NOTES FROM PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 16840, 16 September 1911, Page 6

NOTES FROM PARLIAMENT

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter). WELLINGTON, Sept. 15. Mr Bussell Wants to Know. Mr G. W. Russell appears to he growing mutinous. To-day he gave notice to ask the Minister of Labour whether he, is aware that the Labour Department is insisting upon an annual return from till factory owners, giving the wages paid in each week of the year to every employee, as well as their age, if under 15 years of age. Under what law, he asks, is this harassing, vexatious and expensive responsibility thrown upon employers ? What is the object of it ? And does he not consider such requirements . likely to create a strong feeling against Labour legislation ? A Curious Question. A curious question was to-day given notice of by the member for Masterton. He wants a return giving in detail the authorities for expenditure on public works issued by the member for Masterton while Minister of Roads, also the authorities issued by his predecessor during the previous six months. More Taxation Wanted. Mr He cl do n wants to know whether the Minister of Customs will arrange that an extra duty of. say’, 3d per tin of two gallons be placed upon petrol or motor cars, the revenue accruing therefrom to be spent on the improvement of roads, tarring to prevent dust nuisance, and the erection of direction posts. Southland Return Asked For. Mr Thomson is moving for a return supplying the following information with respect to the ordinary’ Crown land, occupied and unoccupied, situated in Wallace County : (1) The number and area of ordinary Crown land taken up under the lease-in-perpetuity system; (2) tlie number and area of ordinary Crown lands taken up under the renewable lease system, (a) inside a mining district, (b) outside a mining district, stating how much is endowment : (3) the number and area of ordinary Crown lands taken up under the occupation with right of purchase system ; (4) the number and area of ordinary Crown lands taken up under the cash system, and (5) the area of Crown land remaining to be offered for selection under the occupation with right of purchase system. The Recent Fire. Apropos the fire in the Stamp Office on Thursday night, Mr Fisher to-day gave notice to ask the Government . (1) If the capital outlay Invested in the Government Oifices destroyed by fire last evening was classed in the budget as interest producing. (2) If so, where will the interest come’ from now that the building is destroyed ? (3) The total value of the building having disappeared. how does the Prime Minister propose to show the amount in the next budget ? Will it be reproductive or unrep reductive (4) The building having gone and the capital having gone, will the cost of the new office be defrayed out of loan money or from revenue V