PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1930, 28 August 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

4 (FROM OUR OWtf CORRESPONDENT } Wblmngtoh, Augast 37. Government rather stole a march >his afternoon on Sir G. Grey on tho motion for the Beoond reading of the Property Tax BUI, whioh It was known the knight of Kawau was goiag to oppose. At 2 35, when the Bill was to come on Sir G. Grey was absent, aod the Premier, seeing his opportunity, movsd the second reading without any speech, and before members were aware what had been done, the Beoond reading was agreed to. The veteran htd his opportunity on the motion for going into Committee, however, and nude a Jengthy speech, bat it was of do aval). The Bill was passed through Committee ' One of the most important matters to come forward for consideration to-morrow is the case of Mokan Jones, which, It is anticipated, will oocopy s >me time of the Rouse, and there are a number of members determined to have jabtioe' done to him. I understand that Jones haß submitted a BUI drafted by bis solicitors to give him the relief he considers hlm&elf entitled to m connection with the Mokau affair- The measure is now under the consideration of the Gibinet. It le understood that it proposes to restore Jones to the position which he occupied prior to the paßsing of the Native Land Administration Act In IPB6, to empower him to proceed with hi 3 negotiations, Government m the meantime being obliged to advtnce to him the sum of £2600 on the cecarlty of property, so as avoid foreclosure before Jones can m*ko anangements for rendering his lease productive. Jones, on his part, agrees thet If his position, m regard to the Uao Ib hssureo, he will absolutely waive all oiaiuaa to compensation for the loan and injury he has sustained. It la thought this proposal may be acoep'.ed by Government. The position of absentee landlords was again dragged before the House to-day, when m Committee on the Property Tax Bill. The matter was Introduced by Dr JSfewmarj, and In repJy to him, the Premier siid he saw no reason whatever why absentee land owners should not be subject to an additional tax, but It would not be fair to take action suddenly and without doe notioe. However, hi* present statement might be taken as reasonable warning, so that it could be quite cornpotent to take action next session. Government will carefully consider the matter during the repess and a big struggle over this matter may ba expected. Government got another nasty knock this afternoon which will not tend to Improve their position. When on the estimates on Saturday morning a vote for £10,000 for Major Steward's labor settlements w£s agreed to provisionally on the matter being again brought before the Hcnse today when the resolutions were reported, as it was objeoted that an important matter should not be rushed through m an indecent manner m the House at that hour of the morning. If thlshad not baen done an organised ■tonewall would have resulted, consequently this afternoon the question again same forward and was debited, but this time Government was defeated by 32 to 30, several who had previously paired m their favor voting against them. Amongst these was Sir J: Hall, who stated that he j had left a general pair for Government, bnt could not support them on Buch a question. It is said that Government were not sorry the motion was lost, though of courao they would not appear so, The recent aetlon of the Upper House In dealing so ruthlessly with Government measures is putting Ministers into a mortal funk, aod they do not feel sure about any bill which goes up to "another place." The last rumor Is that the Lords Intend to ref ase to pass the Appropriation Act if it contains anything objeotlonable, and should that be the oase, there will be a db^djook with a vengeance when the Oounoii may be swamped with a view to asserting the position of Government. It Is hoped, however, that by the time this measure comes on the old gentlemen will have resumed their rational condition again. Wellikgtoh, August 28. The burning question now w lth every* one is " When will the prorogation take place." At present there is every prospect of the rest of che work being finished off tc-day, as members have evidently made up their minds to get away by to-morrow's steamer. All depends now on the progress made by the conference of the two Houses on the Cblneae question and the Native Bills. If the managers gei? on well together, everything should be clear before midnight when the prorogation will take place to-morrow; The Premier has promised to make a statement on the subjeot this morning. The annual report of the New Zealand Survey Department has been presented to Parliament. Tho Surveyor-General greatly regrets the recent departmental reductions whereby the servioes of 13 Burveyora and \Q draughtsmen were dispensed with from no fault of their own. The present strength of the Department is 60 surveyors, 65 draughtsmen, and 8 olerki and accountants. Government were m Cabinet for some time last night on the draft Bill submitted by Mokau Jones, bnt nothing definite was arranged. Government, It appeared, wished to oat i£ about a good deal, bat Jones objeoted and no arrangement was oome to, Replying to Dr Hodgklnson this morning, the Premier said that Govarnment were ready to bring In a Bill dealing with Jone»' oaee If they agree ri to tht term thereof,