THE LADIES' GALLERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2323, 8 September 1898, Page 24

THE LADIES' GALLERY.

I There is at times such a rush for seats in , the Ladies' Gallery in Parliament that oecaj sionally numbers of applicants have to be re- ■ fused admittance. Some of the ladies, how- | ever, have recourse to cunning tricks in order 1 to gain admittance, and to such an extent has the practice grown that stricter supervision has been ordered. In pursuance of the new order of things a notice of a somewhat amusing nature has been posted on the door of the Ladies' Gallery. The new legend runs thus : " Members' wives and daughters must in future exhibit their sessional tickets, as there are a great many ladies passing themselves off as members' wives who are not so. — By Order." It seems incredible that any , "lady" would pass herself off as a member's >/ife unless she were so, yet it is stated that Uiere have been cases of unmarried women presenting tickets which bear the names of members' wives, and keeping the legitimate occupants out of the front seats they are entitled to. Moreover, the other night no fewer than 22 women were turned away for attempt- j ing to gain admission on unused tickets issued for antecedent dates. MR MORRISON AND THE ENGINEERS. Mr Morrison has sent the following reply to the president of the Industrial Corporation in reference to his criticism as to the effi-

ciency of New Zealand trained engineers : — " Sir, — I am in receipt of yours of the 29th ir st., in which you traverse certain statements n ade by me in the debate on the Master and Apprentice Bill. I made the statement referred to from information supplied me which I believe to be absolutely correct." EARLY HISTORY. Mr Smith to-day asked the Premier whether he would mako arrangements for tho information now tabulated with reference to the early history of New Zealand to be a\ailable during- the recess for inspection by those who are giving their attention to the matter. The Premier said Mr Smith was asking him for uhat was next to impossible. He could not let these records go out of the office. If, however, any gentleman compiling a history of the colony wished information on any subject they were quite prepared to' allow' him the opportunity, but only where application was specially made to the Government. — (Mr Montgomery : " Can we see what has been done so far, Mr Seddon?") Ido not see any cnjeclion to that. Members of Parliament might; but not everybody. My own opinion is. that this is rimply an attack on Mr Izett. — (Hon. Members: "Oh, oh.") DIVORCE LAW. In the event of the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Divorce Biil being agreed to by the House, it will be necessary for the measure to be reserved for the Koyal assent. The opponents of the bill undei the leadership of the Hon. Mr Bonar, have prepared a protest which is to be prej sented to her Majesty praying her to withhold i I her assent. 1 j LAND AND INCOME ASSESSMENTS. - I r^ The >rem i er - replying to a question by Mr 3 Rolleston, said: — "The Land and Income , Assessment Act, 1391." and its amendments 5 have been modified by "The Government 5 , Valuation of Land Act, 1896," to the follow5 ing- extent:— The valuations of bud made [ under the latter act are under tho provisions j t of section 11 (1) (a) of that act, and clause 40 : i (a) of tho Order-in-Council thereunder to bo . used for the assessment of land tax instead r of making a duplicate valuation of the colony ; under "The Land and Income Assessment - Act, 1891." The Order-in-Council referred 3 to was published in the Gazette of 17th Fobrui ary, 1898. In all other respects " The Land I and Income Assessment Act, 1891,"' and its i amendments are in full force and operate for 1 I all purposes of assessing- and collecting land 3 , tax and income tax.