HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6273, 2 September 1898, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thtrsday, Sect. 1. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. AX ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The Deputy-Speaker read a letter from Mr Herbert J. Gladstone to the Speaker, depressing bis mother's deep gratitude, in which all members of the family joined, to the House and Council for the sympathy expressed with her in her great loss. The letter was ordered to be entered on ' the Journals of the House. ; questions. In answer to questions, Ministers stated that there was no desire on the part of the Government to purchase Native lands, but it would not have- the settlement of ,the 1 cplony' retarded by -the locking' up "of s'iich -i^nds. The Government intended carefully Considering the question of placing inspecJkors of schools under the control of the Education Department. Newspaper paragraphs dealing with perjury committed in the defence of liquor prosecutions were referred td the Commissioner of Police, who took action when necessary. In view of the apathy of the producers of the colony, the probabilities were that New Zealand , would not be represented at the Paris Exhibition. Inquiry would \te made respecting the acquisition of a portion of the late Mr W. M. Maskell's library.' As the law . now^stood it did not rest with the Government to amend the law so as to prevent the discharge of sewage into the streams and livers of the colony. Nothing had been done to increase cool stoiuire in London, as the House had expressed an opinion against though a necessity still existed for it. Hj^jout a fortnight ago instructions had been to draw up a programme respecting construction of necessary rolling stock the railways. The appointment of business experts in England to bring forward the products of the colony was well worthy of earnest attention. One method of deal,"ing"with' the" high price charged for coal 'fhroti'ghout the colony would be to start State coal-mines, but tUere was no objection toHhe setting, up of a Select Committee to^deal with the question of the price of "coaL- The subjects of efficient examination and inspection, and greater economy .in the expenditure of the revenue of secondary and high schools, would be care'•;'fully considered during the recess. Steps were being taken to have the volunteers armed with Martini-Enfield rifles. The - question of the reduction of postal rates to suburbs within a radius of four miles of > - cities was under consideration, bub before . a reduction was made it would have to be seen how it would affect the revenue. In cases where it could be arranged public ser- 1 . rants worked eight hours per day, or fortyeight hours per week of six working days, ;.;„ bub.tihere were exceptional cases ivhich it was^ difficult to deal with. THE POLICE COMMISSION". The Premier, in reply to Captain Russell, stated that he hoped to be in a position to. lay the report of the .-Police Commission .on the table of the House not later than Tuesday.nsxt. -.-..- The House rose at 5.30 p.m.