PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1991, 12 July 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[By Tbleqhaph.] WELLINGTON, July 10. Members are girding up their loins for the expected fray on Monday evening, when the Civil Service report will be discussed. Several are actively employed in briefing themselves with strong oases, according to their respective views. The debate on such a vexed question once began, it is hard to judge where it'will end.

I do not understand it to bo yet decided that Monday sittings are to be the rule in future, at any rate for a week or two. I hear that the proposal to rescind the resolution that the House shall adjourn at 12.30 a.m. is likely to bo superseded by an amendment that at the hour mentioned the Speaker shall put the question without discussion “That the House now adjourn,” This would leave the matter in the hands of the House, and by requiring the question to be put without debate stonewalling would be prevented. Under the present system, however, any member can prevent the question being put by simply talking till 12.30, This has been threatened to be taken further advantage of in debating the estimates where unpopular reductions are proposed. - It is understood that the reports of both the Native Commission and the Local Industries Commission will be ready for presentation early next week. That of the Railway Commission is likely to be much later. The Bill to extend the law relating to licensing hawkers and pedlars, introduced by the Hon. T. Dick, provides that any county or borough may regulate the issue of general or district licenses respectively to hawkers and pedlars. The fee for district licenses, limiting trading to the provincial district, is £3, and for a licence for the colony £6, the amount to bo increased by half where a horse and vehicle are used. Hawkers are not to carry spirituous or fermented liquors under a penalty of £SO, and must not tranfer licenses. The Public Health Act 1876 Amendment Bill, introduced by Mr Stevens, provides that notwithstanding anything contained in the Public Health Act of 1876 or the Act amending the same, the Christchurch Drainage Board may, by resolution passed by a majority of members, delegate all or any of their powers as a Local Board of Health for the district, constituted by the second section of the Christchurch District Drainage Act 1875, to the Christchurch City Council, and the delegation may be revoked. Upon such delegation the Christchurch City Council shall Save power to exercise all or any of the powers, rights, and duties given by the Public Health Act 1876 and any Acts amending the same; and after delegation to the Council, no other Local Board of Health shall have a right to exercise any powers which may obstruct or interfere with the powers so delegated or exercisable by the Christchurch Council during the continuance of such delegation. A copy of such resolution, under the common seal of the Christchurch Drainage Board, signed by the chairman of the Board, shall be conclusive evidence in Courts of Law of the due passing of such resolution and of such, delegation.