PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8330, 1 October 1898, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(Fsoai Oub Parliamentary Rlpoutur.) Wellisctok, today. NATIVE LKOISLATIOX. A batch of petitions containing the signatures of 3378 Natives was presented to the House yesterday in favor of proposals submitted by the Premier at the Papawai meeting. One of the petitioners was from "Potatau," incorrectly pronounced "Potato" by the Premier, which caused Mr Buchanan to interject " The potato is cooked," whereat the House laughed consumedly at this feeble chestnut. A HOTELKEEPER'S COMPLAINT. A petition was yesterday presented from Alfred Crossey, licensee of the Ranfurly Hotel, Wellington, stating thathehad kept licensed houses for sixteen years, during which no complaint had ever been made against him, but on a recent Sunday a policeman was stationed at the door of his hotel, noting down the names of boarders and visitors who entered from early morning until late at night. In. consequence several boarders and their frieuds who objected to such inquisitorial action bad transferred their custom to other houses, causing him serious loss, and he prayed the House to inquire into the circumstances and compensate him for the loss sustained by the wrougs aforesaid. The mutters were referred to the Petitions Committee. COUNCIL BUSINESS. In the Council the Native Interpreters' Bill was considered in Committee, and a minor amendment added on the suggestion of the Native Affairs Committee. The adjourned debate on the Separate Institutions BUI was continued, hostility being shown by several speakers to the measure, it being urged that the proposals should form part of a comprehensive Local Government Bill, while others thought that if it was imperative to deal with the Waimate Hospital the difficulty could be met by a short Bill. The second reading was ultimately agreed to on the assurance of the Minister that before going into Committee he would inform the Council whether he would abandon the measure this session or simply bring forward those clauses which were considered absolutely essential. The Lunatic Act Amendment Bill was read a second time, and the Council adjourned at 4.40. ANTI-GAMBLING BILL. In Committee in the Council on the Gaming and Lotteries Amendment Bill clause 2, imposing a penalty of £10 for betting in a street, was agreed to by 18 to 7. Clause 3, a constable may arrest offenders without warrant, was opposed by several members, and on division struck out by 16 to 13, progress being then reported, with leave to sit again, HOUSE PROCKEDINGS. In the House, on the motion of Mr Smith, the Industries and Commerce Exteusion Committee was instructed to enquire into the delays in the delivery of the San Francisco mails in the colony. A return was granted showing the conditions under which one million pounds raised under the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act 1896 was raised and by whom or by what companies or corporations the money was subscribed. , Mr Seddon presented a large number of petitions in favor of the Native Land Settlement and Administration Bill. The Imprest Supply Bill No. 4, making provision for the expenditure for £367,500, was introduced. On the question of its second reading, Captain Russell pointed out that in many districts of the colony much more was raised by way of taxation than was spent in public works. For many years past the votes on the public works estimates for the district he represented had been, as compared with the revenue collected, very small and altogether disproportionate to the requirements of the district. He objected to public monies being spent in districts only where the Government's voting power was. He complained that no information had been given respecting the proposed increase of the police force, and advocated smaller police districts, as the present ones were 80 wide that tho inspectors practically found it impossible to do their duty properly. In order to promote tho efficiency of the force, there should be procured a number of thoroughly disciplined superior officers who would be removed from immediate contact with the men over whom they had control. He saw no reason why in the immediate present these officers should not be got from outside the colony. After further discussion the Bill was passed through all stages and transmitted . to the Council, where it also "passed all stages. Mr Pirani referred to transfers by Order-in-Council of sums from one vote in the public works fund to other votes in the same fund, and pointed out that these transfers had been intended to be used only in cases of.emergencies, but under the present Administration tho practice was becoming an overy-day occurrence.- He read a tablo showing the transfer from votes for railways, showing that the • Marlon, Te Awamutu, and GruhamstownTe Aroha lines had gained by transfers from votes from the Eketahuna-Woodville, Otago-Central, Bleuheim-Awatere, and Hcleusville northwards. Mr Duthie referred to this system of transfers as vicious, and contended that the law should be altered to prevent such transfers. He urged a more vigorous prosecution of the construction of tho North Island main trunk lino, and hoped that the original plans with respect to the additions to Parliament Buildings would be carried out in their entirety. Mr Smith complained that the votes on the public works estimates for Canterbury were disproportionate to the requirements of that district. Mr Herries contended that the co-opera-tive system of construction of public works should bo abolished. Mr i Moore complained that 25 per cent, of the expenditure for public works was to be spent in the province of Auckland. Mr Taylor urged that the Honsc should be given an opportunity to come lo a' decision on the subject of the report of the Police Commission, and considered that the Government should give an indication us to tho legislation which it was intended to pass this session. OLU AUC TENSIONS. The Old Ago Pensions Bill was further considered in Committee. After discussion clauses 35 to 42 inclusive were passed with slight amendments. On clause 43 containing provisions where a pensioner is in receipt j of Charitable Aid, Mr Meredith moved that theso provisions should apply only in the cases of pensioners maintained by public institutions. Tho clause ultimately by 29 to 25 was postponed. Clauses 44 to 46 inclusive were agreed to without material amendment. Progress was reported, and the House adjourned at 2.35 a.m.