POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 488, 16 September 1899, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(l'.Y TELEGRAPH,— OWN CORRESPONDENT). Wellington, Last Night. THE MERCER WHARF. Mr Lano asked the Mleister for Railways this afternoon if he will take the necessary steps to have the Mercer Railway Wharf ftes removed. He pointed out that he had for some time past been endeavouring to get those fees taken off'. lb was looked on as a great hardship by the people of the district tint they should be taxed in this way. Mr Lang read a letter from an ex-member ol the House asking if he (Mr Lang) could not get those iniquitous charges removed. The Speaker interrupted the member for Waikato with the remark that he was not in order in introducing debatable matter in asking a question. Mr Lang said he was only reading a letter from a settler of the district, but he should not transgress the rules by reading any further. Mr Caiman replied that this was a railway wharf belonging to the Department; they also had wharves in ! Nelson and other places where fees had to be paid, and he saw no reason why the Mercer wharf should be treated differently from the other ones. Mr Lang reminded the Minister that it used to be a free wharf. THE WRIOG CASE. The Premier to day caused hearty laughter by the statement he made respecting the resumption of the debate on granting the New Zealand Cross to Harry Wrigg. He said he had promised the Leader of the Opposition that the debate should come on again within three weeks. " And as this is my last day," said Mr Seddor, when he was interrupted by a chorus of " hear, hears," and laughter, lie at once corrected Innself by explaining that it was the last day on which he could fulfil his promise, and he proceeded to state the course the Government intended taking in order to have the whole subject thoroughly discussed later on in the session when all the evidence was before the House. UNOPPOSED RETURNS. It may not be generally known that what are called " unopposed returns," namely, returns asked for by members to which Ministers have no objection, are allowed to be moved for iu the afternoon without auy debate taking place. They cannot, however, be moved except by the unanimous consent of the House, and a single dissentient voice prevents the motion being P ur - The member for Caversham moved to-day for a return showing the existing valuation of the large estates in Patangata and Waipawa Counties. The Premier agreed to the return being furnished ; bub Mr Pirani objected, and the Speaker refused to allow the questioH being put. Mr Morrison, by way of retaliation, opposed the most harmless returns asked for by Messrs Pirani, McGuire and Scohie MacKenzie. Mr McNab here rose amidst laughter and said that it would probably save time if he objected to allow the returns asked for. The Premier stated that he intended in future to treat all the returns asked for by members, which were opposed to-day as " opposed returns," and they would have to take their chance iu the ordinary IMPORTED BICYCLES. The Public Petitions Committee reported to-day on the petition of Henry J. Ranger and 97 others, of Christchurch, who prayed that the duty on imported bicycles be raise 1 in order to encourage the manufacture of bicycles in the colony, that as the petitioners pray for a revisiou of the Customs tariff they have no recommendation to make.