PARLIAMENTARY NEWS. (From "Star" special reporter.) The Deadlock Ended. Wellington, June 4 to 9.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 206, 11 June 1887, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS. (From "Star" special reporter.) The Deadlock Ended. Wellington, June 4 to 9.

The deadlock that had arisen in connection with the Representation Bill has been amicably settled. The terms of agreement were that, the Commission should be limited to one month after the passing of the Act to do the work of fixing the boundaries, and making the McKenzie clause inoperative so far as the ensuing Parliament was concerned. The amendments which came down by message from the Governor were agreed to by both Houses, and on the motion ot the Premier the following nonpolitical Commissioners were appointed to act in connection with the Surveyor-General and Properly Tax Commissioner in adjusting the boundaries : — Dr. Hislop (Otago), Colonel Haullain (Auckland), and Mr Edward Uol^onC. E. (Canterbury). Some of the West Coast members made a 'final piotest against the b'll in the Lower House, but the dibcusbion only lasted an hour. The amendments weie agreed to on the voices. The bill ha\ ing passed, the elections will now take place under its provisions.

Rabbit Nuisance The report of the Joint Committee on tho Rabbit Xuisance was presented to the House yesterday. The Committee had not time to go exhaustively into the subject, bub in view of the dissolution of Parliament-, recommend that the (roverninent bo urged to use every possible means to check the spread of the r abbit nuisance, and to provide for effectual poisoning during- I the present winter months on all infested lands, especially unoccupied Crown land, and that sufficient funds be provided by Parliament for that purpose.

Stock Conference Some extraordinary rumours have been in circulution as to the cost to the colony j of the delegates from New Zealand who attended the Stock Confeience in Sydney in October last. Several papers declared that the expenditure incurred in bending over the thiee delegates amounted to £3,000. j The Premier last night informed the House that the Confeience did not cost £300. I The three members of Legislature who went over received £53 each for their expenses. The Premier the other night announced his intention of stumping the country before the elections. Mr Fisher last evening challenged him to speak in Wellington, promising him a bad quarter of an hour if he did. Messrs Pyke and Hursthouse also dared Sir Robert to pay their electorates a vibifc.

Loans to Local BodiesYVaipa County Council has petitioned the House to amend the law relating to the method of taking polls of ratepayers under the Loans to Local Bodies Act in a direction that would be very popular with local bodies that are anxious to negotiate loans. Petitioners lepresent that it is impossible to carry out a poll successfully for a loan, because the rolls are crowded with names of absentee owners of property, whose rates tell against the proposal whether they are opposed to it or not. Want of interest on the part of others who are not opposed to the poll also militates against a successful result. They therpforo ask for an amendment ko that the poll may be deemed carried or lost, as the case may be, on the votes recorded at the poll.

nir Holiest on and the Midland Railway. The members for Lincoln and Wakanui, in tlie course of the cleVviifce on the jMidUmci Railway, charged Mr Rolleston with having been untrue to the interests of Canterbury in connection with this work. Mr Rolleston warmly defended his attitude, and said he was willing to go before the electors of Lincoln and Wakanui to have his conduct sifted. If Messrs O'Callaghan and Ivess, instead of standing ramping, roaring, and raving, had listened to reason, they would have acted more in the interest of Canterbury and their constituents.

Empty Benches. A striking i)idication of the manner in which the business of the country is conducted by our legislators was afforded this afternoon, and was charactei istic of the events which usually happen in the closing week of session. The House had been filled for days past while party wrangling was proceeding, but immediately the deadlock was terminated there was an exodus of member. "Within the next hour more business was done in the direction of putting through bills of an important nature than had been done during the whole previous part of the session. The Government measures were read a second time, committed a thud time, and passed, and the largest attendance in the House at any one time was thirty members, and these appeared wholly indifferent.

The Barmaids Petitions. The genial member for Dunstan intends to move to have the petitions re barmaids discharged. The petitions, which are printed and contain several thousand signatures, allege infer alia that " the class of women who make a trade of immorality is largely recruited from the ranks ofi barmaids,*' and that for this and other reasons "the avocation of a barmaid is one from which women and girls should be debarred." The Public Petitions Committee, to whom the matter was referred, reported that " No evidence whatever having been adduced in support of the allegations contained in the petitions they had no recommendation to make. *' Mr Pykes point is this : May's Parliamentary Practice lays down as a precedent and rule that " statements affecting the social and legal position of individuals '' are not in order and must be withdrawn if attention is called to them.

A New BEeinfoer. The newly-elected member- for Avon t'Mr Blake) yesterday afternoon was introduced by tho Minister for Works and Mr Walker (Government whip), and took his seat.

Supply Granted. No sooner had the deadlock with respect to the eai'ly summoning of the new Parliament terminated, than the House went into Committee of Supply. A resolution agreeing to the appropriation of L 28,000 out of the Consolidated fund and L 285,000 out of the Public Works fund to September 30th next, was agreed to. Tho resolution was referred to the Committee on the Public Revenues Bill, and the bill was then read a second time and committed.

