PARLIAMENT IN SESSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1905, 25 May 1888, Page 18

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION.

Tuesday, May 22. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Dr FITCHETT asked the Government what steps had been taken towards establishing a police superannuation fund. The Hon. Mr FERGUS said the Government were at present taking steps to organise this fund. Dr FITCHETT asked the Government if they will make provision for the payment to common jurors of a jury fee for each day when a civil case extends over more days than one. The Hon. Mr FERGUS said provision would be made for paying these jurors. Sir JOHN HALL asked the Postmastergeneral whether the Government propose to take steps during the present session to extend to New Zealand the same advantages in respect to a foreign parcel post as are possessed by other British dominions. The Hon. Sir H. ATKINSON replied that the Government would do so. Mr JOYCE asked the Minister for Public Works when the House might expect the announcement of the appointment of the Railway Commissioners. The Hon. Mr MITCHELSON said a large number of applications had been received, but the Government were advised that none of those applying were fit for the position. Further inquiries were now being made. Mr BEETHAM asked the Government if they will bring in a bill during the present session for the purpose of giving effect to the resolution passed by this House relating to the proceeds of the totalisator. The Hon. Sir H. ATKINSON said the Government were considering the question, and would be able to give a definite answer in a tew days. NEW BILLS. The following bills were introduced :— -Roman Catholic Schools, Foul Brood Among Bees, and Workmen's Wages. THE CODLIN MOTH. The Hon. Mr FISHER moved the second readiug of the Codlin Moth Bill. He said it was the bill of last year, and was brought in to provide for the<lestructiou of the insect known : < tjv- cm.'llm ji.ofh. He then explaiued the viaiou- }•*;/* ;.-iiMfr d' th<?bill. Sir JOHN HALL, supported the bill, but he

thought its provisions were scarcely stringent enough for the destruction of the pest. Mr HOBBS cordially supported the measure, and hoped it would become law. Mr PEACOCK also hoped the bill would pass, as he felt great good would result from it. Mr MONK said the country was agreed that legislation should take place on this question, but he said the bill should have been circulated more fully before it was brought in. He should like the bill left in abeyance for a while, so as to make it as complete as possible. Messrs Jones, M'Gregor, and Thomson (Marsden) warmly supported the bill. Mr TAYLOR hoped consideration of the bill would be deferred for some little time. He did so in the interests of people who held quarteracre sections. The motion was agreed to on the voices. NAVAL AND MILITARY SETTLERS' LAND CLAIMS. The Hon. Mr FERGUS moved the second reading of the Naval and Military Settlers' and Volunteers' Land Bill, explaining that it was passed by the House last year, but was rejected in the Council owing to want of sufficient information. Mr FULTON referred to the difficulty which the commission appointed on this matter experienced in dealing with the claims of the men who served under Colonel Nixon, and said he was glad that the Waste Lands Committee had recommended these claims to the consideration of the Government. Sir G. GREY approved of the bill, which was conceived in a generous spirit. He thought military settlers were entitled to much more consideration respecting their land than they had hitherto received. Many of those men had died without receiving their land. The bill might be amended so as to provide for subsequent claims, and he hoped the House would agree to such an amendment. The Hon. Mr FERGUS, in reply, said there was no reason why further claims should not be heard by another commission. The motion was agreed to. DISTRICT RAILWAYS. The Hon. Mr HISLOP moved the second reading of the District Railways Purchasing Act Amendment Bill. He explained the provisions of the bill, and said its object was to enable the Government to collect rates due. Mr COWAN hoped that the House would consider it well before it gave the Government the power asked for by this bill, which was of a very sweeping character, one of its provisions being that ratepayers had no power to appeal against any rate fixed by the Property Tax Commissioner. The bill was also retrospective in character, and he hoped the Government would not press it till the people more directly concerned had an opportunity of studying it. He hoped the second reading would be postponed to a future day. Mr WALKER thought the request of the member for Hokonui was a reasonable one — namely, that the bill should be postponed till the people affected by it were made aware of its provisions. He was glad to see some provision was made in the bill for legitimate objections. He heartily sympathised with the object the Colonial Secretary had in view in introducing the bill,|and hoped satisfactory machinery would be provided for carrying it out. Mr DUNCAN waa very intimately acquainted with one of those railways referred to in the bill — the Duntroon and Hakateramea line — and unless some clause were proposed dealiug out justice to the ratepayers of this railway he fahould be compelled to oppose the bill. Mr MILLS moved the adjournment of the debate. The Hon Mr HISLOP would not oppose the adjournment, as it was only reasonable that the bill should be circulated amongst the people who were affected by it. The motion for adjournment was agreed to. LIVE STOCK COMMITTEE. Mr O'CALLAGHAN moved—" That a select committee be appointed, consisting of 10 members, to take into consideration all matters connected with the subject of New Zealand live stock referred to it by the House, the committee to consist of Messrs Anderson, Buchanan, Duncan, Jackson, Kerr, Lawry, Pearson, Tanner, Valentine, and the mover." — Agreed to. THE MEMBER FOR DUNSTAN. Mr Vincent Pyke made his appearance in the House again this afternoon looking none the worse for his late illness. Sir G. Grey also took his seat to-day. THE SEAWARD BUSH AND EDENDALEFORTROSE RAILWAYS. Messrs Ward and Feldwick waited on the Hon. Mr Mitchelson to-day, and urged him to go on with the Seaward Bush railway by the small contracts system. The Minister explained that as a quantity of rails, &c. had been borrowed for this line, and would have to be repaid, the amount available for the line when that was done would only be a little over £3000. He promised, however, to consider, and if possible to go on with the formation so as to give work to the unemployed. In the course of a rather long interview it came out that the Government did not intend to proceed with the Edendale-Fortrose line beyond Glenham tunnel, but the Minister could not give the balance of the vote for that line (about £5000) to the Seaward Bush line. He also stated that very feeble responses had been received to the invitations to the Invercargill unemployed to work on the roads in the interim. RABBIT COMMITTEE. It is proposed to set up a Rabbit Corrmittee, to consist of Messrs Buchanan, Cowan, Dodson, Duncan, Lance, J. M'Kenzie, Rhodes, Valentine, and the Minister of Lands.