Parliamentary Jottings.

Thames Star, Volume XLII, Issue 10686, 15 August 1905, Page 1

Parliamentary Jottings.

"The New Liberal Party is mora bitterly hostile to the Government j than; the Opposition proper."—Mr Herdman. The matter of the restoration of free passes to defence rifle clubs is under consideration. The Hon. Jas. McGowan, Minister1 for Justice, stated, in reply to a question by Mr J. C. Thomson', that an' amendment of ifche law in that direotioni of making provision for paying reasonable expenses inourred by persons wrongfully prosecuted by the police " on. information, received," would lead to endless trouble, 'as all persons acquitted of an offence would consider they had been "wrongfully prosecuted. "The Young Hooligan Blunder" ia how a contemporary heads the recent attack on the Government in tha House. The Minister of Kailwaye, replying to Mr Taylor, says that there have been no negotiations with any private firms, either inside or outside of the colony to build additional locomotives for the Railway Department, and it is intended, as far as circumstances will permit, to build all new locomotives required by the Hallway Department at tihe present time at the railway workshops. Should it be found necessary at any time to build additional locomotives outside the railway workshops, public tenders in. the usual way wiH be invited* . Tihe- Government! intends to introduce: a Bill this session to .amend or extend the provisions of the Friendly Societies Act, 1882. It is the intention of the Govern* ment to introduce a Referendum Bill this session on the lines of the Bill introduced last session. The Minister of Justice does - not think there is any necessity for- reorganisation of the Prisons Department. Several alterations have been made within! the last few years, and i the system as a; whole is working satisfactorily. -- " ■ I With regard to the decentralisation of the control and management of ; Charitable Aid Boards, the Governmeat states that it is opposed to tha 'multiplication of separate institu- , turns. It is not proposed this session 1. to introduce legislation on the lines indicated. I Am amending Bill is in course of ', preparation) in the direction of in- . creasing the amount payable in re» 1 specfc of stock compulsorily slaughtered. ■ : The Minister of Agriculture, asked ; if he would have the dairy regulations I amended so that in times of scarcity milk vendors, may not be prohibited i from gejtting their supplies from unregistered dairies or obtaining cream J in the same way as butter from dairy • factories, replied that this cannot be ! done at present, as the Public Health j Act must be complied" with in regard to its provisions that all dairies which supply milk for public use must h& registered, so that they will be undeu the inspection required by the Public? Health Act.; therefore those who. intend to supply milk in towns should' register at once. With regard to the appointment of a. National Council of Defence, the Minister of. Defence^ says that the circumstances of the colony and the situation in the Mother Country whicE led to the appointing of a Council of Defence differ materially. Very probably a Defence Aot Amendment Bill may be" introduced when the matter raised in the question oafci be discussed. '