PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2156, 24 June 1889, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

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Wellington, Jane 24. Matters political are not very exciting yet. There are ettil a good many prominent members to arrive. Sir George Grey, Mr Ormond, Mr Balianoe and Oapt&in Ruasell are among the absentees. There m a strong feeling against btinglcg the new prooednre roles down m the state of mere sessional rules, and the Government will probably have to greatly modify the preient draft of the proposed rules before there is any chance of their being agreed to, or the rules may Be entirely dropped, »nd some modifications m the standing orders, with a mild form of oloture exerolsable only at the will of a | very large majority of the House substituted. It is quite possible it may be ■ome lime before the Home sees the correspondence relative to Mr Fisher's retirement from the Cabinet. The Premier baa yet to reply to Mr Fiiher'i laat letter, and tbe Utter may want to reply again. Further than this there IsatroDg objection among the older members to the production of auoh correspondence, , and Mr Fisher may have to table a motion on the sabjee'. Govorn- J ment are thinkiog of introducing a B II providing that retail tobaoooniits shall be licensed, with a view to prevent smuggling. Government have deoided to introduce no amendment to the Land Bill. Several private members, however, are anxious to see Borne amendment of the present system, notably m regard to the disposal of Crown Lands, and it is possible we may have several amending Bills introduced by private members. There Ii likely to be a very warm debate on the »ff»lrs of the New Plymouth Harbor B»rd, which Is m finanolal straits. Government advanced over £2000 to help tbe Board. Mr Hutchiion has already given notloe of a question on the subject. Mr Taylor's Eight Hours Bill is almost a reprint of Sir George Grey's Bill. It provides that eight hours work shall be a day's and forty eight hoars a week's wo»k. Town and oonntry members are already up m arms against each other over some points of tbe Charitable Aid Bill and the Electoral quota.. A meeting of country member* was held this rnorcing with referecoe to the proposed Bkotoral Bill, the object being to secure an increased quota In favor of the country districts. There were 28 members present, Mr Seymour m the ohair. After considerable disonsslon on the quest ioD, Mr Maoarthur moved tba a committee consisting of Messrs Seymour liwoe, and the mover interflow Government on the euDJeot, and convene another meeting. This was seconded by Mr Pyk , and carried.