PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2262, 2 July 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[By Xe t jgbaph.] [FBOM THE OWU COEBESPONDBNT OF THE “ FBBSS.”] WELLINGTON, July 1. The public petitions committee report on several petitions from Working Men’s Clubs against the proposal in the Licensing Bill to subject clubs to police supervision and to impose a license fee on them, that as the subject is under the consideration of the House, the committee does not deem it necessary to make any recommendation on the matter. The Drainage Bill as amended in committee was circulated to-day. The chief alterations consist in (1) excision of clause 12, which empowered two justices of the peace, when the improvement of property through drainage should be greater than the damage done to the opposition, to value the improvement and compel the owners of the improved properties to pay it; (2) a new clause that all sums awarded or payable under this Act shall be recoverable in a summary way if not paid within thirty days after the award ; (3) the word “Court” is substituted for “ justices ” all throughout, and generally “land to be affected by the proposed works ” in lieu of “ adjoining lands,” as in the original draft. Political matters continue extremely quiet. All old habitues of the lobbies and press gallery agree that never was there such an utterly dreary session or one so barren of news and gossip. It is pretty certain that the present stagnation will continue until the Treasurer has brought down his financial statement and local Government finance proposals. There will be more lively debates then, but I entertain not the slightest doubt that Ministers will bo able to show a good working majority in favor of their local Government proposals should anything like a taial of strength arise on that question. The Government party hold a caucus tomorrow to consider various matters of importance. Sir G. Grey’s Bill to regulate the admission of persons to practice in Courts of Law will provide, I believe, that any person able to pass the legal examination may be admitted to the Bar without having boon articled.