PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7663, 25 June 1896, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

(Heraud Special Reporter, )

gS •; .. . Wellington, to-day. fi-r:' The entire afternoon sitting of the House pii-jestMcl^y waß occupied in replying to quesr^tipnß. 6& ' The, Premier informed Mr MoNab that the g| Government were fully considering tho jp-'vnxed question of old soldiers claims. In dealing with the matter the Cabinet :>-- would most certainly debar one olass ; \- r which . had hitherto received the greatest . amount of consideration, viz., those who had ,;. simply arrived with the army and navy and - ; „ had settled in the colony without ever having ■ taken part in fighting the Natives. - ■ The Speaker has ruled that matter neither -spoken nor read in the House should not be published in Hansard. This is in answer to 1 ' a question by Sir Robert Stout, who alleged - the -publication of printed matter in the ".. "ex-Treasurer's defence which was not read - by that hon. gentleman. ••'--- In answer to Mr Joyce, who asked as to "-.. reoiprocity with South Australia, the Pre-i-"lnier said Government had decided to bring in_a\Bill giving power to reciprocate with * .the Home Government and British dependencies, and he hoped it would be passed ' - into law this session. :.,-. . The Minister of Defence says it is intended -. to increase ' the number of commissioned officers in the permanent forces. ... Mr Marsden Thompson, in pressing on '"■"_. the-attention of the Government the need . for encouragemout of rifle clubs, said the • impression seemed to be that the Government was doing all it could to discourage by every means' possible the existence of rifle clubs. -lv.his district some eighty youths on the - weekly half-holiday went in for rifle shooting, providing their own rifles and ammunition. As a matter of fact volunteering had ceased to exist outside of the large centres, and he . . thought the Government should, in view of possible contingencies, promote the formation t of and countenance rifle clubs. The Defence <r Minister replied that experts were antagonistic to rifle clubs. At the same time he x knew that there were differences of opinion, --and he promised to make further inquiries. The Hon. Mr Bolt's Divorce Bill, which is practically the same measure as that introduced during the last two sessions by the - Hon. Mr McGregor, bad a Bhort shift in the ' Council, the second reading being refused by 16 to 13. The principal speakers in ; - opposition to the Bill were the Hons. Kerr, Who moved the usual " six months " amend- - ment, and Arkwright, who urged that the measure was designed to- weaken the marriage tie. lv asking whether it was the intention of -the Government to borrow in the English • money market or in the colony for completing the main trunk lines, Mr Stevens said it '. was a physical impossibility for the Government to carry on a public works policy with -.'any degree of success without a loan, and he believed he was voicing the opinion of a large Dumber of members of the House (Cries of -- V No.") when he advocated this means of ' advancing the construction of main railway ' ' lines. - The Premier, amid laughter, said he hoped members would acquit him having ' ( the question placed on the Order Paper as' a ' feeler. It invited him to disclose the intentions of the Government, not only in _ regard to the Public Works Statement but also the Financial Statement. He believed that id was necessary for the colony to do works which were of a reproductive - character. He believed in respect to land ■ - settlement, and more especially in regard to '■' those settlers a long way back, who were * out. off from means of communication, that - money spent in road-making would be profitably employed. As to the suggestion to ■ borrow a million a year for five years, he /was in a position to answer emphatically in 'the negative. (Laughter). As to works - that would prove reproductive, Parliament , ' would be asked to make the necessary proVision. v -In the Council the names of Hon. Feldwick and Rigg have been added to the proposed Joint Committee on Banking matters. I- The Minister of Lands stated to the Honse in, reply to Mr Duthio that he had not altered his opinion of Sir Walter Bnller ''since last' session. By an oversight his .