The Works Statement. The Minister of Public Works made a short statement as to the works to be undertaken. In answer to a question, Mr Richardson stated that all that had been done with regard to the fire at the Wellington Post Office was to make temporary provision, the cost of which would be charged to authorised expenditure. Tho contract for the new building would not be let before next session.

Slaughter of tne Innocents. The annual slaughter of innocents was made yesterday afternoon. On the Premier's motion the following bills were discharged from the Order Paper :— Women's Suffrage, Employers' Liability Act Amendment, Industrial Schools Act Amendment, Tongariro National Park, Criminal Law and Procedure Amendment, Legislative Council Constitution, Coal Mines Act Amendment, Mining Act, Coroners Act Amendmont, Regulation of Elections Amendment, Pharmacy Act Amendment, Land Acquisition.

Bills Passed. The Westland and Grey Education Boards Act Continuance was passed through its final stage. The Premier explained that the measure was absolutely necessary, otherwise the Boards in Westland and Grey would be dissolved shortly. The following bills were also reported, read third time and passed :— Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment, Local Bodies' Loans Act Amendment, Interpretation Act Amendment, Building Society's Act Amendment. [ am assured that the reported projected re - arrangement of portfolios, of which I wired you the other day is still in contemplation. In this connection I have authority for saying: that Mr Reynolds was urged to take a portfolio but declined. Members expect to leave Wellington about the middle of next week

Sergeant So alls Petition. Sergeant Soall's petition asking for an inquiry into his system of target practice has been referred to the Government for consideration.

Jubilee Holidays for Railway Employees. The Government have not decided yet how to deal with the Jubilee holidays for railway officials, and in reply to inquiries they answer they will do all the exigencies of the service may permit.

Dr. Pollen's Pension. Dr. Pollen has justified my recent surmise by forwarding to the Government a formal application for arrears of pension refused to him last session. It goes before the Accounts Committee.

Mr Brookficld's Petition. The case of Mr F. M. P. Brookfield, recently judge- of Native Lands Court, has been before the Petitions Committee. The committee report that they are of opinion that as the Government admit that they have no fault whatever to find with the petitioner, it would have been better that the Government should not have dispensed with his services on the ground of economy alone, whilst they still retained in office as a judge another gentleman whose appointment was comparatively recent. The committee, therefore, recommend that the petition be referred to the Government for consideration.

The Representation Act. There is a great deal of truth in tho following paragraph, which appears in last night's " Post " :— " Wo really believe that if a secret ballot could be taken in the House, so as to obtain the true opinions of hon. members in regard to the new Representation Bill, there would be found an enormous majority voting to drop the bill altogether, and go to the country under the present Act. A great many members, however, are afraid to incur blame from their constituents by expressing their real opinions on the question, and so the struggle goes on, each side professing the utmost admiration for the bill, and the greatest anxiety to see it passed, but each heart devoutly wishing the wretched thing could be effectually strangled without anyone being apparently executioner."

Sale of Debentures. Opportunity was taken of the House being in Committee last night by members to air various giievances and to obtain information on a variety of subjects. Mr Peacock asked whether it was true that debentufes had been privately sold in London by Sir F. I). Bell and Mr Penrose Julyan, and that this prejudiced the raising of the last loan. The Treasurer, in reply, explained that it had been necessary to sell certain inscribed stock, but that did not interfere in any way with the loan referred to.

Village Settlement. The Village Settlement Scheme gave rise to a lengthy discussion, in which the conduct of the Minister for Lands was adversely criticised. Mr Ballance said he only proposed to ask for a voto of L 3,000 for this pm-pose to go on with, but several speakers wished to know what guarantee they had that the Minister would not incur a liability of L 69,000 as he did last year, when oniy 1.6,000 was voted Eventually progress was reported.

Cost of Education. The following is a full return presented to the Legislative Council ofih the hon. Mr Holmes's motion, showing the cost of education to the colony for tlfe year ending December 31st last : —

Universities. University of New Zealand : Expenditure, L 2,990 8s 8d ; recoveries, L 793 10s 9d ; neb, L 2,196 17s lid. Auckland University College : L 4,315 I7s 8d ; nil, L 4,315 17s Bd. Canterbury College : 7,316 7s ; revenue, L 1,379, 379 11s 4d ; net cost, L 5,936 16s Bd. Otago University : L 9,640 Ss 7cl ; revenue, LI 30G 11s 3d ; net cost, L 5,338 17s 4d.

Secondary Schools. Thames High School, L 1,538 3d ; revenue, L 337 10s Gd; neb cost, L 1,200 9a lid. Other secondaiy schools, L 59,988 7s Id ; revenue, L 25,400 ; net cosfc, L 34,588 7s Id.

Schools for Primary Education. Native Schools, L 20,890 8d ; Chatham Island School L 244 3s ; Industrial Schools, L 16,466 17s 9d; School for deaf mutes, L3,12S 16s lOd ; Education Boards L 409 ,575 Gd : Total neb cost, L 509,038 3s 3d.

