PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14279, 30 July 1908, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

; NOTES FROM THE PRESS J GALLERY. 1 (From Our Owk Correspondkxt.) 1 WELLINGTON, Julv 29. A return presented to Parliament to-day J. shows that 7,982,327 acres of land have been - acquired from the Natives m the North • Island. 3 FOSTERING AGRICULTURE. I Mr Hardy has given notice to- ask the ' Minister of Lands whether he will indicate what 6teps tho Government are prepared to take to foster agriculture, and in particular lo promote such conditions as will allow 3 farmers to employ more labour in tho ' cultivation of tho land to the general ad--1 vantage and greater stability of the country. He says that the statistics of the acreage and aotual yield in corn crops recently l ' published in tho Gazette manifest a de--1 clino of agriculture in the' Dominion, the s acreage under cultivation for the •principal > cereals (wheat, oats, and liarley) during 1 tho past season being 55,349 acres less than s the acreage for the previous 12 years, and • nearly a quarter of a million acres less 1 than the total nine years ago, and also in ' wheat alone the Auckland, Hawlte's'ißay, 5 Tarauaki, Wellington, and Marlborough ' provincial districts show the smallest aero- | age during the 13 years. INSPECTION OF MACHINERY. The annual report on the inspection of • machinery states that there was a marked increase in ihe numberof engines inspected last year. The increase of land inolor i ears driven by oil is also reported to be very noticeable. The tolal number of boilers inspected last year was 5965, being ( 569 in excess of the previous number. It , was found that several of tho vertical class , of boilovs needed fairly extensive repairs. , The report states that some of the defects that, were discovered were highly dangerous, - and -would undoubtedly have led to oxplo- - sions it they had not been chocked in time. , During the year 906 candidates went up for , the engine-drivers' examinations, and of , these 602 were successful. No boiler ox- , plosions took place during the year. 1 THE FARRIERS BILL. y The Farriers Bill, introduced by Mr ( Major, provides for tho registration 'of all persons carrying on business as farriers. Every porson who lias carried on busine.se as a farrier for one year, or has served as an apprentice or assistant for four years at the time of the passing of the act "shall be entitled to register. After the passing of tho act, registration will be granted to persons who have served four years as an apprentice or assistant, and to' these per- ■ sons who pass an examination comprising; (a) A practical test of the candidate's efficiency in the trade of lnaknig horseshoes and of shoeing horses; and (b) a written, or oral examination on the anatomy and ; physiology of tho horse's foot, and in such oilier subjects pertaining or relating to the trade of a farrier as may bo presoribed by regulations. The maximum penalty for carrying on business in contravention of the act is to be a fine not exceeding £1 a day. WATER RIGHTS. To-day Mr J. Allen asked the, Minister of Lands whether he was prepared to concede water rights for the manufacture of calcium nitrate or other products requiring the utilisation of water power in the West Coast Sounds, which wero reserved for a national park? Mr M'Nab stated that as the object of the reserve known as the Sounds National Park was to conserve the flora and fauna within its boundaries, and to maintain this" magnificent ceenic territory in its primeval condition, no water or other rights would be granted,- , unless some very urgent reasons wore advanced aJid, upon full inquiry, found to bo sustained for their. concession. All applications would be dealt with on their merits, RAILWAY MATTERS. At the request of Mr James Allen, the Minister of Railways states that ho will have pleasure in arranging for an estimate to be prepared showing what would be the cost of. providing additional accommodation at the Milton railway station. Tho stated in reply to a-nother question, that in order to provide the improved access asked for at Stirling station, which it is recognised would be a convenience, though it is not looked upon as an urgent necessity, additional land must be acquired, and at the present time with so many essential works to provide for he regrets that the iniDrovements asked for must stand over. The Minister cannot authorise the construction of a loading bank at Manuka- at present. TELEPHONE EXTENSION. In reply to Mr J. Allen, the