PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2320, 10 September 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[By Telegraph.] [fbom the special cobehbpokdekt op the “PBB8B.”] WELLINGTON, September 9. The Legislative Council read the Representation Bill a second time this afternoon, by 14 against 8. Six members who were present at the discussion declined to vote. If they had all voted against the Bill, it would have made a tie, but the Government, no doubt, have got warning of that, and would have adjourned the debate till the absent Councillors arrived. The conduct of those members who tried to throw out the Bill is very severely commented on, and there is a strong feeling that if the Legislative Council forget their constitutional duty and approach largo policy measures in a local spirit, the clamor for a change in the position of that chamber will speedily grow into a substantial demand for reform. The debate in the Council on the Bill was a very weak and foolish one, and certainly not calculated to raise that body in the public estimation. There is some talk now of their amending the Bill in committee, hut it is probably nothing hut bluster. This afternoon, in the House of Representatives, Mr Gisborne raised the subject of the Governor’s departure, and undertook to show by precedents and constitutional law that the departure of the Governor from Wellington during the session actually amounted to a prorogation of Parliament, and further, that when the Governor goes away of tis own accord like this, it is not lawful for the Chief Justice to act as his locum tenens. He made a long and very learned speech, and bored the House to death. Mr Pyke went a step further, and raised the whole" question of the combination of offices of Governor of New Zealand and Commissioner of the Pacific, urging that if the Governor can be away for months at a time without any bad results or inconvenience ensuing, then .£7500 was too much for the colony to pay for his services, and ho strongly recommended the Government to bring in a Bill to reduce it to Ho said that while they took 10 per cent, off the wages of every washorwomanin the Government, service they ought not to hesitate to reduce the Governor’s salary. The House got very impatient over the debate, which was obviously a

waste of time, Mr Halt, in reply, showed that there was nothing in Mr Gisborne’s constitutional mare’s nests, and as to the Governor’s salary, he stated that Sir Arthur Gordon had voluntarily proposed that 10 per cent, should be deducted from his salary and allowances, so as to put him in the same position as Ministers and civil servants. This announcement was londly cheered. Mr Hall said that Sir Arthur Gordon receives no salary as High Commissioner, which is as much as to say that New pays both the Governor and High Commissioner. The discussion was so far important that it will perhaps load to some representations being made to the Imperial Government as to the combination of the High Commissionership with the Governorship of New Zealand. The Railways Construction Bill is filed for committal this evening, but it is expected that it will be strongly opposed by the Northern men. The Government, however, are determined to pass it if possible, and if they succeed they will no doubt clear the order paper and bring the session to a close next week. There seems to bo a general desire to got through work and go.

The Premier will make a Ministerial statement on Monday as to what business tie Government purpose to go on with during the remainder of the session. To morrow will be mainly devoted to Cabinet meetings to consider this question. Nothing of course will be definitely settled until then, but it is generally understood that very little more will be attempted beside the following business, viz.:—The Estimates, the Railway Construction Bill, Succession Duties Bill, Property Tax Bill, Leasehold Qualifications Bill, perhaps the Native Reserves Bill, and perhaps the Corrupt Practices Bill. Even these are in some Jeopardy, as the House is growing very impatient, having sat exactly three calendar months to-day, and members are eager to get away and begin electioneering. A return has been laid on the table showing the officers employed by the Government in connection with the friendly societies. It was moved for by Mr Swanson, and is as follows : Registrar, no salary; actuary and clerk, .£4OO ; revising barrister, £IOO.