PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16121, 9 July 1914, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

NOTES FROM THE PRESS GALLERY. • IFbom Oub Own Cohiiebpomoknt.) WELLINGTON. July 8. Petitions signed by 14 casual railwav hands at Newmarket, 18 at. Pet-one, and nine at Addington. with lengths of service ranging from 10 to 26 years, were presented to the House to-day. They ask that they may receive the same benefits as those enjoyed by permanent hands. ADVANCES TO TENANTS. Mi- Forbes asked the Minister of Finance to-day whether advances were being made bv iiic State-guaranteed Advances Department to Crown tenants for the purpose of enabling them to take advantage of the freehold concessions in the land legislation of 191 Z and 1913. Mi Allen replied- Yes; advances are bo mg made for this purpose. ADVANCES TO FISHERMEN. Mr Coates this afternoon asked the Ministei of .Marine whether, upon the receipt, of the report of Professor Prince on the fishing industry of New Zealand, the Government, would entertain 'projiosals to riiake advances to fishermen and to assist the industry, as was done in the matter of advances to settlers and advances to workers. Mr Fisher replied: When Professor Prince's report is received it is proposed to consider the question of the Government making advances to fishermen to enable them to obtain boats .and otherwise to.assist-thr-tn in carrying on the industries, as is cone in some ottnv countries. . MEMBER FOR GREY LYNN. Mr Payne, who was suspended during yesterday's sitting for refusing to- withdraw , certain words used by him in reference to thn Prime Minister, was in his place- today His first action after resuming Mis seat was to ask the Prime Minister whether he would move to have the Standing Orders so amended as to allow any member of the House to make a direct charge of bribery and corruption against a Minister or Ministers or against, the Government as a whole, without being liablo to the censure of the House, ;t being open to the party or parties subject to a chargo of bribery and corruption to take such action as may be cicenK'd necessary to cause any inquiry to be made into such charges.