PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1840, 14 May 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

» (From our own Correspondent.) Wellington, May 12. ' Major Steward's " Education Franchise Bill " defines the term " householder "to include any person whose name appears, on an electoral roll, and the parents or guardians of all ohildren attending sohool. It proposes to abolish cumulative voting at School Committee elections. The report presented by the Hon G. Fisher relative to the amount expended on Bchool buildings Bince the coming into force of the Education Act m 1877 shows that "the Provincial Governments, under their education systems, had spent no money whatever upon erecting sohool buildings. The Government of the colony since the passing of the Education Act has provided £90,000 more than was necessary tb ertct buildings of a lasting and durable oharaoter (briok or stooe), and sufficient m number and capacity to accommodate the largest attendance of children yet recorded m the publio school hißtory of this country." A very interesting debate is anticipated over the proposed amendments m tho Rules of Procedure, Rumor has it th^t some ofthe independent ciasß of speakers, on both sides of the House have deter* mined to oppose their introduction tooth ond nail, and to-uso every legitimate means of obstruction. It is anticipated that the first Policy Bill to come up for diaoussion on Tuesday will be the " Chinese Immigration Aot Amendment Bill," which the Government are anxious to have placed on the statutes ; and that having been disposed of, they will take up the Electoral Bill j Dick Seddon has arrived with all his war paint, aud he states that if he had been here on Friday the debate on the Address-in -Reply would not have gone off as quietly as it did. Wellington, May 14. I learn that amongst other proposals m the way of retrenchment, Government intend to dispense with the services of all Under-Secretaries to Ministers, except one for the Premier, who m former years waa the only Minister so honored. It is believed that the gentleman to be selected for the position will b& Mr A. M. Ameliua Smith, at present Under-secretary to Mr Fisher, and who is the oldest private seoretary m the service. Moat of the members have now arrived, but up to the present nothing has been done m the way of holding a meeting of the Opposition to elect a leader,