PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1435, 21 September 1878, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

[By Telegraph.] [FROM THE CORRESPONDENT OF THE PRESS,] Wellington, September 20. MARRIED WOMEN’S PROPERTY BILL. Mr Hislop has introduced a Married Women’s Property Protection Bill, which was read a first time. The object of the Bill is to interpret the meaning of “property,” so ns to include in a protection order real property, of which a married woman may bo seized at the time tho protection order is made. BANK HOLIDAYS, A Bill has been introduced by Mr Stevens to amend the Bank Holidays Act, 1873. The Bill provides that there shall bo four more statutory Bank holidays than at present. The Act of 1873 named four, Easter Monday, the twenty-fourth of May, tho first of January, and tho twenty-sixth of December. Besides these, Christmas Day and Good Friday are observed, but are not in the Act. They are, therefore, included in the present Amendment Bill. Tho additional days are the day after Good Friday (winch gives a straight run from Thursday evening to Tuesday morning), Whit Monday, Prince of Wales’ Birthday, and the seventeenth of January, being the date of tho proclamation bringing tiro Constitution Act into effect. This makes ton holidays in all, the same number as in Victoria. The Bill extends the power to the Governor in Council of proclaiming special Bank holidays, by making it lawful to proclaim special half-holidays from noon. MR ROLLESTON AND MAORI REPRESENTATION. Mr Rolleston, speaking on tho question of granting tho Maori franchise, charged the Native Minister with making a party speech. It was a matter to him of great regret to hear the line taken by the Native Minister and tho Attorney-General. The language they used was humiliating to tho House. He for one would not alter his views because of such threats. He condemned the manner in which the Government had suddenly changed front on their policy without any previous notice. As tho natives showed themselves capable of exercising the privileges of citizens, it was only right to give them the opportunity. He approved of the proposal to give them the franchise, coupled with additional responsibility. They should, however, pay rates, and individualise their titles. He approved of the Government proposals. They wore bound to maintain tho special representation, and would do right in enacting a system which would fit the natives to possess larger privileges. But the Government were wrong in representing this as a party question, and threatening a Maori difficulty. Let the House settle the question upon its merits, and not fear the Maoris or anything else. THE TAFANUI RAILWAY CONTRACT, Mr Richardson, in asking tho Minister of Public Works a question respecting Proudfoot’s Tapanui contract, said there had been so many statements in tho public prints with regard to this contract, that it appeared there were a great many irregularities existing in connection with it. He was sure the Minister would bo glad to avail himself of the opportunity of stating to the House why such a large expenditure had been incurred, which was not authorised by Parliament.

The Minister of Public Works said ho was very glad the hon. member had put the question. There was nothing for the Government to conceal. All the proceedings in relation to the contract were bona fide, open, and above board. He would now lay on the table a copy of the specifications, general conditions, &c., on which tenders for tho Tapanui railway- were based, also the date of advertisement, date for deposit of tenders, and date for acceptance of tenders. Mr Macandrew then said—- “ With regard to the authority on which the Government incurred the liabilities, I may say that at present tho liability is entirely prospective, to como into operation some two years hence, and the authority upon which that has been done is a resolution of this House passed last session, and I hope on the authority of a Dill which will shortly be passed through both branches of the Legislature. [Hear, hear.] This railway will be in the schedule of that Bill. With regard to the last part of the question, I may say no such arrangement exists with the present contractor, or any other contractor. The thing is perfectly absurd, and I imagine any Government which entered into such an arrangement would bo liable to impeachment or something worse.” NATIVE LANDS. Mr Whitaker is drafting a now Land Bill to settle all East Coast land claims. One Judge and Court will sit continuously until tho whole of the cases arc disposed of. It is understood th? Government favors the Bill. THE CENSUS. The first volume of the census returns is printed, and will shortly bo circulated. THE HON. J. MARTIN, Owing to pressure from members of the Council, tho Hon. John Martin threatens an action for libel against the “ Titnaru Herald” and other journals which lampooned him, THE COMMITTEE ON THE EDUCATION DILL. The House has been pounding away in committee on tho Electoral Bill the whole afternoon, and is now at it again. The last clause was reached before 5,30, and tho House then went back to those clauses tho consideration of which was postponed. Anything of a more generally uninteresting nature can hardly be imagined. Tho whole time is taken up with quibbling and hair-splitting over a few more or less important VAA’do, The behavior of the membe-s li committee is, as a rule, most disorderly. Hot unfrcqucntly for a space of five minutes nothing um be beard but loud and repeated cries of “ order, order,” “ question, question.” Mr Bees appears thoroughly in his element, and makes himself specially obnoxious, Mr O’Borko has a miserable time of it, but keens Lis temper iu au admirable manner.

[ Mr Stout’s many excellent qualities as a I debater came out to bettor advantage in committee than in the presence of the Speaker. Notwithstanding all his ability ho has found it impossible to carry many little points on which ho appeared to have set his heart. POSITION OF THE GOVERNMENT. It is not any exaggeration to say that in every proceeding of the House the waning influence of the present Government is more or less distinctly noticeable. In so marked a degree is this the case, that thebest friends of the Ministry are forced to confess that, in all probability, the Government will And it a matter of some dilllculty to outlive thepresont session.