PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1737, 16 December 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From our Correspondent.) Wellington December 15, FOREST .BFBERVJ-S. Mr Moat, who comes from a district m bioh kauri is well known, Is moving m ia direction of having more satisfactory ;eps to have forests preserved than at reßenfc exist, and he will ask Governlent to morrow whether, as ie reported, is their Intention to abolish the tate Forest Department and, if co helher they will take some precautionary leasure to preserve kauri forests from re as was BUcceßßfully adopted by that ►apartment last year ; also whether they ltond to take any steps to preserve young jrest plantations or to extend them. A NEW FRANCHISE, We hear of all sorts of fancy franchise >r different classes and conditions of ersons. The latest novelty m this irection has been introduced by Mr IcGregor, who wishes to have the Inabitants of Chatham Islands represented, •resumably with the idea of having bern tacked on to the Akaroa district, c Is urging Government to bring specially nder the notice of the Representation lommisaioners the faot that the Chatham a 1 ands are at present unrepresented. THE TRIUMPHANT LORDS. Regarding Mr Samuel's contention tho ther day that certain members of the Jpper House had forfeited thoir seats hrough being absent from thoir plaoei rithout leave, the Speaker of the Legliatlve Council has rnled that the matter annofc be dealt with by the House of lepresentativea and It is presnmed hat the Upper Honse will not tir it np. Mr Samuel, however a on the way path, and haß given notice o aak Government a question on the sub« ect of Land Boards. I understand that ihe New Land Boardß, to be elected at he beginning of the new year, will bo .looted In a similar manner to that em* jloyed In the election of Education Boards, Eaoh Borough Council In a land dlstriot arlll elect a member, and theOounty Council will elect three members. Whatls to follow m districts where there are no County Councils does not appear, and the point leems to have been over-looked. It is an Important question with districts ln which ao County Counoila exists, as that faot □aay be naed as an .xouse to amalgamate the land district with some other outside dlstrlot; for Instance, Marl* borough, without any form of connty government, may find herself without a Land Board nearer than Nelson. BDUOATION REPORT. The Education Committee presented their report to-day. In effect, the report jays that In consequence of evidence not being all to hand, and the shortness of time at their disposal to consider auoh large questions, they are not In a position to make any report this session, bnt rejommend a similar Committee next aesitoa bo take further evidence and make a report. They reoommend that pending mch report it would be Inadvisable at present to seriously interfere with the education system, THB BSD. It is generally expected, hoped I msß jay, that prorogation will take plaoe on Friday weak. * Wellington, Decembet'KV 1 GETTING. HOMB, -5 The ohief -topic of conversation, polltfi .ally, appears to ba now In reference to tbft prorogation, whioh is causing more attanijon amongst a large section of members :han measures now before them. The Premier Informs me that business will finish ipon Tuesday or Wednesday at latest, jut this is generally discredited m view of bhe large amount of important business pet on the Order Paper. As the second reading of the Loan Bill has been agreed to it ia thought this will dear way a good leal, a muoh longer debate having been »ntloipated, but the Estimates have jet io come down, and several Important Bllla. . PUBLIC WORKS. It fs rumoured m the lobbtea that nembera of the Ministerial patty areanxl. >us to reduce the works appropriation la Jommltfcee, but that m view of the (listing commitments left by the late Government they do not see their way o recommend reductions to a larger flrtent than some £150,0C0, and it It onsldered doubtlul whether so small a Ifminutlon would be advisable. RAILWAY BOARDS. It was stated about the lobbies yester " lay that Government had reconsidered he question of salary of the Chief Gomaiesioner of the new -Railway- Board. rhicb was considered to be too low, and hat the amount is to be raised m th»* council, bat Mr Mitch'elson informs me bat Government will probably not proose an increase m the amount, bat will pserve discretion should it prove imposible to obtain a suitable man at £1500, to ffer such increased pay as raay be neoes.