PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Colonist, Volume XLIII, Issue 9856, 1 August 1900, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(FItOH OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) [By Tf'e...aph.J Wellington, July 31. The Municipal Corporations Bill was read pro forma this afternoon, and referred to a Select Committee of 22 members, your 'Saember being one. The Premier also introduced the Ministers Salaries Bill, No. two, which provides for paying the Premier £1600, the Minister for Bail ways £1300, and other Ministers £1000 a year, with £200 house allowance in each case. .A bill was introduced by Governor's message to provide fjr the permanent appointment of an additional Judge of the Supreme Court. This, of course, means the confirmation of Judge Martin's appointment. I learn that in consequence of certain reports being circulated, Mr Graham gave notice that to-morrow he intends asking the Government, in connection with the official enquiry now being held in Nelson by a Royal Commission, whether a report, to the ■ following effect is correct— that prior to limiting the range of the enquiry to two years the Government was in possession of sworn statements by former inmates making grave charges against the management . of the institution, which the limiting of the order of reference to two years prevents enquiry upon ; and will the Government ask for, and be guided by the advice of the Commissioners (whose powers are already full and complete up to the limit of two years) ? Also, as to whether in theiropmion it is necessary, for the purpose of obtaining complete knowledge of the management of the institution, th?.t the time allowed should be made to embrace a longer period than that fixed by the present order of reference?