PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1993, 14 July 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[By TblbgeafhJ Pfeom oub own cobebbpondent.] WELLINGTON, July 13. Ministers had a long Cabinet meeting today, the principal business being to consider the Representation Bill. Nothing is yet settled as to its provisions beyond the general principle on which it is based, namely, that of population, the town districts, however, being numerically stronger than the country ones. A map is in preparation by the SurveyorGeneral showing a provisional scheme of distribution. It is proposed that the boundaries of the new districts shall be, so far as possible, coincident with those of existing districts or counties, and that the population of town districts shall be about one-fourth larger than that of country districts. Several more meetings, however, will be held before anything at all definite is arrived at, and members will be consulted as to their respective localities. Any statistics as to district boundaries, &0., which may hitherto have found publication on this subject are simply canards, for I have the positive assuronoe of Ministers that nothing whatever has been agreed on, or even assumed anything like a definite shape. I may add that personally I do not believe there is the remotest probability of the Bill being carried this session, as so large an amount of business is already before the House. I hear on good authority that the Government have decided to abandon the Peace Preservation Bill, the chief provisions of which I indicated yesterday, and to introduce instead a measure called the Maori Prisoners Bill, which will embody the main provisions of the other, but in a more convenient form. I believe that there will be no provision for the trial of the Natives in custody, as it is now tolerably certain that they will never be tried at all, but will simply be detained so long as the peace of tho colony renders that necessary, as also those who were convicted and whose term of imprisonment has expired. A few of these latter, however, will moat likely be liberated at intervals by way of experiment. It is rumored, however, that some difficulties may possibly arise with the Imperial Government on the ground of ultra vires , and that the exception was taken by the home authorities to last year’s Bill, as embodying too wide provisions affecting the liberty of the subject. Ministers, however, seem satisfied that they are not exceeding their powers under the circumstances, and that extreme measures of precaution are necessary. Mr Oliver will not deliver his public works statement this week after all. It will probably not bo brought down for another fortnight, and as the Railway Commission are expected to send in their report in about a week, the public works statement in that case will follow it, as I intimated some weeks ago would most likely be the case. From what I can gather, the most rigid economy in public works expenditure will be insisted on, so as to extend the disbursement of the small remaining balance of the loan over as long a time as possible, and afford an opportunity of realising on the deficiency bills, by which this balance is now represented. Prom what X can learn to-day, I fancy that some of the rumours in circulation yesterday regarding the reduction in the police and constabulary are at least premature, so far as details go. Nothing is yet decided, excepting generally that reductions will be made, especially in tho number of tho most highly-paid officials, while the department will share the 10 per cent, reduction, excepting tho constabulary on service in the field. There is no probability of their being diminished in numbers for some months to come, as it would not be safe. A good deal of dissatisfaction prevails at tho rescinding of the resolution that the House should not sit after 12.30 a.m., and many members now declare themselves in favor of passing a resolution that at 12.30 a.m. the Speaker should put to the House, without discussion, the question, “ That this House do now adjourn.” In this way a late sitting could always have been secured when requisite, while it would have been made the exception rather than tho rule. This would have avoided the risk of votes being rushed through by sleepy members at unhallowed hours in while it would have effectually barred stone walling, I anticipate an early alteration in this direction. Tho report of the Native Royal Commission was completed this evening, and was expected to be laid on the table, but owing to an unforeseen delay this will not take place. His Excellency had been informed that tho report would be presented to him at 9 p.m., but Sir F. D. Bell sent up a note to Government House that the report would not be presented until to-morrow, I hoar that it is a most formidable document, of nearly 50 pages, while tho appendixes and evidence are immensely voluminous, comprising as they do tho history of tho whole Native Question on tho West Oeast during the last 20 years.