PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1794, 20 November 1879, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

fßr Telegbaph.]

Hyson OTJB COBBB6PONDENT3.] WELLINGTON, November 19. Tho multitudes of notices of motions, which have for so many weeks past blocked up tho notice paper and rendered it hopeless to get at business, were this afternoon all cleared off under circumstances that show whore the great obstruction to business in the House conwa from. Mr Rtid had a notice on tho paper to appoint a committee to inquire into the deviation of the lino of railway between Hokitika and Greymouth, which fortunately stood last on the list, and which all th ■ West Coast members wanted to see carried. This they tried to do by postponing all the other motions to get at it, but as tho House would not consent to that, they had to refrain from their usual incessant talk and let the business go on, and thus the House got through thirty-six motions before 5 30, instead of only live or six, as has often been done of late. Last night Mr Stevens proposed an amendment in the Regulation of Elections Bill to keep tho polling booths open till eight o'clock, which received very little support, although certainly one of the most unquestionably liboral alterations that could bo made. Mr Hislop's proposal to have all the elections on one day, and thus give the greatest power of plural voting to those who can pay for the most rapid means of conveyanco, was on tho other hand carried yesterday. Sir G. Grey expected to gain a little cheap popularity from the protectionists by asking the Government if they would be prepared to accept tenders for locomotives made in the colony at a higher price than they could be imported, but Mr Oliver took the wind out of his sails by simply saying that the late Government had ordered so many to be imported that there would be no chance to get any made in the colony for the next three years. Mr George has given notice to move—- " That any member of the House of Bepresentatives accepting a seat in the Ministry Bhall have to be re-elected before he becomes a member." Mr Stevens was to-day elected chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, and although that committee has been appointed so late this year, it will have some very important questions referred to it and a great deal of work to do.