POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXI, Issue 8834, 14 July 1905, Page 4

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) By. Telegraph. Wellington, July 13. A Count Out. Yesterday was private members' day in the House and, except perhaps to Otago people, there was nothing of great interest about the proceedings, the comparative tameness being added to by the absence of the Premier, who was on a visit to Ciiristchurch. The evening sitting was devoted to consideration of Mr Ell's.Rating on Unimproved Value Amendment Bill, which provides that, where that system of rating is adopted on the vote of the electors, the local authority may apply it to all rates and thus do away with the anomaly and expense of rating on both the capital and the unimproved value. This Bill had been before the House last session, and the mover did not expect any trouble about its passage last night. However, some of the opponents of the single taxers, such as Mr T. Mackenzie and Mr Alison, vigorously attacked the system, and the cudgels were taken up in its defence by Messrs Laurenson and Bedford. The last-named member was in the middle of his speech when the usual supper adjournment Was made at 9.30. At 10 o'clock Mr Bedford was just about to renew his speech when Mr .Tas. Allen rose and called the Speaker's attention to the state of the House. The requisite quorum of 20 was not present, and the Speaker ordered the bells to be rung to call members in. Thus far proceedings had not differed at all from , what usually occurs every evening on | which the House sits, for members are I usually a little slow in getting to work again after the supper adjournment. On this occasion, however, members did not as usual come filing in and, after the customary two more minutes measured by the Speaker's time glase, Mr Speaker again said "There is no quorum, the House will resume at 2.30 to-morrow." There were only 17 members present, but there were a number just outside the door who would not enter, being deliberately disposed to kill the Bill, fearing that, if they voted for the second reading, it would be urged against them, next session that they had affirmed the principle of the Bill. This is the first count out in the House since 1900, when the Sale of Mortgages Bill in charge of the Hon. Mr Mills, met a similar fate. There was general regret that the incident should have occurred at 10 minutes past 10, as Bellamy's closes punctually at 10.

Questions. Mr Fisher has given notice to ask the Minister of Justice (1) is he aware, or is the Commissioner of Police aware, that Inspector O'Brien, of Dunedin, was the officer who arrested Thomas Moses for shopbreaking at Oamaru on the 12th March, 1895, and that Moses afterwards served under him as a police constable until the date of his arrest for theft, for which offence he lias been sentenced to five years' imprisonment? (2) is the Minister aware, or is the Commissioner of Police aware, that Detective Livingstone, late of Dunedin, but now of Gisborne, was the officer who arrested Moses for theft at Timaru on the 20th December, 1890, for which offence he (Moses) was convicted? and (3) taking these circumstances into consideration, will the Minister cause inquiries to be made as to whether either of these two officers has ever reported the above-men-tioned fact to headquarters, and if not, why not?

Mr J. Allen is to ask the Minister of Landsif he will introduce a Bill making provision that the Crown should pay one° half cost- of fencing the boundary between Crown lands and the holdings of Crown tenants and other occupants of lands adjoining Crown property. Mr Moss wants the Minister for Justice to have the District Court rules brought up to present day wants, as the majority of them are nearly 50 years old. Mr Wood is to ask the Minister for Railways that, in the event of a member dying while upon the superannuation fund, his widow and children, if any, be allowed to receive the benefits of the Act as though the member died before going upon the fund?—Mr Wood is to ask the Minister for Railways if, in all future departmental inquiries into charges made against members of the railway service, he will appoint one member of the Board from the bTanch of the service in which the defendant or accused is employed, to sit with the officers appointed to deal with the case?

Mr Taylor is to move that there be laid before this House a return showing the number of telegrams forwarded and received by each Minister of the Crown during each of the years ending 31st March between 1895 to 1905, both years inclusive, (1) on Government business; (2) on the memo system; (3) as replies to memos. Mr Hanan is to ask the Minister of Education if, in view of the fact that few women teachers are able to remain in the profession to the age of 55 years, he will amend clause 23 of the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme so that the optional age for the retirement of women teachers shall be 50 instead of 55 years, thus giving better encouragement to such teachers to become contributors to the fund? Mr Duthie has given notice to move that there be laid before this House a return of all costs to the colony in connection with the Right Hon. the Premier's visit to the South Island between the 23rd Mav and the 11th June last; the return to also set out the amount of expenses of each of the accompanying secretaries.—The member for Wellington is also to move that there be laid before this House a return setting out the several public works promised or impliedly promised by each of the Ministers during the last three months while on their travels throughout the colony, and showing whether such promises were for railways, public buildings, roads and bridges, mining irrigation, water power, or other purpose; the estimated cost in each case, and also whether such commitments were made on the public platform, in reply to deputations, or on the application of individuals.

Mr Massey is to move that there be laid before this Hquse a return showing separately (1) the amount paid by way of salary or emolument-to each member of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the land tenures of the colony and matters in connection therewith, (2) the amount of travelling expenses and allowances paid or to be paid on account of the Commission ; ii, tiie total cost of advertising the sittings of the Commission; (4) the amount ot (a) salaries, (b) travelling expenses and allowances paid or to be paid to the secretaries reporters, and all other persons employed by the Commission; (5) the number of copies of the report and evidence printed or to be printed, and the cost of printing each such copy, and (6) any other expenditure on account of the Commission.