PARLIAMENT.

Opunake Times, Volume VI, Issue 272, 16 April 1897, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, April 10. The Hon. John McKenzie hoped to introduce the Fair Rent Bill next session. The Hon. Mr Seddon said ha would enquire re a fast steam service between New Zealand and Australia. Mr Seddon said he would not commit the colony in respect of the Midland Railway Company, which was virtually non-existent, and added, in reply to Mr R. McKenzie, that the Government would strictly comply witl| the law regarding the contract with the Company. The Hon. Mr McKenzie said he hoped to introduce the Beet Root Sugar Bill next session. Mr Seddon said whatever steps were taken with respect to the Bushy Park Estate were done with the approval of the general manager of the Assets Board. The Defence Minister said railway tickets would be issued to volunteers attending shooting matches at a very much reduced rate. Mr Thompson added that instructions had been issued to have the ammunition on issue re-tested.

Mr Taylor asked if the Government in the interests of public moralty, would prosecute the directors and officials of the Colonial Bank connected with the issue of a fraudulent balance sheet.—The Premier replied that the Supreme Court should decide. Replying to Mr Taylor, the Hon. T. Thompson said there was nothing within his knowledge, demanding an enquiry into police reform. In reply to Mr Joyce’s question, respecting the offering of the Bank of New Zealand for sale in London as a going concern, the Premier said the institution was improving its position every day. The Government had he said, offered the position of general manager to Mr Tegetmeyer, an acknowledged financial authority in London, and there was every prospect of his accepting it. The Government was also attempting to secure the services of a gentleman who had nothing to do with either the Bank of New Zealand or the Colonial Bank for the position of one of the auditors of the Bank. The Government, he said, proposed to lay on the table of the House returns respecting the realisation of the estates of the Bank of New Zealand, which had been satisfactory. . Referring to the Old Age Pensions, the Premier said that the next session he trusted to pass a measure which would commemorate the Queen’s record reign. The Premier favored the gum-dig-ging industry being protected against foreigners. The Minister of Railways said ha had the classification of railway employees under consideration, aud the schema would be brought down next session; also he could not consent to reduce the rates for the carriage of dead meat and provide cool cars on the railway lines for the encouragement of meat freezing and preserving works in country districts.