PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10446, 26 August 1905, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. UNPAR LI AMENTARY .

Whilst explaining his position regarding the decision ol the Public Petitions Committee in connection with the shareholders of the Colonial Bank application, the Minister for Public Works was called to order* for the use of the word "quibble," and which he was called upon to withdraw. Retiring to his seat, Mr Ball-Jones remarked that he did not know whether he would or not, but he would consider it. Members remonstrated, and eventually the Minister complied, but complained of provocation. The member for Mount Ida had .called him "stupid," which he requested him to withdraw. Mr Herdman; explained he had not taken any exception to the 'word "quibble," suggesting that the Minister knew no better. Tliis raised tho Premier's ire, so the member for Mount Ida smilingly complied with the Speaker's ruling. Still unsatisfied, Mr Hall-Jones opened a further reference to the insinuation, but the House vigorously prevented violation of the Standing Orders. BAY OF PLENTY RAILWAY. Mr Herrics is asking the Minister for Public Works whether he will liave a flying survey made of the best route to connect To Puke with the AucklandRotorua line, and also if a Railway Authorisation Bill is introduced this session will he include tliis line among those to be authorised. LAND TENURE. Mr Taylor has given notice that when the Bouse went into Committee to consider the notice of motion on the land question, he would move the following addition : "That this House is of opinion that no legislation affecting the land of the colony will be satisfactory tliat does not provide for cessation of the sale of Crown lands, and is also of opinion that the remnant of the public estate should be created into a national educational endowment.

The Leader of the Opposition also gave notice to move an amendment on the Premier's land proposals, challenging tho methods of introducing the proposals as being unsatisfactory and unconstitutional. The motion states. "The failure of tiro Government to formulate a. land S9licy, even with the report of the Land ommission to assist- them, is an evasion of constitutional responsibility. This House therefore urge, that "Ministers should witlwyut delay bring down a Bill embodying their land policy, which Bill should include special provision for extending to Crown tenants holding land under Toase in perpetuity the right to acquire the freehold, but with sulneietit safeguards to prevent the .aggregation of large estates, and should also encourage settlement by providing better conditions and more secure tenure for all settlers upon the lands of the Grown." COST OF MILLION LOAN.

Following is a schedule of the cost incurred in raising the last million loan : Bank of England charge for issuing loan £5000, -commission to "brokers, hankers and others £2262, discounts allowed on prepayments £2345, stamp duty om debentures £1421, advertising £727, engraving and printing debentures £109, stamps on' script- £79, payments made by loan agents (commission 1 per* cent.) £10,000, brokerage . per cent. £2500, advertising £212, cablegrams £72, legal charges £98, stamp duty on transfers £190, total charges £25,019. TE KARAKA PETITION. Tlie, petition of Te'ira Ranginui, an aboriginal native woman, of To Karaka, sets oiit that the petitioner was owner in fee simple of Karaka No. 5 block, twenty acres, adjoining Karaka railway station, subject to two registered mortgages, securing payment of £300 with interest, petitioner's husband being mortgagee. She claims that she did not understand the meaning of the transfer wliich she signed to Mr J. W. Nolan, and that she has not received the £1100 consideration money. After dealing at length with the subsequent proceedings and an amplication in the Supreme Court for relief, in which judgment was entered for defendant, Mrs Nolan, petitioner, stating she has no other means of redress, appeals to Parliament to cause full enquiry into the circumstances. JOTTINGS.

Mr Ell gave notice to ask the Government if it will take steps to stop the distribution of alcoholic lollies. (Laughter.)

A similar debate to that in the House took place in the Cbuncil with regard to the unsatisfactory conclusion of the Colonial Bank's affairs. THE ESTIMATES. Tlie House at the evening sitting went into Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Estimates, the Customs Department, total vote £46,899, being taken. Mr Massey and others pointed out that the salary or the head of this department was £700, while one of his subordinates, the chief Customs expert, received £800. He said this was an anomaly that should not- be allowed to continue.

Mr Tiros. Mackenzie moved that the item "Secretary and Inspector of ' Customs, £700," be reduced by £2, as an indication to the Government that this officer's salary should at least equal that of any of his subordinates. Mr Seddon said the salary of the export had been at that figure for many years. If the salary of the secretary were increased, there would be an. outcry for an all-round increase. Mr Mackenzie's motion was lost on the voices.

Mr Ell moved to reduce the salary of the chief Customs expert, £800, by £150, on the ground that the pay was too great for the work. Thie was lost by 34 to 15.

The total vole for Customs officers and services was agroed to unaltered, and the vote for miscellaneous services was postponed, pending presentation to tlie House of the annual report on the Cook and other islands.

Marine Department, £54,446 : Mr- Laurenson complained that sufficient encouragement was not given to acclimatisation of sea-fish. If properly encouraged a great industry was at hand, whioh would ,be of great benefit to the colony. — Mr Jas. Allen urged that the Government should go thoroughly into the question of giving ample assistance to fish hatcheries, and complained that the hatchery at Portobello was being starved. — Mr Hall-Jones denied that the hatcheries were being starved, and added that a great deal was done every year in the way of importing ova. — Several members urged that the Government should systematically and energetically carry on trawling operations for the fpuirpose of discovering fish-breeding grounds around our coasts. Complaint was made that the work of the Department in this direction in the past was carried out imperfectly arid incompletely. — lite total vote passed unaltered. Education Department, £690,479: Mr Kirkbride urged tho necessity of giving children education in agriculture and kindred subjects. — -Mr Buurn© said the one object of the Education Committee at present was to get the Teacher-' Superannuation Bill out of the way, and tliat it had not **oally time for anything else just now. — Mr .Seddon said he hoped to see a big advance made in this subject next year. — Mr Massey spoke in favor of ."rural education," and pointed to the studies made by Canada, and the United States in that direction. Per Press Association. After the telegrph oflice /closed the Education Department's estimates were further considered. A motion by Mr Wilford, that the total vote be reduced by £1, as an indication -tlrat the time had arrived when the Government should undertake th© printing and publishing of uniform school books and supply them to parents at cost price, was lost by 26 to 24. At the vote for Industrial Sohools, Mr Taylor moved a reduction by £1, as an indication tlrat the House is of the opinion that a cottage home scheme should be inaugurated rn connection with the treatment, of State children. This was lost "by 26 to 23. Mr Taylor moved to reduce the vote for the School for Deaf Mutes by £1, as a' protest against the extravagance in connection with the new building at Sumner. Lost by 32 to 12. The total vote for the Education Department passed unaltered, and the B'euse rose at 3.45 a.m.