POLITICAL PALAVER.

NZ Truth, Issue 276, 8 October 1910, Page 4

POLITICAL PALAVER.

Picked-up Pars In and Out of Parliament.

The Minister of Roads and Bridges (Hon. R. McKenzie) does nob think that a traffic bridge is required, m addition 1 to the existing bridge, across the Wailsato River at NgaruaiWahia., • • * The opinion of A\ W. Hogg (Masterton) is that the policy of the Government seems to be for the salaries of public servants to go up by leaps and bounds when they get high up m the service. » * ■ T|. E. Taylor (Chris tchiirch North) says toe will move for the reduction of every increase on salaries over £500. Same of the increases, he said, were, no doubt, deserved, • but others were not deserved at all. ■• . • According to T. E. Taylor (Christchurch North), it is all bunkum to say that, even m one case _m ten, higih officials do the -hard work. He alleged that there were some officials m the Treasury who did not do two shillings' worth of work per day, tout who drew very high 1 salaries. ■ v » '■'■■•' : .». ' • ' ■• ■ The Minister of Marine J. A. Millar) announces that a tender has been accepted for the construction of. a new steamer for Lake Wakatiptf. The steamer will be driven by twin screws to proceed at the rate of 15 knots, and will accommodate 1000 passengers. It wijl probably, be built m Dunedin. The Defence Amendment Bill, as reported from the Committee of the Whole, passed its third reading m the House of Representatives on Tuesday last. Under the Bill, as it now stands, persons who are over the age of 21 are not obliged to join the Territorial Force, but those who. are under 21 will be obliged to go on until they are 25. •'.■•. • The Leader of the Opposition is In possession of a) statutory : declarations by the chairman of the Knyvett Defence Committee that no member of the committee had received a penny of remuneration during, prior to, or after, the southern tour. It is stated that the money collected m the streets was devoted to expenses. "Expenses" is a comprehensive term. 'Nuff sed. • • * In Committee of Supply upon the Estimates, J. T. Hogan (Wanganui) succeeded m carrying an adverse amendment "that the total vote for the Treasury Department be reduced by £1 as an indication that definite salaries should be allotted to definite positions m the public service, and that all increments of salaries should take place gradually from the lowest to the highest positions m any Department." The amendment was carried, without discussion, 'by, 28 votes to 26. .• • • Auckland members are satisfied with the provisions of the Defence Amendment Bill, .as. amended by "ttbe Committee, insofar as its retrospective clauses are applicable to the Knyvett case. The ex-captain's grievances will m all probability come before a court martial by way of appeal against his dismissal, and this decision will be absolutely final. The court will consist of two superior officers, assisted by a «judge-ad>voca-te-general to advise on legal points which may arise, • * X •■.- .'■' ' ■ The Animals Protection Bill was passed through its Committee stages on Wednesday, when some slight modifications were introduced. On the suggestion of the Minister m charge (Hon. D. Buddo), a new clause was inserted providing that the Governor, on the recommendation of an acclimatisation society, by Order m Council, may suspend the operation of the law .protecting hares, or on the recommendation of the Commissioner of Crown Lands or any local authority; may suspend the operation of the law with respect to weasels and stoats. ' » • a The grievances of the HiHside raiv way workshop workers were aired m the House a few days ago by T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South), who drew attention to the -alleged driving of the men. He urged that when a holiday occurred In any week the men should not have to work overtime to make up the holiday and bring up their hours to 48 per week. The Minister of Railways (Hon. J. A. Millar) was coldly unsympathetic. He said that oo instructions had been given to overwork or drive the men, but if a man was m the railway employ he had to give as good a day's work as he would have to give to a private employer. • • • The publication of the official history of the New jZiealand contingents which served m the Anglo-Boar War (1599-1902) is now m hamd, and, although not yet completed, is being expedited. The question of publication will be considered immediately the revision is completed. It is difficult to see what useful punpose is going to.be served by the. expenditure of money which such a work involves. One would think that after this lapse of time, especially m view of the multiplicity of works dealing with a war which never s'houiu have taken place and which was a bungle from beginning to end, events, many of which were discreditable enough, should be allowed to sink into oblivion. m m m All night sittings are generally an indication of the approaching end of the session, and this outward and visible sign came into evidence on Tuesday last, when • the House sat continuously for 19f hours, namely, from 2.30 p.m. that day until 10.15 a.m. /the following, the Land Settlement Finance Bill being held up by a persistent stonewall. The House went into committee oh this Bill at 1.30 a.m., and at 3 o'clock, H. W. Henries (Tauranga) moved to report progress, but, despite the opinion of the Leader of the Opposition that this was a most disgraceful way of carrying on the business of the country, the Prime Minister said that he was prepared to go home when a reasonable amount of work had been done. Practically the whole of the 'early hours of the morning were wasted, and it was not until after breakfast that Clause 10 was passed and progress reported.