Postmastergeneral said that to connect Glenledi by telephone would cost £105. The estimated revenue was £7 a year, and the interest on cost and working expenses £15 a year, leaving a deficiency of £8. If a guarantee wore given to pay this deficiency for five years ho would autboriso the extension. The tele-phono station at Akatore, the nearest to GleJiledi, and three miles distant from it, however, only sent during the year onded 30th Juno last, 60 messages of iho value of £1 15s 2d. It would not appear, therefore, that thero was much prospect in that district for the' business growing to an oxtent that would relieve the guarantors from their liability. THE MEMBER FOR TUAPEKA. Dr Chappie asks mo to correct a wrong impression that possibly, he says, may have been created by, tho Prces Association report of tho discussion on the Budget. Sir Davny's criticism of Dr Chappie's speech was given, but not Dr Chappie's contradiction of certain statements,made by wav of personal explanation. At the conclusion of Mr Davey's speech Dr Chappie rose and said: Tho honourable gentleman who has just sat down alleges that I said in my ' speech on this debate that "Combinations 'of workers were not in the best intercuts of the workers." I never said so.—Mr Davey: I did not say that,—Dr Chappie: I look it down in my own shorthand. In referring to combinations I was referring < to those combinations brought about to raise prices and to keep up the prices of ; commodities. He also said that I said that " the whole Arbitration Court rofonn should be taken entirely out of the hands i of employers and employees."—Mr Davey: i Yon said that they should not have anything to do with it.—Dr.Chappie: I never '. said so. Ho also stated that I said that "tho Arbitration Court should sit oftcner ' when prices went down"; also that I said 1 that " workers had nothing to do with profits"; also that I said that "those who ] formed unions were likely to become 1 agitators." I never mado those statements. He also said that I "supported the Industrial Councils Rill of last year." I did not.—Mr Davey: I have not had time to take down the whole of the honourable gentleman's denials, hut when the honourable member says that ho d'd not say what I alleged in reply to the honourable member of Ohinemnri, I tlrnk I could guarantee ' to find that for him in his Hansard notes.— J An Hon. Member: You must take his denial.—'Mr Davey: I must take it, but < it is strange that tho hon. gentleman ' should repudiate those words, I must, of ' course, accept his explanation. I rejrret ' if I have misrepresented tho honourable J gentleman, but if I h'xvp done so it has ' been quite unwittingly. ' JOTTINGS. I " I will pay his pension myself," said t Mr M'LiHilan in the House to-day, regard- { ing an old Canterbury settler. " rather than think (hat this man should go down lo his grave in absolute poverty." Mr Arnold, referring to iho criticism in the Houso lllis afternoon regarding deserving old people who could not get the oldpension, said: "My heart is full with joy lo such an extent that I hardly knowhow to speak." Mr Witty has been informed that in r response to his request a committee will be I t set up to deal with the dairy reflations. I s Mr Malcolm is inquiring whether il is a c fact that when the Melbourne steamers I c reach the Bluff at an early hour the mails i ] are frequently not sent oh bv the first : t express, If so, will the Postmaster. a general see that greater promptness is ' f shown? . c Mr Witlv wants the Government to c erect sawmills near the North Island Main! fi Trunk line, so as io sunplv tho public with ( , timber at a. reasonable price, and thus ? possibly render jt unnecessary to import 1 \'»nrircin timber. s There was great amnseinenl in Hie Howe a 10-night when the Sneaker slated that .v- y. '■ording to the division list the Hon. Mr i Fowlds had voted both with the ayes and j the noes on the Flour Duty Abolition Bill, t The laughter and cric*^' , - si -tfhicli t

greeted this announcement showed that, members keenly relished what locked like p. a. very remarkable coincidence. Mr i Eowlds, as a Minister, might bo expected r to vole against tho bill, but i! \ ras at e least equally obvious that Mr Fowlds as an o avowed Freetrader ought to sympathise ,- with it. He explained that the tellers for a the "ayes" had made a mistake. He had •.. not been near that lobby. Mr Thomson has given notice to ask the Government whether it will obtain a report on the Waiau River to ascertain if it is navigable for steamers such as ply on the Wanganui liiver.