PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1718, 24 November 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[fbom our own cobbebpondent.J

W ' lungton, November 23, Baalneas was very dreary ia the House this afternoon owing to the very large number of questions on the Order Paper (about 40). Unopposed motions were aken before questions and agreed to without di-coßßion. Among the latter were ordered the following : — A return showing the total number of signatures appended to petitions to the House from Oai hollos petitioning for aid to their sohuols ; a return showing the expenditure on harbor defe; ces from Ist April to 30ih September, 1887 ; a return showing bouuses paid to Civil servant* during the period from 31st March, 1884, to 30th September, 1887 ; a return showing the cost of eradicating soab, specifying the cost on each ruu and m each district, THE SCHOOL A&K. Mr Joyce is apparently sceptical as to the ability of the Minister for Education to raise the ecbool age without dosing ■ numbar of country schools, and to-day asked him how he was going io accomplish this. Mr Fisher, however, was not to.bebetrayed Into making any statement of his policy, and the questioner had to eon* tent himself with the aaanrtnee of the Minister that he would use every effort to make the ohange without closing oonotry schools. LAND BOABDB AND SCHOOL COHKISSIOHB&3. It appears that Government, whilst determined to abolish Land Boards, will not abolish School Oommdsionars. Mr Valentine, who asked the question on the ■uojeot, said the Land Boards were the more important of the two, and he would rather see School Commissioners abolished than Land Boards. It will be remembered that a deputatlott noently waited on the Premier and Minister of Lands as to the position of Crown tenants and lesiees under Soaool Commissioners, and it was promised that the matter would be dealt with m a few days. The Minister of Lands to-day wouid go no farther than this m answering Mr Valentine to-day, merely observing, m reply to theiattet's observation, that relief might) be given lessees without abolishiug School Oommlisloneri. IHB BAILWAYS. There waß a brisk little dlsousslon this afternoon on the subjeot of railway management, particularly with reference to the wool rates at present charged. Ihe - disocasion arose out of a question asked by Mr Ward, who wished a similar concession pro rata for the conveyance of wool to the port of Southland, to that provided m a recent " Gazette," to Port Chalmers. The Minister for Public Works said that the concession referred to was made In consequence of woe! growers m Otago having entered into arrangements to have their wool conveyed by drays to the port of shipment. The Government were desirous of securing the traffic wherever posoible, and had, therefore, made the conoesalon referred to. This gave the questioner a splendid oppor* tunity, and the member for Awarua moved the adjournment of the Houie to point out that this was the very difficulty, he desired to avert m Southland. List wool aaaaon drays had actually competed with the Southland railway, and unless the wool rates were very muoh lowered, the railway woald have to be subj acted to a similar loss this* season. Mr Pyke seconded the motion for adjournment, and said that all over the colony waggons competed suooesafully with the railway last season. Mr Valentine corroborated Mr Ward's statement that wool was carted by drays from Swltzers to the Bluff alongside the railway line last season, and a number of other speakers added their testimony lv regard to railway management, and the necessity for an immediate ohange bj placing the railways under the control of a non-politioal Board. Mr Ward, m reply lag, said that the wool rates m New Zealand were immeasurably higher than m any of the Australian . oolonies, and the matter then dropped. Mr Ward subsequently gave notice of a Committee to enquire into the subject of railway rates. GLOVE EIGHTS. Mr Fulton desires to have a stop put to the so-called " glove fighti." To-day he asked a question on the Bubjeot. He obtained little satisfaction, however, fife Fergus reply mc; that the police had na power to interfere, and statiag further that auoh exhibitions appeared to be oarrled out In an orderly manner m thla colony.

PERPETPAL LBASEB. An Importrn' statement was made today by the Minister for Landi la the course of an answer to a question. Ittraa 10 tVo effect that m the L»nd B^U Gdrera* mert wou d propose to allow lessee* holding perpetual leases m mining dis* triers to convert those leaseholds into fieeholdi. COKONERS' INQUBSTS* Beplying to Mr Taylor. to-day, the Minister said that Government wore not prepared to abolish the office of Coroner, bat were considering the desirableness of making inquests magisterial enquiries. They might also possibly introduoe a Bill whioh should provide for a reduction ef the present foes payablu to ooroners. THE JUDGES, Mr Taylor to-day gave notice to ask Government If they will consider the desirableness of rednoing the salaries of the judges, upon thu present incumbents oeasing to hold office. THB MIDLAND RAILWAY. The Committee brought up their report this afternoon, togother with a draft contract The report will not be considered till to-morrow, and merely directs attention to the draft contract, as agreed to by the Committee on the basis already sent you. There Is sure to be a good deal of dlaoaasion over the draft contraot, and private members business, which m the ' ordinary oonrse should come on tomorrow, will take precedence on Friday.