ABOUT PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11509, 4 October 1915, Page 5

ABOUT PARLIAMENT.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY. THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. (By Telegraph- Special to the " Star."} ! WEDI'JKGTQN, October 4. It is not only "West Coasters and Canterbury people who resent Ai i' Peace's assertion that every penny spent on the Ofcira tunnel is so much money wasted. Wellington biwines-. men who have recently visited South West'and declare' that the timber to be found in that district will go a very long way towards making the Midland Railway a paying proposition, and that when the timber is exhausted the dairying industry will create almost as much wealth on tho Coast as the mining industry did in the past. The pastoral capabilities of the district are a comparatively recent discovery, but they have been developed ho rapidly that in the course of a few years they will he a very considerable factor in the Dominion's exports. The wholo outlook for the line has improved so much, indeed, that even the Auckland members or the House have ceased their scoffing at what they used to denounce as "a gross political job." MULTIPLICATION OF PERMITS. ! The Gaming Act Amendment Bill j had a stormy passage through the ; House on Thursday, the extension of the facilities tor holding raffles being the bone of contention, and further oj position was shown in the Council to a new clause submitted'by Sir Francis Bell giving the Government power to issue in tho subsequent season a totalisaior permit to any club that may be prevented holding a meeting on account of its grounds being needed for military purposes. The Hon John liarr objected stroigly to the addition. of this clause, but on a was supported by only seven of his fellowcouncillors, the third reading being carried by rixteen to .eight. The Legislature at any rate does not agree with Mr Is tt that it would be desirable to reduce the number of race meetings during war time, THE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS. Canterbury members took the lead yesterday in saving the Basiri Reserve, j perhaps the most valuable lung of the city of Wellington, from being dissected for tramway purposes. Toe Local Bills Committee and the Lands Committee had brought down precisely conflicting reports on the proposal to run the tramways through the reserve, and Mr Ell, Mr Isitt and Dr Thacfcer vigorously urged the view of the former committee, that the "lung" should be maintained ftitaci. The debate was interrupted by a message from the Legislative Council, but it is fairly safe 10 ray that the reserve was saved by the intervention of the southern members and that in years to come Wellington will thank them for the i preservation of on© of its most valuable | asicts. !