PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1966, 12 June 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[By Telegraph.] fPROM OITU OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, June 11. In the House to-day, Major Atkinson announced that a new and greatly simplified Property Tax form would be issued if the House approved of the changes proposed by the Government, and that the time for sending in returns would be extended. Mr Bryce positively denied that any officers or persons in the Government service had been authorised to act as Press correspondents. In answer to Mr Bowen’s question, Mr Oliver said that the cost of working the Christchurch passenger railway station during the quarter ending 31st March was £1221, and tho number of passengers 45,070 ; the cost of the Dunedin station, £979, passengers 45,072. The Controller-General has advised the Government that the £3OO paid to Mr Rees last year must either be voted by Parliament or else recovered as a debt from one or all of tho late Ministers. Mr Stewart’s Evidence Amendment Bill provides that a priest shall not be required to divulge any information received by him under the seal of the confessional, or be liable to be committed ;for contempt for refusing to do so. It also provides that a wife may give evidence in favor of her husband or a person on his own behalf. Mr Pyke’s Party Processions Bill makes it a misdemeanor for persons to meet and parade in procession for the purpose of celebrating any festival or anniversary connected with “ religious or other distinction or differences.” Justices of the Peace are empowered to instantly disperse such gatherings by repeating the following : —“ Our Sovereign Lady the Queen charges and commands all persons being here assembled to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their own homes. God save the Queen.” And that any person refusing to disperse shall be liable to a penalty of £SO or imprisonment not exceeding three months. The Pharmacy Bill is promoted by the chemists and druggists of New Zealand as a protection for the public against the danger which necessarily attends such a business if carried on by incompetent persons. Mr Sutton has given notice that on the 23rd inst. ho will move that subsidies to local bodies be paid at the usual rate for the next half year, in view of the proposals of the Government to provide other revenues which, in the present state of the law, cannot be available before July, 1881. Mr Reeves’ annual motion relative to the imposition of a tax upon imported coals will come up for discussion in a slightly different form next Thursday, when he is to move that “ Taking into consideration the present state of tho Treasury, and for revenue purposes, it is, in the opinion of this House, desirable that an import duty should be imposed on all coals coming into the colony.” The rate of the proposed tax is not mentioned, but I presume it will be the same 5s per ton as on former occasions.

Dr. Wallis’ Women’s Franchise Bill is to be read, subject to the provisions of the Qualifications of Electors Act, 1879. The operative portion runs as follows;—“Every woman of the age of twenty-one years or upwards, having of her own right and to her separate use a freehold estate in her possession situate within any electoral district of the value of twenty-five pounds, whether subject to encumbrance or not, and of or to which she has been seized for at least six calendar months next before the registration of her vote, is entitled to be registered as an elector, and to vote at an election of members of such district for the House of Representatives; but no woman shall bg entitled to be registered as an elector or to vote at any such election in respect of any other qualification. No woman, although registered as an elector under this Act, shall be qualified to [be .elected a member of the House of Representatives for any electoral district.”