-..name was recently added to the Commission iof the Peace, and unless he resigned, the probabilities were that his name would be '-. iomoved by the Government. .= -The Hon. Mr Walker explained in the . Council the position of the Midland Railway ■v Otinstrootiou and Land Act 1881. The /'"Railway waa seized, > a sum of money expended, notice of expenditure given to the Company ; it will be for the Company to jiifleoide or not they will pay this - money ; if not paid, the Railway would be ' . dealt with as provided by the Act. ">'.. A '.representative of Messrs Huddart, Parker and Co. is coming to the colony with the view of asking assistance for the ; Vancouver service, and after Government -have heard his proposals, a resolution is to be submitted to the. House asking for a subsidy for a mail service. '-. After a short debate in the Council the Hon. Mr Shrimski's Police Offences Act 1884 Amendment Bill to prevent the dehorning of cattle by any painful process, passed . second reading without division, on the .-, understanding .that it would go before the ' Stock "Committee." ■ ;Owipgto" the want of business in the ; Council, Sir G. Whitmore will move its adjournment from Friday for a fortnight. - - An important measure, Introduced by Sir Robert Stout, is the Limitation of Disposition by Will Bill, to limit the right of : a man to dispose only one third of his .property away from his widow and children. A wife who diea possessed of property is . limited to a similar extent in her disposition of it. ; The Criminal Code Amendment Bill, whichSir Robert Stout has charge of, is for the >.pnnishment of incest. , Tbe opposition will support Mr Riccarton Rnsßell's amendment to the motion on the ' ' banking question, and as it will also have the assistance of some' dozen or fifteen members of ths Liberal Independents, including Messrs MoNab, :W. Hutchison, J. W. ' Kelly, Pirani, R. Thompson, and others, it '' is expeoted that the division will be a close ■ ... one. . Last night, was the first private members' ' sitting of the session. The Domestic Ser- . . vants Half-holiday Bill, introduced by Mr -. J. W. Kelly and supported by the Minister •; of "Labor and members generally, passed its second reading on the voices. : -Mr Mills'B' annual Bill for allowing the convict Chemis to apply to the Appeal Court .for a rehearing of bis case has found a convert in the Premier (who has hitherto - opposed it) because owing to the death of Cheinis's counsel he was not properly de- , fended. The second reading was curried by 40 to 14. The Native Rights Bill, introduced Mr , Heke, was strongly opposed by Mr Stevens, the Minister of Lands, the Premier, and . others on the ground that if Natives were permitted to- traffic 'in lands grave abuses - would again occur on the part of European .-hfaW&ben, and that a separate Parliament : I^Kfpr? race would bo unworkable. Tho ■ BeSnti-i'eading was rejected by 38 to 7. '] : . . Tho Government measures introduced . yesterday included the Local Government Bill) and a measure raising the age of consent to sixteen. - ■ Rumorß are circulating to the effect that . the " left wing," or more independent Go- '■ vernment members are forming a party of "•'.their own, to be known as "Radicals."' -Whether or not this means that some ten , /members of the left wing intend to sever ■ their connection with the Government party : altogether, is not clear, but it is plain that -■■•" the movement on foot will not add to the seourity of the Ministerial position, and V. developments may be awaited with interest, '■■k ■-• -!Cbe Singer Manufacturing Company, which originated in a humble venture, backed .'by the modest capital of 40 dollars -. (£8) borrowed money, now commands a : .workiDg capital of £2,000,000, and threefourths of the sewing machine trade of the r\-Vworl<V as we^ - J^ n arm y 53,000 strong -represents its. employees throughout the S' Iworld (with 4000 vehicles and 6600 horses), -"' ''-'*, 12,00f1i of this hosb being employed solely in ;;• manufacturing machines. E. Chrisp, resil&dent. agent.— Ad vt. • '■c-'h, fJEho. famous Viotory Sewing Machine is ff/i^tbe /latest "and most ' perfeot of Pewinp //Mttbhines. . It 'is adapted for household and "/-\\vork-rootn use, and is cupable of perform-ISi?-Uigj''the;..moßt ' artlstio fancy work. The |i;?S6noes taryfrom Mxguiiieaa, and any of the si|s:Jns6hines/can be purchased on the easiest eD '' B rom *^ c New Zealand 111 -f^l^^l^P^' -^ ' wa ' ftgenoy,— Ad?( f