In and Out of Parliament.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 7, 12 August 1908, Page 10

In and Out of Parliament.

Notes on Public Men and Affairs.

Mr. Greenslade is informed that the survey of the Kawhia and Raglan railway will )>e made as soon as an officer is available. j» J* Mr. J. .Stallworthy, M.P.. has been informed that the Government has under consideration the question of putting a Stop to the export of kauri logs. J* Replying to a deputation from the Municipal Conference, Sir Joseph Ward Paid he was in favour of the municipalization of gasworks, but they would not get legislation through this session providing for the compulsory acquisition of gasworks. MARRIAGES AMENDMENT BILL. Sir William Steward’s Marriage Amendment Bill has passed the Joint Statutes Revision Committee practically without any suggestion of amendment. The bill aims at the repeal of section 46 of the Marriage Act of 1908, so that a marriage with a deceased wife’s niece Or deceased husband's nephew shall be lawful. The same member’s Marriage Act Validation Bill met with less success, and the committee, recommends its discharge on the ground that the subject matter is better provided for in the Marriage Act Amendment Bill. “A \\ HITE NEW ZEALAND.” Several petitions have been presented to the House,, bearing long columns of signatures urging the claims of the Anti-Asiatic League to the effect that the Chinese Immigration Act should be amended so that the poll-tax ■will be raised to £5OO, of which £lOO shall be placed to the credit of the Dominion revenue, and the balance of £4OO used for deporting other Chinamen already in the Dominion. At this rate, for every Chinaman entering the Dominion, four must be sent out, and each Oriental leaving New Zealand will be paid £ 100. After October 23rd next the Chinese desiring to enter the Dominion of New Zealand will be required to pass a reading test, which constitutes the perusal of English print, to be selected at the discretion of the. Customs officers. The following circular has been issued to Collectors of Customs at the various ports of New Zealand by the Department of Trade ami Customs': ‘’Chinese Immigrants Act Amendment Act, 1907. —Collectors will be good enough to note that the above-quoted Act comes into operation on the expiration of three months from the date of the publication of the proclamation appearing in the New Zealand Gazette of the 23rd July, 1908.. Unless amended, the Act will apply to all Chirose, whether first arrivals in the Dominion or not. who arrive after the lime specified, but the Government has a bill under consideration to provide exemption from ,tl|e reading test for. Chinese.at present absent on a visit, or for those within the Dominion who desire to go abroad with the intention of again returning to New Zealand.” INTERESTING DIVISIONS. The discussion that arose in the House in connection with Mr. IL G. Ell's Town Disfrietz Rill iwas of some importance from the party standpoint. .There has been much talk of coalition of late, and while the Prime Minister has denied in definite fashion that any scheme for the uniting of the Government and Opposition parties had received hi.-i eoun- - I'-trance, people have been pointing to the fact that the announced programme of the Government could be supported practicably in its entirety by Mr Massey and his followers. The line of party (leakage was mqde dear to-night, howev<n_ There is reason to believe that ■what, occurred was not unpremeditated. Clause four of the bill proposed to abolish plural voting in town districts, but at clause three the Prime Minister moved fin amendment, having the same effect. Mr Massey and his followers opposed this proposal to widen the local

government franchise in the forty town districts of New Zealand, and some straight out party divisions resulted. The. strength of the party, composed of Mr Massey and his followers, was sixteen. J* d* PROHIBITION FOR MAORIS. A petition signed by a number of Maoris was presented by Air Ngata to the House last week praying for amendments in the liquor laws. It is stated that great evil has been wrought upon the Maori through the use of alcoholic and spirituous liquors, which have made the people improvident. The habit has interfered with industrial pursuits, undermined interests of educational establishments, and weakened the influence of Christianity, besides doing physical injury to the race. While admitting the benefits of prohibition in the King Country, and similar provisions prescribed by the Government, it is pointed out that there are weaknesses in the law in that sly-grog selling goes on in the King Country, and Maori women are supplied with liquor in various parts of the Dominion despite regulations to the contrary. The petitioners ask that cither the sale of liquor be absolutely prohibited both to Maoris and to half-castes living in Maori settlements, amongst Maoris, or else that power be given to the Maori people to express an opinion and to vote upon the. question whether or not liquor shall be supplied to Maoris, either within Maori electoral areas or within Maori Council districts. J* CANTEEN CAMPS. A strong reply to the -recent agitation against canteens being allowed in military camps is contained in a report on the subject prepared at the request of Mr Wood. Lieut.-Col. Bauchop states ‘■'there were present at the Wellington manoeuvres a total of all ranks of 2340, the largest attendance on record. Out of this large number of troops not a single case of drunkenness was reported, neither has any cohiplaint been made to this office by either the military or civilians of improper conduct of anyone who took part in the manoeuvres. There was not a single case of injury or accident through drink. The discipline and endurance of the troops were -excellent, and civilians who had to work with the troops and others who watched the manoeuvres all through speak in the highest terms of the conduct of the forces." As regards the resolutions passed by the N.Z. Alliance, Col. Bauchop gives a flat contradiction to the statement contained therein ‘‘that for ten years past no canteen has been permitted in Wellington.” As a matter of fact, canteens had been granted in that district every year, and it speaks volumes for their - conduct and harmlessness when such could be the ease without, the fact being known to the Alliance.