PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1735, 14 December 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From oub Cobrespondbnt. ) Wellington, December 13, EDUCATION QUESTION, 1 The unfortunate education regulations ] just isaued were again brought before tbe i House to-day, by Mr Turnbull, m the i shape of a question as to why they had i been established while the House was still j sitting, and whether the opinion of tho i law officers of the Crown had been ob- i tamed upon the subject. Mr Fisher : replied that he had intimated io the House ' a month ago that the opinion of the law i officers had been procured on the subject, and the necsesity for some decided action by the Government had been pertiaently brought before them by the fnct that education boards, and persons interested m education, had been continually wiring for information as to the ex^ct lines to be adopted. Governm9nt, had no wish to force their views upon the House, but they deemed it necessary to take come position m ihe matter. Keplying to Dr ■ Fitchett, the Premier promised to bring the Education vote down m such a way that the whole question can be debated when the Estimates are before the House. He cou'd not think of laying the opinion of the Crown Law officers on the table, FREE 1,181. The Printing and Debates Committee have for come time been engaged In j revising the lists of peraona receiving free ooplea of Parliamentary Paper?, "Hansard," etc, and they have come to the conclusion that the following should be struck off: — Private Olubs, Agricultural Societies, Religions Associations, Mechanics Inatltotea and Libraries (except m the principal Itovrna), Working Men's Clubß, Inferior Government officlalp, members of Legislature (except ex-Mioisters and Speakers), Registrars of Supreme Courts, Town Clerks, and all private peraon3 who appear to have no special olafm. They also recommend that a large number of gezittea, statistics, and journals should aUo be discontinued. The estimated number of ooplea has than at present sent, which need not be sent, Is 973, and the saving from this is set down at £868 10a 2d. THE ''NAMING" INCIDENT. A fee'.lng of relief was experienced throughout tbe House this afternoon when Sir J. Yogel intimated that as It vraa desired by members that the House should prorogue before Christmas, and he had no wish to obstruct the bußinosa of the House by preaaln>» any private matt ra of hia own, be had deoided to withdraw the rea^lutiom, of whioh he bad given notice, m reference to the now celebrated "Naming" Incident. Sir Julius, it will be remembered, recently intimated that if his friends bo advised him he intended to bring up as a question of privilege, tbe " Bell " article and the "Observer" cartoon, as a means of ventilating his own grievance against the Chair. The friends of tbe leader of the Opposition were, however, generally averse to his going any farther, and the method whioh he has adopted of dropping the subjeot ia regarded the most graoefu that could be adopted. This intimation of Sir J. Vogel'B was received with applause, BKIEI 1 MENTION. Mr Cowan is Inquiring if, In view of the depreciation m the value of land, Government will • have a now valuation made for property-tax pnrposes. All the Wellington papers apeak favorably of thePubllo Works Statement. Government will endeavor to ascertain from Sir F. D. Bell if he has male arrangements for reciprocal Customs duties with France. The Stock Importation Committee have not yet presented their report. Mr R. Beeves is desirous of knowing whether Mr Baddeley, RM, at Auckland, is the ssme Baddeley who Is receiving a retiring pension. No information is yet to hand as to tbe iutervlew of the Agent-General with the Trench &utboriti4BHßßLe postal question. Government are" cJavndering the report of the Standing Orders Committee ai to alteration of Standing Orders, The Minister of Marine sees no necessity for the colony to eieot a lighthouse at tho Anckland Islands. Permission has been given to the Education Committee to have the evidence taken by them printed. The Minister for Public Works Is of opinion that the railway freight on pressed straw Bhoald be the tame as on chaff. The statement recently circulated that persons Imprisoned for debt are placed In the same cells as crimnals is found to be incorrect. An effort is to be made during the reoess to make the Lincoln Agricultural College more popular. Tbe cost of the Wellington Military Training College for the last 18 months was £1080 3s, and six persona availed themselves of Its use. The area of the pastoral leases m West* land district inside the limits of the selection ofthe Midland Railway Company ia 185,100 acres, the rental from which la £206 10j The Publia Petitions Committee absolutely declined to make any recommendation m regard to the Stratford route for the North Island trunk line. Wellington Deoember li, DX POLLEN. The determination of Dr Pollen to retire from the Legislative Conncll may now be almost regarded as a final one. The Hon Colonel Brett from his place m the Legislative Council yesterday gave notice of his Intention on the following day to move that leave of abaence duriog the remainder of the session ba gaintt'd to Dc Pollen on " urgent private business." The hon gentlemen did not occupy his seat daring tho sitting of the Coauoll, but shortly after the Chamber rr-Be Dr Pollon entered the Council Chamber for the purpose of taking some private papers which were In his desk drawer, and immediately upon his ap* pearing lv frieuds In the Council, who wejf3 present, pressed around htm and expressed their regret at hta determination to retire from the service of the country. IUJLWAY BILL, The Clause dealing with the conaltltutlon of Commissioners waa carried at a late hour this morning by 33 to 11 Mr W. P. Reeves then announced his lntentlon and that of other members to go, and ho complained that Government were not allowing Independent dispusalon, since tha smallest matters were made party questions. The Bill then proceeded more rapidly, and the House sat till after five this morning over It, SEiTLVSS LOBDS. Mr Samnel Is very positive as to his contention m regard to the illegality of the action of members of the Legislative Council m taking their seats after they had been absent for two sessions. Although the Attorney General differs, from him, I hear on good authority that when the Council sits to-day objection Is to be takon to these gentlemen occupying their seats. An Interesting scene is expepjtod.