PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 861, 18 October 1878, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

(From our Exchanges.) On going into Committee of Supply the Treasurer said that the Government wished to deal with the whole question on some well-defined principle, and they were collecting information with that object in view, but it was quite impossible to deal with the' matter this year. The Government, in the meantime, proposed to deal with grant in aid of the voluntary principle. Where Committees exist a subsidy of pound for pound on subscriptions and donations would be paid, and the formation of these Committees would be encouraged, because the Government believed that that was the proper mode of conducting the administration of charitable affairs. A fracas occurred in the lobbies on Saturday between Colonel Whitmore and Mr Driver. Colonel Whitmore meeting Mr Driver in the lobby, said “ I am astonished at your forsaking the principles on which you were elected. You promised at the caucus to support the Government, and yet voted against them on the Beer Duty Rill." Mr Driver replied : “ 1 did not promise to support the Government at any caucus.” Colonel Whitmore : “You did." Mr Dtiver : “I say I did not.” Colonel Whitmore : “ I again assert that you did, and that you broke your work ” Mr, Driver : “ You’re a liar, sir.” Colonel Whitmore began to argue the question. At this interesting and exciting stage friends interfered and prevented what might have resulted in a breach of the peace. Mr Ormond asked whether the Government will give effect this session to the recommendation of the Lands (’omniittee—“That, considering the difficulties the class of settlers taking up land on deferred payment were subject to, and especially as regards road access to their holdings, the Committee arc of opinion it would be a wise act to extend the operation of clause 59 of the Land Act of 1877 to the case of land taken up prior to the passing of the Act, but in respect to which payments have been made since tbn Act passed, or for which payments are still to be made.” The Attorney-General replied that the matter could not be dealt with except by an Act which could not be passed this session, The loss of revenue would amount to LI 0,000, which the Treasury, could not forego. Exceptional cases would bo dealt with on their merits. A rumour is going round the lobbies of the House, whether well founded or not time will show, that a motion will be tabled in the Upper House, that it is derogatory for any of its members to receive any remuneration for their attention to public affairs ; and that in future the expenditure for legislative purposes would be reduced by the striking off the Estimates the amount annually voted for Councillors’ honorarium. It is not correct, as some Southern members h'ive asserted, that the Government have pi-omised to assist the Southern Counties which have suffered from floods by advancing them considerable sums of money at a very low rate of interest, or, more probably still, without any interest, to enable them at once to repair the damage, these advances to be secured upon the 20 per cent of the Land Fund localised by the Financial Arrangements Act of last year. This suggestion was made by the Government, but they are not pledged to it. Anything to 1 e done in that direction will first have to come before the House. To-day there was a short debate on Mr Bowen's motion that reserves should be made in every district for the endowment of hospitals and for charitable purposes. Mr Stout very strongly opposed this, hid it was carried on a division by SO to 21. Mr Macandrew voted for the motion, and the other Ministers against it. The second rending of the Education Act Amendment Bill was postponed to Thursday week. Mr Pyke expressed a hope that the Government would keep faith with its promises to the deputation as to taking discussion on this Bill, instead of placing it low down on the Order Paper, and allowing it to fall through. In Committee on the Joint Stock Companies Act. 1860, Amendment Bill, on clause 2, “ associations may be formed nndei the Joint Stock Comnanies Act, 1860, without the addition of the word limited,” Mr Pyke, in an amusing speech, said ahawker came into his district who called himself a colporteur, and cheated the revenue out of a hawker's license. He said Societies being formed for the prom ding of commerce, art. science, religion, charity, or any other useful object, would include anything. even gold-mining. He moved that the Chairman leave the chair. Mr Pyke divided the House, on the amendment, with the following result : Ayes, 25 ; noes, 16. The Bill was shelved. The carrying of Sir Bowen’s motion on Wednesday, in favor of reserving land in every district as an endowment for hospitals and charitable institutions, produced an im-roe-diato crop of Bills to endow particular institutions. Mr J. C. Brown led the van with a Tuapeka Hospital'endowment Bill, and after him came Mr Feldwick with two

similar Bills, while notice of half-a-dozen more was given to-day. After discussion both Bills were shelved, Mr Pyke gave notice of tho introduction of the Hospital Endowments for DunstanCromwell. The telegram from monetary agents to members of Parliament respecting the cutting up the runs, it is understood refers to tho action taken by the Minister of Lands to cancel the lease of Run No. 309 (Cargill and Anderson),;at the Teviot, and throw it open for sal uon deferred payment. This is proposed to be done under some clause of the Mines Act, which will enable the Government to bring the run under the opera tion of last year’s Land Act. To-day a meeting of the Otago members of both houses was held to consider the matter. Nearly all the members were present, and considerable diversity of opinion appeared to exist as to the propriety of what the Government proposed to do. Ultimately it was agreed that Mr Oliver should give notice of a question asking the Government to give an assurance that they would not extend the system to other runs than those already dealt with. As soon as this question is answered a fur-' ther meeting will be held.