PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1844, 18 May 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From otjk own Correspondent. ) Wellington, May 17 Aa was anticipated, Mr M'Arthur asked tho following question thi.j afieruoon : — " Whether, m view of the fact ihat the Loan Bill now before the Hiuae diffarß materially from the Loan Bill of 3837, m that no clauß9 purporting to atop further borrowing for a fixed period ia inserted therein, and that the House ia not m possession of the latest Information on the fiur»nolal position of Iha Colony, the Treasurer will conaoat to postpone the second reading of thf) Loan Bill until aftor the delivery of the Financial Statement." In raply the Premier declined to accede to the request, on the ground that the Bill was wanted immediately, to enable (he loan to be flmted at once, and subsequently moved the eeoond reading of the Bill, Sir Harry magnanimously accepted all blame for the error of last session, which bad necessitated the freah Bill, but gave a very unsatisfactory reason for refusing to insert the limitation olaase. In the Council, the Attorney-General gave notio3 that to-morrow he would move the suspension of h'|3randing Orders m order that the new Loan BUI might be passed through all its Btagee on the aame day, to enable it to be Bant Home by the outgoing 'Friaco mail, which vroald leave Wellington on Saturday.' In accordance with his nsoal praotioe, Mr Barron ia moving for a return showing the expenditure m every fifth year Binod 1860, on account of salary and allowances to the Governor, and the maintenance of the Governor's houae ; the salaries of Oabinet Ministers, travelling and other expenses of euoh Ministers, the malntain- | Ing of Ministerial residences, Legislative i Council, House of Kepre?entatives, and , the Department of the Colonial Government of New Zealand. Steps are being taken by Mr J. G Wilson, In the direction of making all School Inspectors officers under the General Government, laetead of, as at present servants of the various Boards. Me Wilson will move for the insertion of a olanee m -Major Steward's Educational Frarohlae Bill to carry out hfs idea*. Mr Macyrthur has given notice to ask the Government whether any reply has been made to the letter of Her Majesty's Secretary of !-tate for the Colonies, dated September 1, 1887, covtring a scheme of immigration to the Colonies, proposed by Mr Henry Kimber, M P ; and if co, the date of such reply, ard whether the Minister will famish a copy thereof. Mr Feldwick has askeiJ the Colonial Treasurer to lay on the table of the House the report presented to him by the Conference of Delegates of Protection Leagues recently held m Wellington. Mr W, F. Heaven wiii ask the Premier whether he will take steps to remove the iDJastlce Buffered at preaunt by New Zealand authors and publishers of books eeelng that such boo! 0 vmnot be registered uuder the New Zea'a «d Copyright Act. Mr Samuel m desirous of knowing from the Government whether they will introduce emaudm nta of the Stamp Duties Act, bo as to exempt from ad valwem duty oocvL-yaucea on the sale of property not within the colony of New Zealand, and also bo as to exempt from stamp duty all Native Lands succession orders granted previously to December 31, 1885, duty on whioh has not beea paid, and whioh effect landa which have been dealt with since the granting thereof. The reply of the Minißter of Lands to Mr O'Callaghan's question to-day aa to the opening of our ports for the importation of Btock having been unfavorable, that gentleman ia bringing the matter forward m another form. Mr Pyke is going to bring on his Roman Catholic Bill again. The Premier atates that the Maoris er.donvor to evade t>y all possible means the provisions of the West Coast Settlements Aot of lust year. — =Mr -XJbMiB desires tho Premier to state whether bo will carry ont hia promise of last eesaion to bring m a revised tariff this session Mr Ppke is acquiring whether Government have any information respecting the operations of an Association oalled the St. Giles, m London, which has been engaged m tho charitable work of exporting oonviofee to the Auatralian colonies. Mr Taipua wishes Government to conelder the advisability of opaui»g the seal fisheries this season. Dr Fitchott is moving for a return, showing the comparative tariffs of the Australian Oolonle3 and New ZB*land. Mr Scobio Macken-z'e Is moving for a copy of ali correspondence relating to tha raising of New Zaaland loans during tho I last six yearp, Mr Oftdman has sirea notloa to Introduca a Bill to amend the Counties Aot. Mr Saddon will, on Wednesday next, move for a return showing the amount paid to each newspaper m the colony for printing and advertising, from October 31 last, to April 30, 18 C B. m. , L Wellington, May 18 lne only business before the House yesterday was the Loan Bill, which tho Government wished 10 have pushed through m time to eend Home by the .fc rlsco mail on Saturday. A strong effort was made to keep the. second reading back till after the delivery of the Financial Statement, but the Premier was firm and eventually the Bill was carried through all ifca Btages without the clause limiting farther borrowing for the next throe years. It ia generally conceded that the move made by tho Opposition m decMnlne to show their hand aa to their lander /a a clever strategical atep and places tho Governmonfc at a great diaadvaotage. Instead of having t.bo same concrete body to reply tn, they have only a sort of guerilla force oontlnually atticking tham but leaviug no opening for return. The wisdom of thia oourao Las proved Itoelf ap to present, for the Premier, who ia never more at homa than when oastlgatlng some opponent, has been like a fish oat of wate? and has had to sit and look on while his Bills are carried through without debate. The line adopted of refusing to debate measures la aleo bearing fruU. The Government seem to be m a fog about their Bills. The Electoral Bill, for iustanoe seems to be further away from presentation to the Houae than ever. I hear the Government had at one time a Government Bill thoroughly ready for distribution but difficulties have cropped op and it has gone back for further consideration, The. Bill U a very bulky aff»ir and I hear covers over 60 pages, and the proposals are- bo complicated that the idea is gaining ground that the BUI trill be thrown out.