PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1889, 10 July 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From oub own OoßJEussroiroiiiT.)

Wbllikgtoh, July 9. A meeting of members, comprising 1 Moasrs Steward, White, Walker, Duncan, ( Mills, Valentine, and Cowan, was held , this morning to dlacoss the position m , regard to the Dlatrlol Railways Bill, which still remains on the Order Papar. , { Considerable conversation took plaoe on i the Babjeot, the upshot of which was that several new olausea were framed, with the objeot of limiting the possible charges made against dlstriot railways for working expenses, and to exolnde fr jm the opera* ilon of the Aot all ratepayers paying under £5 per annum. The meeting then deolded to form themselves Into a deputation, to wait on the Premier to-morrow, and urge thejacoeptanoe of the proposals saggested. . a deputation of Natives waited on the Minister and Premier this morning la oonneotloo with the Native Bills brought down by Government. About 60 natives were present. They represented with regard to the measure dealing with Native lands that they were satisfied with the propouals of Govercment so far as they gave freetrade In land, bnfc tobk excaption to tbe'olauue which aubjeoted their land to taxation similar "to Europeans. T.hey argued the time had not yet arrived, and the oircaoißtanoea surrounding their lands were different to the state of European lands, and, they asked Government ta withdraw the legislation m that respect until auoh time aa .these diffareacea bad been dona away with. The Premise promised to consider the arguments, and explained that when the BUI now before the House had passed its seoond reading, a jointoommitteeof members of both Houses, qualified to deal with the.aubjeot, would be appointed to suggest amendments. With regard to the wish of some North Island Natives for Home Rule, the Premier said there oould not be two Governmenta ; it was out of the auestion, A. meeting of the Committee of membora interested In the Native Bills was held thla morning, at whloh several merflbßM were present, and Mr Ballanoe occupied the ohalr. It was decided that the meeting will only support the BUI In oa3e amendments are agreed to providing (I) that no person be allowed to purchase, either at present or In future, more than EOO9 acres of Native land or lease more th*n 15,000 } (2) that not more than twenty Natives be inoluded m any Grown grant, and that the area of blocks be reduced aoooirdlngly ; (3) that titles be Individualised as soon as possible, and that olausea be introduced giving effaot to | this) and (4) that m all future leaies | granted compensation be allowed for lm--1 provements. A full meeting of all members Interested m aqbjeot, Including Maoris, will be held on Wednesday, and on the result of that meeting will to a great extent depend the fate of the Native Bills. If the meeting be unanimously m favor of amendments to be proposed m the Hills, lt> anticipated i hey will go through, as the Government intend to make an effort m that direction, but if opinions be divided the probability Is the Bills w(ll be shelved for this session, ' ' *" * During the present session very frequent complaints have been made m gard to " Hansard," which culminated on Friday night, when the Premier suggested the abolution of that body, which was firat established twenty-one yeara ago today. There oannot be the slightest doubt that owing to the "parsimonious p,olioy adopted, several of the beat mtou of tqe, staff have left for better pay m Australia ; but the oauae of the inaoourate reporting la not, I venture. to think, due so muoh to the lnoompefcanoy of the; staff as to the bad acoustlo properties of the building, and the faot thtt m amber a have of late got into a horrible style of mumbling away to themselveß, so that It frequently happens not a word is audible m the gallery. In this respect Ministers are worse, even, than other members, and it may safely be said that there are nos rqore $ha,n a dosm members m the House who are perfectly aqdible- The matter haa baen considered by the Reporting and Debates Committee who have arrived at this view, and the {' Poßt^' m an artiple to-night commenting on the matter, urges that, the Chief Repcrler be given extended dlaoretiona.ry power, so that he may, where desirable, condense speeoheß, and only report m fqll the really important debates. After all that has been said, it Is expeoted thtt some action w}ll be taker* m the matte,! before the end of the session : and it lq even said that- "Hansard 1 ' will be abolished, B.ut Jdo not anticipate anything so drastic as that. Wb^unoton, July IQ. Jb} is understood that the adjourned debate on the motion to go into Committee of Supply, and Mr Withy's amendment thereto will be resumed to-day. It Is understood however that both the Government and the House find mnoh difficulty ia entering upon the question and it is thought aomo arrangement will be made If poßgJble to'd.efer the discussion until % further date, and. to get'oq with! the Bstlr mates, Meanwhile an idea iq that 'the motion should be negatived by consent, so as to allow Supply to aome on and that a proposal similar m purport but la different shapa should be brought on at a later period, when some understanding had been arrived as to the ooune iftoit eligible for adoption,