| L. R. Phillipps (Waitemata) was esirous of the Legislature constituting it a penal offence to carry urearms on Sunday to kill birds, or wild animals, but the House, .being m a sensible mood, declined to^ntertain the proposal.; • • • The Government is negotiating for the purchase of land from the Natives m the Urewera Country. The Government agent is now at Ruatoki, completing arrangements. Up to the present, some 70,000 acres have been purchased. • * • The Prime Minister, replying to a question put by H. J. Okey (Taranaki), said that it was not intended to allow local bodies to levy rates on any Government lands, as it would be tantamount to asking the people to pay rates on their own property. Referring to complaints regarding the Wairarapa railway tinie-taible, the Minister of Railways (Hon. J. A. Millar) says that he is prepared to take off the morning train which at present leaves Cross Creek, and revert to the plan of a start from Masterton. ■ .• • "Truth" is given to understand that the Napier-Gisto'orae railway will be begun before the next general election. It is more than likely that a start will be made simultaneously from each end, although, through Ministerial influence, it is probable that the first sod will be turned at GTsborne. The provisions relating to Boy Scouts, which were Incorporated into the Defence Amendment Bill by the Committee of the Whole, provide that the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Education may, at the request of the controlling authority, take over the control of the Boy Scouts, or permit the formation of Boy Scout units m the Senior and Junior Cadets . respectively. Such units may be designated Boy Scout Cadets, and wear the Scout uniform. m ■«- * / The Indecent Publications Bill was returned to the House from the Statutes Revision Committee on Wednesday, having undergone some considerable pruning at its hands, and was then rapidly passed through a Committee of the; Whole m the form m which it was returned. The extensive powers which Dr. Findlay had proposed to vest m the constabulary were eliminated by' the Statutes Revision Committee, and, despite the attempt made' to restore them ,by R. A. Wright (Wellington South), were not restored. mm ' m It is provided m the Defence Amendment Bill, as it finally passed the House, that all military inquiries shall be open to the press, except when the court is dealing with matters of procedure or is deliberating. The courts-martiaj provisions of the Bill are to extend and apply to all ddsmassals made during the twelve months preceding the date on which it becomes law, provided that the right to a trial by court-martial is claimed by the person dismissed within three months after the Bill becomes an Act of Parliament. This will permit ex-Captain Knyvett to have bis case reviewed by courtmartial. • m m The House dealt with the Crimes Act Amendment Bill- m Committee on Wednesday, when a short discussion took place upon the provisions of the clause relating to the increased power proposed to be Invested m judges to declare a prisoner an habitual criminal, (x. W. Russell (Avon>) and T. M. Wilford (Hutt) both objected to the existing judicial powers being enlarged, the latter hon. member going so far as to assert that it was an iniquitous proposal which placed In the hands of a judge the unquestioned right to order the rntion of a man for ten years. "Of Star Chamber methods," said the member for Hutt, "this is the apex of the triangle." Nevertheless, the clause giving the increased power was adopted, and the Bill was reported to the House without material amendment. ■ ■ a While the House was m Committee of Supply, the Leader of the Opposition made a desperate but futile attempt to gain fuller information m regard to the Commission of two judges which inquired into alleged irregularities m the Taxation, Department, and, to indicate that the House was not satisfied with the Government's refusal to supply such information, he moved that the vote for the Department be reduced by £5. The Prime Minister said it would be improper for Mm to give fche information, and, even if the House, carried the resolution, he would refuse to lay the papers on the table. "Some one else can," he added, ominously suggesting that he would resign the leadership it the House carried the resolution. Ot course, that settled it ; the resoltttion was negatived by 35 votes to 24. The minority consisted of :—Anderson, Buchanan, Dive, Duncan (J.), Fisher, Fraser, Guthrie, Hardy, Herdman, Herries, Hine, Hogg, Lang, Luke, Malcolm, Massey, Newman,' Okey, Phillipps, Rhodes, Scott, Tay-i lor (T. E.,), JThdmson (G-. M.), and Wright. ■ ■• ■ v Mr Day, S.M., stated from tire magisterial bench the other day that "there are iniiore temptations to drink m the No-license djkricts than m districts having licgße," and tha* "liquor is kept m every house, ami dispomaniacs thus have many op-* pjortunities for secret drinking.* 9 This is precisely what "Truth" has always maintained. Mr Day's statements has reached as far as Neui! South Wales, now m the throes of a general election, where it is being used as an authoritative text. This fact got on the nerves ol the Hon. George Jones, M.L.C., who asked the Minister of Justice whether! these statements are justified by tifo experience of the police inspectors m the No-license districts of the Dot minion. Dr. Findlay 's reply, on Wednesday night, was impersonal, and comprised a series of telegrams received from inspectors of police m the various No-license districts, and the mass of information supplied would require much time and ingenuity to investigate.