PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7661, 20 June 1896, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

' (Herald Special Reporter.) Wellington, last night. GISBORNB HARBOR BO \BD BILL. Ini the House this afternoon the Hon. J. Carroll introduced the Gisborne Harbor Board Empowering Bill. PBEMIEB AND TBE -SURHR. Id announcing to the House his acceptance of the Treasurerahip, the Hon. Mr Seddon said he undertook the position with great diffidence, and he hoped that under the circumstances members would render him every assistance. They must appreciate the difficulties under which he labored. He Would do hia beat to place the financial affairs of the colony in as simple a manner as possible. He believed that there should be a simplification of the public accounts, so that every member of the House could understand them. JOTTINGS. The afternoon's sitting of the Council only occupied 'seven minutes. The Government introduced two Bills, one to amend the Medical Practitioners' Registration Act, and the second to amend the Adulteration Prevention Act. A return of all associations registered under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Aot, 1884, was laid on the table by the Minister of Education. The resolution setting up a Select Committee on the banking question was again shirked till Thursday. The ex-Treasurer's statement that the Bank Note Issue Act was introduced at the request of all the banks trading in the colony is to be challenged by Mr Duthie. TBE DEBATE. The debate on the Address-in-Reply has practically monopolised the whole ot to-day's Bitting. In' continuing it the Minister of Lands vigorously defended his administration, and, dealing with the advances to Battlers' office, pointed out that up to the Ist of this month £895,252 had been ad- ' vanced to 2701 people, the average amount lent being £322. This should be sufficient reply to the oft-repeated argument that the office was not taken advantage of by small settlers. Messrs McGuire and Hall were the other speakers up to the dinner adjournment, but moat of the ground which they covered had "been traversed by previous speakers. To-day. — Much-needed life was infused into the debate at the evening's sitting, when the speakers included Riccarton Russell, one of the left wing, who differs from the Government because they do not go far enough in what he terms progressive Liberalism, and the Hon. Mr Hall Jones, who delivered his maiden speech as a Minister of the Crown. Mr Kussell was very severe in his comments on the Premier's action in taking office under the German syndicate, and also as to the oonduct of those who forced on the colony the Colonial Bank, which, he said, was the rottenest institution ever known in the country, for which they had to pay 475,000 for the goodwill. The Minister for Public Works made a favorable impression by his readiness in reply, and received from the left wing hearty applause, because, as Mr Pirani put it, they recognised that those who were not servile supporters might now take heart. The whole tenor of Mr Pirani's speech was that of a candid friend, and judging from the signs of the timeß he prognosticated that the Ministry were not going £b have a rosy time of it. Mr Earnshaw's contribution to the debate started with congratulation on the appointments to the Ministry of Messrs Hall Jones and T. Thompson, which, he said, was a combination on the part of the Premier of prohibition and beef) whilst the mover and seconder of the Addrcss-in-Reply was a conjunction of beer and Bible, both Bhowing the adroitness of the Premier. He criticised the administration of the Government, and declared his intention of doing bis best to oust them. Other contributions to the debate were Messrs MoLaohlan, Flatman, and Tanner. The House rose at 1.20. Finding himself nnable to dissuade several members of the rank and file on the Government side from talking on the Address-in-Reply, the Premier shortly after one this morning agreed to an adjournment of the debate till Tuesday on the understanding that it would then be closed. Wellington, to-day. THE ABSENT SPEAKER. The House has got somewhat demoralised in the absence of Sir Maurice O'Rorke (whoße non-attendance at such a crisis, by the way, has caused a good deal of criticism), and the Opposition members complain that Mr Guinness, Aoting-Speaker, has allowed debaters on the Government side an amount of latitude .which has contributed largely to stir up the bitterness indulged in at the beginning of the week. A BIG LOAN PROPOSAL. Mr Stevens has given notice to ask if the Government will borrow £1,000,000 annually during the nest five years for the purpose of completing the North Island main trunk railway line. MEDICAL PRESCRIPTIONS. Under Mr Hogg's Medical Practitioners sad Chemists Bill, medical practitioners and chemists dispensing medicine are required to affix to all bottles and packages a label setting forth the ingredients and their quantities in plain unmistakable English. HANSARD. The first number, of Hansard was issued yesterday afternoon, bringing up the debates to Wednesday last. PBOPOBED BANKING COMMITTEE. Speaking aB to the suggested names for the Banking Committee, the Hon. J. McKenzie excused the selection of tho names placed on it by saying that they had - been chosen hurriedly, and would not bo insisted on by the Ministry. As to appointing a Royal Commission, he taunted Captain Russell with having said the Horowhenua Commission was composed of Ministers' own creatures, a remark he was obliged to withdraw, the Leader of the Opposition pointing out that what he said was that it was wroDg to appoint civil servants, who might have to sit in judgment on their own superiors. ' ■' ■ QUESTIONS. Questions were again shelved yesterday afternoon to enable the debate to go on, the Address-in-Reply being at once proceeded .. with, but ' the Premier promised not to constantly transgress in this respect. It will be recollected that by the repeated postponement of questions the order paper assumed immense dimensions last session. ABOUT THOSE OATS. Mr J. W. Kelly (Invercargill) will on Tueß- ' day ask if the Premier will take the necessary steps to prosecute all parties connected with the issue of a false bond warrant for £30,000 on the firm of John Conncll and Co., of London, according to the evidence given in the case recently heard before Mr Justice Williams in Dunedin. . BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. Four numerously signed petitions in favor of Scriptural teaching in schools were presented to the House yesterday afternoon fx-etn Canterbury, district; V HALF-HOLIDAY FOR DOMESTICS.

Xthe measure introduced by the member for Invercargill to give domestic servants a weekly half - holidoy provides that the holiday shall be from 3 o'clock ia tho afternoon on the day of the Weekly half holiday in each particular district. Domestic servants are scheduled as house-maids, palorroaids, kitchen-maids, laundresses, cooks, general servants, Traitresses, nursogirls, aud house assistants. Where more than one domestio servant is employed the mistress is to regulate the half-holiday amongst the various servants. A WROKGFUL ARREST. Henry Austin and Henry Monsley, two Sydney ■ tourists, who were arrested some months ago on an unfounded charge of robbery from the Botorua post office, have petitioned Parliament for compensation. THE REESTON STRIKE. Messrs O'Regan, Stout, Earnshaw, Pinkerton, and .about twenty other members of the House this morning wired to Mr Ziman, ' »« Trust) that pending a settlement of the .unfortunate dispute over wages, arrange- - ' ments will be made whereby work can be -, resumed." SHORT WEIGHT. - 1 The object of the Adulteration Prevention .'JVotB Amendment Bill, which Government is in the Council, 'is to guard against short weight in articles of food in ■ ofosed - tins, bottles, or packages. These •- articles, and also butter in pats or rolls, must ■ in future' bear brands or labels setting forth ; ..the maximum avoirdupois weight at the time ;'■ "they are . offered or exposed for sale. A sufE. denS defence f°r the retailers will be thaj.

they purchased the goods with the same labels, and with a written warrant that the weight was correob. The penalty under the Act is fixed at a sum not exceeding £5.