In and Out of Parliament.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 14, 30 September 1908, Page 11

In and Out of Parliament.

Notes on Public Men and Affairs.

Mr. W. Lastant Clwton has been ■elected to contest the Gisborne seat at the general election in the Interests of the opposition. Jl Jl The Education Bill is to be proceeded with on the understanding that members ■hall not insist upon Mr. Wiltord’s amendment in favour of uniform school books, which was recently carried against the Government. JI JI Referring to the work of the present Parliament, the “Post” says: "Not only does there appear to he a lack of high political ideals, and a laek of inspiring leadership towards those ideals, but tho Parliamentary morale, the conscience and intelligence of the whole body of members, show plain signs of degeneration.” jl jl The Quaekery Prevention Bill was read a third time in Parliament yesterday. The Attorney-General explained that the bill aimed at punishing false representation of drug or appliance, and the prevention of quaek advertisements. JI JI “King” Mahuta has evidently determined to give his undivided support at next election to the present member for the Western Maori district, Mr. Henare Kaihau, M.P., and has issued an autograph circular to that effect to all the tribes in the electorate. jl Ji JUDICIARY BILL. The Judiciary Bill, which, if passed, conies into operation on January 1,1909, has been circulated. It proposed to do away with the Court of Appeal, at present consisting of the Supreme Court Judges. Instead, the Governor will appoint three judges (not judges of the Supreme Court), one of whom is to hold the office of Chief Justice of New Zealand, and to be President of the Court of Appeal. The judge holding office as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court at the commencement of the Act ceaeea to be a juuge of the Supreme Court, and-becomes Chief Justice of New Zealand and President of the Court of Appeal. A salary of £2OOO per annum will be paid to the Chief justice, and £9OO to each Justice of Appeal, me Supremo Court will consist of four judges with equal power, authority, precedence, and a remuneration of £lBOO per annum. Districts Courts will be abolished as from March 31, 1909, and pending cases will be transferreu to the Supreme Court. Generally speaking, the object of the Bill is to expedite the legal work of the Dominion by leaving the Supreme Court judges free to conduct their ordinary business. jl jl SUSPENDING THE SEEDS BILL. The Agricultural Produce Salo Bill, which aroused such strong feeling in the North, is not to become law this session. The Prime Minister last week stated that the bill would not be persevered with this session, and would be accordingly dropped from the Order Paper. Jl POINTS FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. The Public Works Statement was presented to the House of Representatives last week. The total appropriations amount to £2.720,000. For the Main Trunk line, which has taken rather more than twenty years to construct, and has cost over two millions and a-half, the sum of £225,000 is net aside for the current year. The Kawakawa-Grahaintown line gets £40,000. £BO,OOO has been allocated for the Helensville-northwards line. Last year’s expenditure on the Gisborne Mno was £9248. This year £60,000 is Voted.

In view of the proposal to commence work on tho north-eastern end of the Stratford Main Trunk line, £40,000 is put aside for thia line. The Mount Egrnont branch line gets £ 15,000. In the South Island the principal railway votes are:—Blenheim-Waipara, £50,000; Midland, £150,000; CatlinsWaimahaka, £BO,OOO. No new work is provided for in the case of the Otago Central. In addition to the surveys already in hand, trial surveys of the following lines will be made as soon as officers are available to undertake the work:—Kawakawa to Hokianga, Kaihu to North Auckland railway system, Pukekohe to Waiuku, Kawhia to Main Trunk line, Tauranga to Opotiki, Rotorua line to Te Puke or Tauranga, Whangamomoana. to North Island Main Trunk railway, Napier to Gisborne, Mastertou to Waipukurau, Levin to Marton, Featherston to Martinborough, Little River to Akaroa, Waihao Downs to Waihao Ranga. Tho amount required for public buildings is £315,087. The works provided for include the completion of the extensive additions to the Departmental Buildings at Auckland, some very necessary additions to tho Government Printing Office, new Departmental buildings at Hamilton, Te Kuiti, New Plymouth, Masterton, Westport, Greymouth, Hokitika, and Invercargill; new fireproof offices for the Stamps Department, and also offices for the Geological and Health Departments, in Wellington; the reclamation of the sites for the Post and Telegraph, Marine, Public Works, and Agricultural Departments’ stores in Wellington; also the beginning of the Dominion Museum. £3OOO is allocated for providing accommodation at the Ruakura experimental farm for cadets seeking instruction in methods of agriculture. Last year the amount authorised for expenditure on roads was £619,727, and the amount actually spent was £363,997. This year £675.000 is voted, and this includes the special quarter of a million vote for the backblocks roads.. The gross appropriation under Tourist and Health Department is £47,093, of which the sum of £20,000 is for a new steamer for Lake Wakatipu. Out of £7500 for lighthouses and harbour works, provision is made for two new lights, the points chosen being Capa Brett and Tuahine. JI JX PRESENTATION TO THE PREMIER. The members of the Legislative Council, their wives and friends, met in the Council Chamber on Saturday, and presented Sir Joseph Ward with a handsome piece of silver plate, accompanied by an address in which appreciation was expressed of the services Sir Joseph had rendered the country since he entered Parliament. The presentation was made by the Speaker, the Hon. C. C. Bowen. In reply, Sir Joseph Ward warmly thanked the Council. He particularly appreciated their references to the advances made in postal reform work, and saic. that it could not be gainsaid that New Zealand at the present time stood in the forefront as far as the postal service was concerned. It was particularly gratifying to receive these evidences of appreciation and hearty congratulations from all parties irrespective of political colour. The Premier also received a presentation from Ministers and their private secretaries. jl jl A FIRST-RATE MINISTER. "He is a first-rate Minister for Education; we have never had one who was more painstaking or more industrious than Mr. Fowlds.” This tribute was paid to the Hon. Geo. Fowlds by an Oppositionist, the Hon. C. Hardy, M.P. for Selwyn, when recently addressing his constituents. Mr. Hardy, who is a member of the Canterbury Education Board, and also of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives, takes a keen interest In all matters concerning the education of the young, and particularly in the industrial schools.