PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1880, 29 June 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

_ : *. (From our own Co-respondent.) Wellington. June 28 I understand Government havo decided to absolutely decline to procaed with any fragmentary portions of Itiilwayß excepr the most important main lines and even In some cases where tenders have been flailed {or works they will not bo proceeded with. In many cases where laud was hougbt at a high prica under the impreE■lon that » railway would pass through it, ■uohas land sold by School Oommifal'mers and Government land great hardships w'll be infl cled, and I understand that probably a BUI will be brought m by the Qoverrment on the p-lnciplo cf the FaiRent Bill, enabling Government to deal With oases of sett' era who have bought land on representations that a raUway line would pass near to it. I learn t*iat by the San Franoiaoo mail Qnvernmrnt received another letter from the Aaent-General t~> the eflfeot that ho finds that it has been so far impossible to get a suitable man for the position of Commissioner at a salary less than £3500, bat that he will continue to make enquiries on the euVjsct. The "Post "to-night rates that the Government intend to ■ettle the matter before the end of the ■etslon, either by appointing Commissioners In the colony, or by setting up a Commercial Board, but that the former proposal is most likely to be adopted. On enquiry from Ministers, however, 1 learn that the statement Is entirely premature, and that no steps wii be tiken In the matter till the Agent-General finally reports on the aubjeot. In putting his question to the Governmant to-d»y, as to whether Government Kill impose a poll tax of £1 per head on all bachelors, and make an additional oharge npon them m the shapo of property tax, Mr Bruoe made quite a happy little speeoh. He remarked that he was Induced to mtke the suggestion from the f*ot that he thought a bachelor's life was • lurary, and, as a luxury, it should be taxed. Dr Fitohett suggested as a qualification that the proposed tax should not apply to biohelors who oonld prove that they were engaged six months before the parsing of the Aot. In reply, the Premier laughingly thanked the member for Rangitiket fer his suggestion, and an id ho would have preferred if it had been m the ■hape of a Bill, whlob ho would hav^ aislsted to push through. Instead of being a luxury, he thought baohelordom ihould be made penal, and punishable by liw. It wai not the Intention of the Oov«rnment to inorease the taxation at present, but if it became necessary he would remember the bachelors. At the instance of Ulr Vlneanfc Pyke, a deputation of members will wait on the Minister for Public Works on Monday, to endeavour to serure a reduction of railway rates on fruit. To strengthen the hauds cf the deputation, Dr Fitchett has drawn up the following letter to the Minister, whloh has been signed by more than alxty members of the House :— " Dear Sir, — A deputation of members will wait npon you next Monday, to urge the expendlenoy of greatly reducing the railway rates for fruit. As many of as may be unable to attend, we desire to Btate that we ara heartily m accord with the views of the gentlemen who form the deputation. In our judgment, one of the most effective methods of protecting oar fruit grjwers would be the conveyance of their fruit at • nominal oos t." It is expected m many quarters that the increasing of the tea duty will not affect the prioe of that commodity, aB Nolbod, Moate and Co , at any rate, have decided cot to increase tbe price of their tea. A«j they are the leading importers, the probability is that other firms will adhere to the aamo line. Major Steward desires mo to correct a slight misapprehension gb to his remarks on th« Charitable Aid Bill. Ho was represented as having eaid that the value of property m Timaru had fallen during the past two or three years. This is not correct. What he did say was that the fall m tbe value of town property had not been so great as the fall m the value of country laud, Mr T. Mackeczie Is urging on the Government to take Into consideration the propriety of giving encouragement to tbe cultivation of wattles. A banquet is to be given to Mr Bryoe on Saturday, at W»tg»nu<, at which a library, valned at £370 will bu presented to him. Thirty members will be present. Dr Fitohett Is asking the Government to lessen the cost of telegrams to members daring the session . Mr Pyke Is anxious for the Government to Inform the House what they Intend to do m the matter of female suffrage. Mr M'Ketzle's Oallfornlan Thistle Eradication Bill has passed the Stook Committee, and will be taken op by the Government. Wbmjnoton, June 29 Yesterday was a very uneventful sitting. In the afternoon, when the questions had b^en disposed of, the Nelson Foreshore Bill, and tbe Auckland Harbor Bill were agreed to m Committee, and. m the evening Mr Levestaro's Animals Protection A c t Amendment Bill was read a second time, After that the most unußual occurrence of a count out took place. M»jor Steward's Licensing Committees Election Bill was m Committee, and Mr Fulton had moved a new clause allowing women to vote. Considerable opposition was manifested to this clause, and eventually it was found, just after the supper adjournment, that a quorum was not present 1 hereupon a ringing of the bell having failed to increase the number of members present, at twelve the House was formally adjourned by the Speaker. Subs' quently a number of members who bad been deaf to the ca'l of the bell, trooped m, and made many manifestations of thoir satisfaction with what had taken place. A lively disausalon Is anticipated In tbe House of " Lords" to-day on Mr Wilson's motion tbat a humble address be presented to His Excellency the Governor, praying HU Excellency to refer to the Legislative Counoll tbe question whether the flon Bir F. Whltaker, Hon Mr Oliver, Hon Mr Pharszyn. and the Hon Mr Waterhouse are disqualified from sitting and voting In the Council. . So far as I pan gather tbe Government Intend to prooeed with the following Bills this session :— Fair Rent Bill, Native Bills, L*nd Bill, Crown and Native Lands Rating Aot Repeal Bill, Railways Bill, Regulation of Local Elections Bfll, and If possible tbe Municipal Corporations BUI. while they also desire to get the Eleotoral Bill through its second reading. It Is understood that the tules of procedure will not be pressed this session, In regard to the amendments made by the Waste Lands Committee m the Fair Bent BUI, It Is stated there will be a big row to-day, and that Sir G. Grey and loxne other members will protest strongly against the amendments. Provision was mtde In the Bill to make it apply to education and other reserves, but the Committee were of opinion tbat the Bill shdjild apply to Crow a lands "only, and hence the excision. I bear, however, fhat' it Is the' Intention of Government either to insert a clause In the Land BUI giving efleot to their wishes, or else bring m an amendment to the Local Bodies Powers Bill, enabling the principle of the BUI to be applied to local and educational reserves The amendments m the Customs and Excise Duties Bill will come up for consideration this afternoop, but It Is not now Intended to take the third reading of tre Bill until Tuesday next. Directly the Customs Bill is disposed of to-day tbe House will be moved into Committee of Supply 'and a etait will be fclfcdo With th« Bifybttfll,