PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15825, 25 July 1913, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

NOTES FROM TELE PRESS GALLERY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 24. The Hon. Mr Duthio Ihas jjiven not.'co to ask the Government in the Legislative Council whether, in view of the 122 fires recorded in Now Zealand . during April, and She regrettable excessive number usually occurring, it mil oause a coroner's inquiry to be held into tho circumstances of all future fires. Further, recognising that abnormal excess of fires is suggestive of incendiarism, will tlie coroner be instructed to call upon tho underwriters interested for evidenoe as to the value of the risk in question over which l thov Jield cover?" HOME SAVINGS BANKS.

The Post Office states that,tho number of home savings banks at present in circula--1 tion is estimated at 25,000 These arc now obtainable from 35 offices. In tho Wellington district about 750 were issued during the March quarter, 1912; While for tho corresponding period of 1913 1130 were taken by the public. At the Wellington ohief office 190 were issued during the first quarter, 1912; whereas the figures for 1913 were 417. The idea of eavin.g money by means of home safes appear? to be gaining ground throughout tho dominion, as shown by the number of safes issued from all offices during the Alarah quarter of 1912 and 1913, the figures being 4(X)0 and 4600 respectively, "THE RULING PASSION." It is not oftezi that a member openly suggests in Parliament that betting will ensue on a measure before. ihrft Chamber, but Mr Coatcs inadvertently did so this evening when discussing racing. In discussing the Gaming Act Amendment Bill he declared that he had 'been trying all his life to breed racehorses and ho saw no harm :n a bet. "I won't say much more,'' he said, "bccauso if too much time is taken up we won't get a bert'l (Laughter.) When Mr Coates finished his sentence it read; "Get a vote taken."

A CURIOUS PROCEDURE. When moving the second reading of a Bill standing in hi 6 name it is Usual for a member to explain its purport - 'i his evening, however, Mr Wilford, when advancing his Gaming Act Amendment Bill, adopted the unusual method of merely 6aying that the measure was a simple ojie and that ho would meet arguments in his reply. The effect of the working clause of the Bill is radically to increase the number of racing days in the year. The law at present allows 250 racing. days, but each separate club's racing on the same day counts as an individual day. Mr Wilford's measure would retain tho 250 days' limit, but would apparently pc-mit any number of clubs to race upon any one day, which would then count only as one day! When Mr Wilford sat down after his brief introduction tho House was taken by surprise, and the second reading was almo6t declared carried by the Speaker before Mr Hanan sprang into tho breach and saved tho situation. He expressed his surprise at Mr .Wilford's move, and was followed by other speakers in even more direct terms. Several members declared that the action wa6 " Not courteous" and " Not honest," and assured Mr Wilford that his measure had very little chance of passing. After some discussion the debate was adjourned. The effect of this is to kill the Bill. Mr Wilford claimed in his reply that he was aware that the discussion would be adjourned and that he had not explained his Bill because he did not desire to bo "fooled."

DAYLIGHT SAVING. After some years of patient effort Mr Sidey succeeded to-night in carrying the second reading of his measure generally known as the Daylight-saving Bill. His success was popular, and was greeted with hearty hand-clasps. The measure this year is somewhat different from what it has been in the past, and provides a very mild experiment in tho way of time reform. The Bill is entitled " Definition of Time" Bill, and its main proposal is thatjor tho months of November, December, "and January New Zealand clock time shall bo one hour in advance of Now Zealand standard time, which is filed at cxactly 11£ hours in advance of Greenwich mean time. The debate on the proposition lasted for some little time, although the House was somewhat disturbed by the excitement attending the arrival of returns from the Grey contest, but immediately after tho supper adjournment Mr Sidey 'replied, and on a division being taken found his measure carried by 36 votes to 23. Last year his Bill was defeated by 1 vote. If it passes the committee stage without material alteration New Zealand will embark in the near futuro on an interesting experiment for utilising daylight to better advantage. A DULL DAY. From tho point of viiew of work done today was a dull day. In this it was not dissimilar from private membem' days of past sessions, for there was a plethora of talk and little performance. After the discussion of the northern epidemic and tho measures being taken- in connection therewith, a debate was begun upon the Premium Bonds Validation Bill, which was in chargo of Mr Harris, who moved that a select committee be set up to consider trie measure. Opposition was taken to this proposal, and an amendment was moved that it' be referred to the Public Accounts Committee, After several hours' talk this question came to a division, when the amendment was negatived by 40 votes to 21, A committee of 10 members to investigate the position was thereupon set up. The next measure was the " Definition of Time" Bill (Mr Sidey), t which passed its second reading by 36 votes' to 23, after two hours' discussion'. Consideration of Mr YVijford's Gaming Act Amendment Bill No. 2 concluded the evenins sitting. The discussion on tin's was "adjourned" at 11.40 p.m., when the Hcrase rose.■ The day was largely a "stonewall" to stave off -Mr Wilford's P.ill. Yesterday the "stonewall" was from another quarter and was designed to delay Mr Hunter's Amending Bill on th 3 same subject.