PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15272, 12 October 1911, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

NOTES FROM TEE PRESS GALLERY. (From Ocn Own ConnEsroxDßNT.) WELLINGTON, October 11. A petition asking for tho extension of the Walton Park railway to Brighton ia referred by tlio Petitions Committee to the Government, as a question of policy ia involved. DUNEDIN BILLS. The Dunedin City (Waipori Falls) Lands Vesting Hill and the Duncdin City and .Suburban Tramways and Water-power Act Amendment Pill were* reported from tlio Loral Hills Committee to-day. There has been added a proviso safeguarding the milling privileges extending below the junction of the Lcc Stream and the Taieri Kiver. unreliable statements. A slight breeze arose in the House this afternoon when Sir Joseph Ward accused .Mr Massey of making "statements" at Levin. Tiie Leader of the Opposition Iwl ea.id (hat the puhlic debt had increased from £67 per head in 1906 to £81 in 1911. Questions and replies being the business beforo the House at the moment MrHcrries inquired what the Prime Minister's remark had to do with questions. Sir Joseph Ward : It has a great deal to do with the expenditure of public money. 110 followed this lip by accusing Mr Mnssey of making a great number of extraordinary nmj unrelialiln statements at Levin. . Mr Mn«ey indignantly protested, and challenged (he l'rime Minister to provo that he had made any statements that were either incorrect or unreliable. Sir .Jo.-vph Ward : Well, you said that you supported old-age pensions.

.Mr Masscy said he would produce the division list to show that ho had supported tile first Old-age Pension Hill. At this stage the Speaker intcrprml and terminated the discussion.

TIIAVKI.LINO SECOND CLASS. In reply to a question by Mr O. M. Thomson, Mr Miliar to-day stated (Tint arrangements had been made to pla-.'e chair seats of a suitable design in tho second class carriages need on long-dis-Uiut Irnins. ami tiie work would bo carried out n-s soon as practicable. A VERANDAH AT WAIKOUATTI. " Owing to the large nuniber of urgent. and import-nil works that have had to lie undertaken during the current financial year, there art; no funds to bo allocated for the erection of a verandah at the Waikouaiti Station. 1 regret- that the matter must therefore remain in abeyance until jv more favourable opportunity arises. It iris, however, been noted, and will be considered with other works to be undertaken in the future." Thus the Hon. MiMillar in reply to a question put on tho Order Paper by Mr K. 11. Clark. PITV THK POOR- POSTMISTRESS. Sir Win. Steward put a question on Hie Order Paper with a viow to getting ail increase in the salary of the postmistress at Waihoa Forks owing to increased work. Sir Joseph Ward, however, has replied tli.it the salary paid is already considerably in o.xcofi.i of the scale. Inquirirfl arc being made a-linnt the. alleged increased work, which tho returns to band do not appear to show, SPKOfAI, INQRRIKS RESUMED. The inquiry regarding the Moknu lamia transactions will be resumed by the Native Affairs CoinnviUofi to-morrow mornning. Mr Masr.ey will be called in order that he may be examined regarding somo points in bin statement. Tho tipocial

Parliamentary Committco appointed to report upon the petition of the Taupo 'iotara Timber Company will take further evidence to-morrow morning regarding the company's railroad construction proposals. STATE BANK. Notice has been given by Mr Arnold of a proposal that tho House of Hcpresenlatives should appoint a committee to inquire into the ([uostion of the expediency of establishing a State Hank for the Dominion. The committee to have power to confer with any similar committee appointed by the legislative Council. Mr Arnold suggests that the members nf tho committee should be Messrs Arnold. Ell, I'ra.ser, Hunan. Ilogan, Luirenson, Marnier, Millar, Myers, and Mindcs. future ok maori hack. Mr Herries lias given notice to ask the Prime Minister (1) v.-hether the following portions of the lion. Sir ,1. Fiiidlav's I'arnell speech, Nik reported in the New Zealand Times of October 10, in an exposition of the new Native policy of the Government or of Sir J. Findlay "Ho believed the day was not far distant when, with the heightened standard of education among the race, special representation of the Maoris in Parliament would be unnecessary. The Maori, as that day neared. must l»e placcd in the Plliiie position as the European in regard to the duties of citizenship and the use of the land, lie mentioned that day was coming fast"; and (2) if this policy, which has Ivoun always advocated by the Opposition and opposed hitherto by the Government, is to be adopted by tlw Government, will they brinjc <lown legislattiou this session to give effect to it ?