making oi the Panama Canal, with a view adopting anv machinery suitable for public works in New Zealand and doing awav with tho antiquated eliovel-and-wheelbarrow system at present in vogue. ADJUSTING TAXATION. Notice has been given by Mr G. Witty (Riccarton) of his intention to ask the Government whether they intend to amend tho law this session in the tray of adjusting taxation by increasing the graduated land lax and income tax on the one hand and reducing taxation on the necessaries of life on the other? Mr J. Hnnan (Invercargill) will ask the. Minister of Lands whether he will this session introduce legislation to adjust and make more uniform tho graduated land tax; increasing the tax from the point of .£25,000. unimproved value, upwards? INSPECTOR OF PRISONS. "What practical results will be achieved by tho annointmeut of an Inspector of Prisons, and to what extent wall the administration ospenses of this Dorrnnion be increased by the appointment; is a- question to be asked the Minister for Justice by Mr J. Payne (Grey Lynn). EDUCATION COMMISSION'S REPORT

Questioned op the subject by a “Times representative last evening, the Hon. James Allen (Minister of Education) said that he had only that day received the report of the Education Commission, and had not found time to read tho document. The report will be printed and presented to Parliament on Tuesday next. Those “who have studied the evidence are credited with various inferences in regard to recommendations of the Commission. Among these are (1) the establishment of a Dominion Council, an advisory body of experts competent to improve tho general system; (2) reduction of tho number of education boards (now thirteen'), so as to lessen parochial influence in the appointment of teachers; (3) facilities for comparison of notes by district inspectors for the^ guidance of authorities and teachers. Other surmises are that “equality of opportunity’ should be given to those engaged in the practical work of education, and that drastic amendments will bo made to the Education Act. SECOND BALLOT. The Prime Minister null be asked by Mr G. W. Bussell (Avon) whether the Government propose to bring down a Bill at an early date to repeal the Second Ballot Act: and, if, so, what substitute is proposed ? POLICE APPEAL BOABD. On Wednesday next, Mr W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) will ask the Minister of Justice if he will make provision in the Police Force regulation Bill for an appeal board to whom the grievances of police officers may be referred; (b) whether be will make provision that the decisions of such board shall be final; (c) all service conditions being embodied in the Act and not controlled by regulations which can be altered at any time without consulting Parliament ?