PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2255, 24 June 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[By Tblbssaph.J [fbom the own cobbbspondbnt op thb "PBBBS."] WELLINGTON, June 23. To-day has been the dullest even of this dull session as to political news and gossip. Not even a single parliamentary paper was laid on the table, or Bill circulated. Ministers met in Cabinet to consider the Regulation of Elections Bill, which was amended in regard to various details. Major Atkinson has obtained leave to introduce his Bill rendering Crown and Native land rateable, and also that in respect to collecting duties on estates of deceased persons, but neither is yet printed; Mr Murray's resolution on local government reform produced an energetic debate this afternoon, and it was ultimately talked out by Dr. Wallis until the hour of rising. There were three notable features :—First, the Ministerial statement that it was not convenient to declare the Government polioy regarding looal government at this stage, but that this would be done immediately after the Financial Statement had been delivered ; secondly, Mr Ormond's speech, in which, after lauding provincialism and condemning the oounty system, he, to the obvious surprise and keen disappointment of the Opposition, wound up by expressing an opinion that the whole question should be relegated to the constituencies, and Parliament should oontent itself with passing as few Billß as possible before the general election. The third feature was.Mr Header Wood's slashing onslaught on what he deemed the waste of time over the Licensing Bill. He complained that a large number of gentlemen wore brought together from all parts of the colony to Wellington to deal with public business of the utmost importance, and nearly a fortnight had been wasted in teetotal lectures unutterably dreary and useless. He denounced the course taken of wasting time on "this frivolous teetotalism," while such urgent matters as financial and local Government reform wanted attention. On the latter point he remarked that " people ask for bread, and we give them a atone ; they ask for money, and we give them institutions." The speech was in his happießt vein.

I believe that it is now praotically settled that the budget will be brought down on Tuesday week. Friday next would be preferred, but there are difficulties in the way which may not prove insurmountable. There is still a good deal of talk about the Ministerial defeat on Mr Macandrew's motion yesterday, but it is dearly reoognised to have been encountered through mere careless■ess and lack of party discipline. The "Post" to-night says, "There wbb very

bad management somewhere in the Ministerial camp. Unless Ministers had been sure of their followers they should not have resisted the motion so strenuously or allowed the question to go to the vote at all. It was exceedingly poor generalship, co say the least, and the result may have a consequence not yet discerned. These defeats do a Ministry great ; harm ; they injure a Government's prestige, weaken the allegiance of wavering supporters, and encourago opponents. It is folly to court defeat by mere carelessness, and if Ministers be wise they will profit by yesterday's slap in the face to urge on their followers the necessity of stricter party discipline and better organism. There is still a good deal of discussion about Mr Bryce and the Governor's despatch, and a strong feeling prevails condemnatory of his Excellency's action. The petition of Messrß Brogden and Sons in regard to their claims against the colony, whioh was presented to Parliament yesterday, has been before the classification committee and referred to the publio petition committee. It sets forth, at considerable length, the alleged grievance of the petitioners. They state that they were induced by the representation and assurance of the Government and Agent-General, to send out 1877 statute adult immigrants, of whom 887 were women and ohildren, a class much more valuable to the colony than to the petitioners, who only needed men to work on railway contracts. It was agreed that the Agent-General should forward these people to the colony .Messrs Brogden paying their passages and taking promissory notes for repayment, on the assurance of the Agent-General that the Government were dealing with the immigrants on a similar footing; that no difficulties should be put in the way of recovering and enforcing the notes; that arrest for debt prevailed in the colony, and was effectual, and that other immigrants would be sent out by the Government on similar terms. But directly after this agreement was made, the Government began taking out their own immigrant*, in tho same vessels with those of Messrs Brogden, and upon more favorable terms, thus causing jealousy and discontent, and causing some of them to accuse Messrs Brogden of defrauding them,and in consequence they used every device to evade payment of ;tho promissory notes. The Government ceased endeavoring to reoover their own promissory notes, thus it is contended showing the erroneousness of their assurances to Messrs Brogden that these would be effectual securities, and at length all possible chance of recoveiy was extinguished by the repeal of the law of arrest lor debt. Yet the Government claimed to remain a creditor of the petitioners, after having destroyed the security which the Agent-General had assured them was ample to proteot them from their loss. Messrs Brogden thereupon claimed to be relieved of the liability for £18,240 on account of passage money, on transferring to the Government the immigrants' promissory notes. This was refused, and the Government retained out of the moneys due to the petitioners on account of railway contracts £20,739, being the sum referred to, with interest added. The matter was referred in 1878 to a select Parliamentary committee, who reported that the petitioners had not substantiated their case, but it subsequently appeared that all the information had not been laid before the committee, including an important letter from the Agent-General, who recommended the proposal made by the petitioners for the settlement of their claims to the favorable consideration of the Government. The petitioners now, therefore, pray to be compensated for the loss they have sustained, or that such other relief may be granted as Parliament may think proper.