Parliament Day by Day.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7321, 23 September 1898, Page 4

Parliament Day by Day.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY. (by telegraph.) (FBOM OUB OWS COBBESPONDENT.) Wellington, September 22. After formal business had be a n disposed of this afternoon. Ministers proceeded to lighten the Order Paper of its burden of questions. Mr Gilfedder asked if, as a precaution against the accidents which frequently occur through boys under sixteen being allowed to carry firearms, the Government, will introduce a measure providing for a gun license. The Premier, in reply, said that they all recognised the danger alluded to, and a clause dealing with the subject was included in the Animals Protection Bill now before the Council. There was no chance, however, of placing that measure on the Statute Book during the present session. In reply to Mr Hunter, the Minister for Lands said that he did not see any valid reason why school teachers should be singled out to receive cheap railway fares. They were well paid and received more concessions from the Railway Department than any other section of the public. Teachers who had to work during the Christmas holidays were able to obtain cheap fares dnring the harvest time. Major Steward asked whether, in view of the large dimensions attained by strawberry culture around Waimate, the Minister for Railways would arrange for cool vans to be employed for the conveyance of the frnit to the Christchurch and Dunedin markets ; also whether he will arrange that during the season returned empty strawbery cases may be carried by express trains, and that special instructions shall be issued to railway officers to use all reasonable care in handling this class of frnit. In reply, Mr Cadman said that the rates of freight were so low and vans were so much in demand that it would be almost impossible to accede to the first request. The express trains were supposed to be exclusively for the use of passengers, and under these circumstances the second request could not be granted. The inference in the third request was that the officials handled the frnit carelessly. They had been requested to use all care, ana the department have received very few complaints on this score. It would help the department if consignees wonld make them acquainted with any case of carelessless that might occur. Consignees should also take care that the fruit was carefully carted to and from the railway station. Very often fruit was damaged by neglect in this way, and the Railway Department got the blame. In reply to another question from Major Steward, the Minister for Railways said that he wonld endeavor to make arrangements for a platelayer or caretaker to attend to the Willow Bridge station dnring the busy season. In reply to Mr Bollard, the Premier said that there was no further necessity for discussion on the Police Commission. Police-Commissioner Tunbridge was going through the report, and he would report to the Minister for Defence on the schemes proposed, after which the Minister would report to the House. He would like to have the report referred to the Public Accounts Committee, and i£ time permitted that course would be taken. The Government intended to take all the responsibility in respect to this question. In reply to Mr Crowther, the Premier said that he could not promise to again establish the system of delayed telegrams, at a rate of £d per word for a whole message, with a minimum charge of sixpence, unless the standard charge of one shilling was again resorted to. Replying to Mr Dathie's somewhat sensational question concerning the Government financial operations in London, the Premier said that the Committee of the London Stock Exchange had not refused a quotation for L 2,700,000, 3 per cent New Zealand debentures, as no quotation hadbeen asked for, and consequently there had been no withdrawal of the application. The Bank of England had followed the customary practice in asking for Information respecting New Zaaland 3 per cent., debentures, and the information had been satisfactory. Replies to other questions were to the effect that the Government coold not afford mora than L2OOO as a subsidy to country libraries ; that Mr Northcroft had written to the Minister of Justice denying the statements made by Mr Lawry as to his having used political influence, and there was no necessity for an inquiry into a matter which was simply a question of recollection ; that in view of the large amount of business before the House, the Minister could not promise to give the House an opportunity to discu3s the land policy.