PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2177, 19 July 1889, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

(from oub own correspondent, i Wellington, July 18 / A deputation of tewu members wticud on the Premier aaklog him to egree to postpone tho Representation BUI m order that time might be gives the country to thoroughly understand its meaning and provlsioue. The Premier replied that he could not agrea to the requsst as he had already promised the oountry members 10 dispuno of the representation question without delay, and he Celt he must continue the debato on the first opportunity whloh would probably be on Friday. The deputation pressed the Premier to poet a map m the lobby showing the effect the B:U would have on the districts as at present constituted, but the Premier received the proposal very coolly. Mr Moan will move In the Housa th»t such a nup be prepared for the Information of members The Bill to amend the Counties Act merely reclines several minor defects without affecting the main principles of the Aot ai at present existing, A question of some importance to country aetthrs was raised by Mr Valentine this afternoon. He pointed out that a decision has recently been given to tie effdottbatif property on a river buok is separated from the river by a road lino, and such road line is gradually divided by the natural action of the river, the local body oao without oompenaatlon take a new road llnu off the same property, tnd continue to do so as often ai neoessary till the whole of the bank may be taken by the river, aud the owner Is leg illy powerless to prevent the enoroaohment from whioh the law ordains that he must suffer the loes of his property. The Minuter of Lands said he was not aware such decision had been given, but would look Into the matter. It was, however, a very targe question, and it was not likely the Government would be able to do anything this session. Me Perolval is anxious to get a Bill introduced fixing ihe maximum dividend to be paid by Gig Companies ; providing for an annual inspection, by an ladependent auditor, of the balance sheet and booka of G«s Oompanloi; the abolition of meter rents j and testing the quality of gas. Government, however, whilst recognising that the present legislation asaffiotlng Gas Oomp inlos Is very unsatisfactory, and is under the consideration of Government, state that It is not likely that anytblog can be done this session. GIV rument reoognlslng the difficulty under which Road Boards labor In reßpcot to compelling land owners to oIW gjrse from roads adjoining their properties, and knowing that frequent trouble and disappointment result from a want of clearness In the|Aot, are preparing a short Bill which It is hoped will place tha whole matter upon a proper footing. Some dlaouaslon arose on the question of the aooeptanoe of the Agent-General of the position of a trustee for the Midland Railway Company. Although the Premier stated that the Agent-General received no remuneration m oonoeotion with the matter, and that he wonld resign If any difficulty aroae or Government requested htm to do so, Sir George Grey moved the a 1 jourummt of the House, and a very general opinion was expressed that the Agent-Qoneral should not aooept the dual position, and that as long as he did ■/•, ' a a n name would influence Investments which might not turn out well. Government having been urged to legislate m the direotion of ex.mDtlnK volunteer drill aQ d boat sheds from municipal taxes and rates, the question ins been under consideration, but Governmoot do not see their way to propose any legislation In this direotion. It appears that In some oquntry pUoas volunteers let their halls for publio meetings, etc., and owners of publio halls would feel aggrieved If any suoh concession as is proposed were made to volunteers who are thus oompet* lug fflth them. The House was m oooomlttee all the afternoon on a number of local Bills. It will bo remembered that on a reoent occasion the Premier denind that he had received any Gosparinl correspondence m print, exoept one In thy memorandum, to the printing of which be had agreed. Mr Fiaher produced somo printed documents to-day, which he. assured the Honse hud been roiurued to him by the Premier ; that they were printed doouments relating to the Gasparinl affair, other than the memorandum referred to ; and that they contained corrections In the Premiss handwriting. He hoped—and the wish will be generally eohoed— that he would not. have to refer to this matter again. The Premier was not In the House wheo this explanation was made. In the Legislative Ootmoll this afternoon the Bill providing for the reform of the Council was thrown out by 91 to JO «* . «, WiuMrapoH, Jnl F "i9. Major Steward's Triennial Lloeualng Committees Bill and Edaoitlonal Fcanobiie Bill were considered In oommittee, repprtod without amendment, and passed. Mr Taylor's Bight Hours' Bill was thrown oqt by three votes,