POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2610, 18 August 1882, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

[FBOM THE "PBESS.”] WELLINGTON, August 17. A return was laid on the table to-night showing the expenditure on repairs, &0,, on the Parliamentary buildings since last session. The total sum is £4069 15s lid. To-day being one of the very few remain- > ing days available for private members’ business (probably there will not be more than three more), it was naturally expected that the best use would be made of it, and business pushed on as fast as possible. What the House really did was lamentably different. In the first place, the whole afternoon was frittered way in a free fight among the Westland members over the Hokitika High School Bill, and then the first two hours of the evening sitting were wasted in an un> seemingly wrangle over the question who should be acting chairman of committees in the absence of Mr Hamlin, who although he presided in the afternoon was not well enough to be out at night, Mr Dick proposed Colonel Trimble, who acted last evening, but Mr Bhrimtki, (still smarting under Colonel Trimble’s ruling adversely to his motion in favor of taxing lands adjacent to railways to make up any deficiency in their receipts towards working expenses and interest, and which he subsequently reversed, after consulting the Speaker), objected to Colonel Trimble’s taking the chair. Again a general shindy ensued, and members successively protested against the time being wasted in such discussion on a private night, but they ruthlessly talked away the flying hours themselves. Mr Seddon, for instance, who was very strong against the “ waste of time,” spoke for something like an hour right on. Sir George Grey and Sir John Hall bad a personal “ set to.” Mr J, W. Thomson and Mr Feldwiok were proposed in turn for the chairmanship, but nothing definite came of it. After all this fuss all about nothing the debate suddenly collapsed. Colonel Trimble was put in the chair nem. con , and shortly before 10 p.m., the House started on its evening work. As there are fifty-five private Bills on the Order Paper to begin with, the prospect is not very promising for much inroad being made into this huge mass of amateur legislation. On an early sitting day Mr Hutchison is to move that the following clause be added to the Standing Orders of the House — “ That the consideration of public Bills which have passed a second reading, but have not proceeded further during the session, may be resumed in the succeeding session of the same Parliament at the stage of going into committee.” This, if carried, would probably avert considerable waste of time in recapitulation and repetition, but I doubt its being ever reached this session. All the general interest of the House is concentrated on the two Loan Bills, which are still causing much discussion. The majority of the Auckland members express great dissatisfaction with the proviso in the North Island Main Trunk Bailway Loan Bill to the effect that the one million loan for that line should not be raised until the lino had been surveyed and approved by Parliament. This they contend would leave the whole question of borrowing the money to be fought over again when the line came up for the approval of Parliament. They are anxious to see the matter definitely clinched at once. It is not yet decided what steps, if any, will be taken. Some advocate recommittal, but others think this would be useless, in the face of the large majority which carried the amendment, and they complain bitterly that they have been sold by the Southern members. There is also much talk about the motion of Mr Shrimski in favor of taxing lands within tan miles of either side of railways to make up any deficiency in the receipts towards working expenses and interest. This is likely to elicit considerable discussion when the consideration of the New Zealand Loan Bill in committee is resumed on Friday, and it is probable that a keen struggle may take place on the question, It is believed, however, that the motion in its present shape will be negatived as unworkable, a similar motion carried last year by Mr Hursthonse having remained a dead letter. For this same reason it seems to be thought that the course proposed, however right it might be in general principle, comes at least ten years too late to be practicable Later. The Government will resist Mr Bhrim«ki’» amendment to the Loan Bill, and it will be rejected. The Loan Bill will be gone on with all to-morrow evening, till finished, and the direct steam proposals will consequently be postponed till Monday.