PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1728, 6 December 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[FROM OCR OWN OOBRBSPONDENT.J Wellington, December 5. GOVBBNMENT BUSINESS. In view of the faot Government eipeot to get through In a fortnight from the present time, some speculation is being felt aa to how they mean to carry out thdr promise m view of the large number of Bills on the Order Paper. The question was raised today by the leader of the Opposition, during the debate on the Representation Bill, who enquired of Mejor Atkinson what coarse the Govern* ment intended to take m the matter. The Premier, m reply, Btated thst this would depend to a great extent on the course taken over the Bill then under disoußßion. JSe will to-morrow make a statement to the Honse on the aubject, when he will inform members of the course proposed by Government, and eßpeoially In regard to the Publio Works Statement and Financial debate, which has bean on the shelf of late. TOUTING FOR VOTES. • Daring the absence from the House of the Government Whip, Mr Pearson, Mr Fulton has taken m hand to look after the interests of the party, and to d<»y, m view of a rumor that was current-, that an effort vras to be made to throw out the Representation Bill, he was engaged during the debate m ascertaining the views of members on the subject. This fact was brought tmdor the notfca of the Speaker by Mr Seddon, who enquired whether this waa m order, bat Sir Maarico somewhat oheoked his ardour by stating that he saw no harm m the coarse ndapted. In his speech on the same Bill Sir George Grey waa very rough on Mr Fulton, and expressed the opinion that no such insult had ever baen offered to the Houee. WIIA.T HAS IT COBT. Mr Ward has given notice to ask the Minister of Defence what is the annual cost of tho Wellington Military Training School ; what number of officers have availed thenißalves of ita advantages ; also how many officers from districts outside Wellington have been trained there, THE LANDS BILL. The Waste Lands Committee sat again this morning, when tho Land 8 Biil again came undor consideration. Four more clauses were passed during the two hours the Committee sat. Mr Ballance had been expected, but ia etill detained m Wangauui. The clause proposed under the Bill of putting op land at auction ia to be altered to one under which the system of tendering will onme into force, KBCIPKOOAL TABIFJ 1 . Mr Joyce is again bringing forward the. question of reciprocal tariffa with th* neighboring colonies He has asked Government whether any correspondence haß taken place between tho ISew Zealand Government and nny of the Australian Governments on this subject during the pant three years. In oase no auch correspondenco has taken place then Government aro requested to take up the matter during the recess, so that when the revision of the tariff ia considered an endeavor may be made to arrive at some satisfactory measure of reciprocity with the Australian Governments, THE VAILE QUESTION. The energetic Vailo has evidently made some converts to his views on railway matters amongst the Auckland members, for Mr T, Thompson intends to move the addition of anew clause m the Kail ways Bill, by which power would be given to the Oommioßioner to have a trial of Valle'a system made upon the Anokland-Te Awamutu lines. It fs extremely improbable that auch a proposition will be given effect to, KO MORE UNPROFITABLE LINES. So far the youthful looking member, Mr Perceval, has but rarely spoken or attempted to distinguish himself m any way. He has broken the ice, however, now, by signifying his intention to move that no more new railways be constructed unleaa it can be shown to the satisfaction of the '. 'ommlasionerß that such lines will be able to nay 2 per cent on the cost of their construction. His proposal will probably receive some very strong support from the members of the young New Zealand party. TDBNED OUT. Some slight amusement was oaused this afternoon by the unwonted spectacle of an elderly gentleman calmly strolling into the ladies' gallery and tuking a seat m that sacred precinct. For aomo time he eat all unconscious of the fact that he waß the subject of general attention, but he waa rudely awakened from his dream of comfort, combined with a capital view, and esoorted to a door by a stalwart A,O. The look of mild horror on the faca of the mother of the gallery, as an elderly lady who never misses a sittiug is designated, at witnessing the Invasion of her particular sanctum, would have charmed a comic artist. toqel's soheme. The following letter from Sir j. Yogel appears m this evening's "'Post": — Sir, — In reply to th& artiole m your ießue of Saturday, permit me to write that you are greatlj mistaken m asserting that either Protection or dealing with the property tax forms any direct or integral part of the plan I have m view, The primary effect of tho plan is to enablo the colony to do with much leas revenue. What I conveyed or wished to convey to your reportor was that notwithstanding lees revenue would ba necessary, I still thought the terlff should ba revised and largo retrenchment effeoted.— l am, etc. J. Yogel.