PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1688, 15 October 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[fbom otjb own corbespondent.J Wellington, October 14, lam reliably informed Government have under consideration proposals for aboltshIng L»nd Boards entirely, and working the land eyatem entirely by Government officnrs m the various districts. THE DEFICIENCY There ia a tumor that Government can see no way immediately of meeting the largo deficiency, except by borrowing wiihin the colony. PENSIONERS SETTLhMENT. Sir Geo..Grey to-day waited upon the Premier m referecc3 to the question of Pensioners Settlement, the idea of which, I understand, is to enable pensioners frcm England to take up land, the Government to advance money on pensions. By these means they would gradually acquire the freehold. Sir Goo. Grey is to agaiu Bee Mpjir Atkinson on the enbject, and the Premier expressed himsulf favorable to the proposal. FEDERATION. Mr W. P. Reeves, the new member for St. Albans, has given notice to ask the Government if they will take any a^eps daring the coming reoeßs to bring r.boat federation between this and the other Australasian colonies. KB PRESENTATION. Col. Fraser this afternoon gave notice to lotrcduce a Bill to amend the Representation Act. OLD SOLDIEBS CLAIMS. Mr Hobbq has given notice to a*k the Government on next sitting day whether they will, when introducing a Bill for settling the old ooldiera and volunteers land claims, introduce a clause enabling the Commissioners to entertain o'airon they consider equUable, though not quite within their instructions. MINISTEBIAL RESIDENCES. Daring the elections a good deal was heard about the cost of Ministerial residences, and Mr Geo. Hutchison (Mr Bryoe'a auocsssor) has given notice of motinn of a return showing (I) The titles under whioh the properties known as Ministerial properties are held, and In the case of leasehold the unexpired term m eaoh oaise ; (2) The amount of the last valuation of each property. (3) An estimate of the present value of the furnishing of eaoh residence. BAILWAY [EMPLOYEES. The same gentleman hao aho turned his attention to the position of railway linemen. .He has given notice to move that m the opinion cf this House, it is de- 1 sirable that 48 hours should be the weekly task of linemen on the Government rail - ways, and that it be so arranged as to terminate at noon on Saturdays, subjpct to each conditions as are necessary for the public safety, Major Steward is also moving m this matter. He haß given notice of several questions for to-morrow Wellington, October 15. At the meeting of the Native Affairs Committee this morning, on the motion of Mr Carroll, seoonded by Mr Ballanco, Mr Kelly, the newly eleo c 1 member for Tauranga, was elected Chairman.