Damage by Railway Drains. Messrs Cadman, Fraser and Grace interviewed tho Minister of Public Works yesterday respecting the various complaints coming from Hikutaia and Puriri relative to damages caused to the settlers there by the outfall drains of the railway being too small to carry off the storm water. Mr Cadman produced several letters from Mr Elliott, of Puriri, and Messrs Havitt and Scott, of Hikutaia, and also two replies from Mr Hales, the District Engineer, stating that ho considered the waterway sufficient. The matter was fully gone into, the plans of the line being produced when it was found that when the line was laid off the Engineer marked on the places indicated and advised that the drains should be both widened and deepened. The explanation Mr Richardspn gave the deputation was that the widening and deopening were not put on the specifications of the contract now in course of progress, but that it would necessarily form part of the next one. Col. Fraser asked when they might expect to see tenders called for the permanent way, and Mr Richardson replied that it would depend on tho amount of supplies granted by the House before the dissolution took place. Mr Cadman asked that Mr Hales be telegraphed to for hia report of the late flood damage in order

that an official reply could be given to the settlers before the House prorogued. Mr Richardson promised that this should be done.

Tillage Settlements. It appears that Mr G. F. Richardson intended to move a vote of censure on the Minister of Lands for his action in incurring a liability of L 57,000 in excess of last year's vote on amount of village settlements. He sought support in the lobbies for such a motion, but nothing more was heard of it beyond Mr Richardson's expression of regret in the Houso that a ote of censure was not proposed. It is therefore assumed that the support promised was not sufficient to justify any hope of success, so that the motion was considered inadvisable. Mr Richardson also referred to the special settlement block scheme, and borrowed the remarks that I made yesterday forenoon as to the manner in which these blocks are being leased to associations. The Minister of Lands says the Government have completed v the purchase of 15,000 acres of land from the natives near Ngaruawahia, for the purposes of Village Settlements. In view of tho establishment of a temperance settlement at Raglan they propose to establish several village sottlements there. Mr Lake represents that the settltr-> already at Raglan have not accoss to an outlet from their" lands except through private property.

X Breeze in the Couocil The Legislative Councillors are certainly not a happy lamily. In speaking to one of the Government policy measures yesterday afternoon, the Hon. Mi 1 Miller charged the Colonial Secretary with indulging in a quantity of abusive nonsense. Mr Buckley at once rose to his feet, and asked that the words " abusive nonsense " should bo taken down. The -words were noted, but eventually the Colonial Secretary said he thought that the best courtesy ho could show to the lion, gentleman was to take no further action Mr Miller did not feel particularly grateful for the consideration extended to him. The Council this afternoon, by a narrow majority, allowed the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Bill, which is intended to remedy some defects in the Act of last session, to be committed.. In the course of the debate the intervention of the acting- Speaker was required on moro than one occasion, in consequence of strong language used by the hon. legislators. Dr. Pollen, in moving that the bill be committed a second time that day six months, urged that local bodies should learn to depend upon themselves, and not go on accumulating a bin den of debt which was quite out of proportion to their means. He referred in strong terms to the policy of borrowing in the colony, and expressed a hope that at the coming elections people would return members pledged to rigid economy. Messrs R. Olliver, George McLean, and M. Holmes also urged that as this was a policy measure the country should have an opportunity of expressing an opinion on it. The bill was committed by 17 votes to 15, but in committee it was considerably emasculated by the borrowing clauses being excised. The machinery clauses were, however, retained.

Gam-cliggfog. Mr Hobbs asked Mr Ballance to-day if he would give homestead settlers the same privilege of digging gum on forest lands as was given to village settlei's. Mr Ballance said he had never given the matter his consideration, but would look into it at once.

Trials of the Unemployed. Mr Moss gave the House a pitiful account of the miseries which Auckland unemployed had to endure on Woodhill relief works last winter. Planters of the South Sea Islands would not give natives work of anything like the nature. He approved of the action of the Government in giving these people the alternative of going on village settlement sections instead of working above their knees in running cold water on bitterly cold days. He was satisfied that the settlements would be successful, and denied that anything had been shown yet to prove they were not.

Lieutenant Jackson Palmer's Petition. The Public Petitions Committee have reported with reference to the petition of Mr Jackson Palmei", a lieutenant in tho Ponsonby Rifie" Volunteers, who alleges that he was jilaced under arrest in March last on baseless charges, and prays that a certain document, necessai'y in a prosecution for libel, may be produced by the Defence Department, and that a repetition of the wrong he has suffered may be prevented. As the matter is at present under the consideration of the Government the Committee have no recommendation to make.

Mr YoJforacht's Petition. The same Committee have reported adversely respecting August Vollbracht, of Auckland, who asked that he might be awarded a bonus on account of having introduced the cultivation of tobacco into the colony.

Cost of Collecting the Revenue. From a return presented, by the Treasurer I learn that the cost per cent, of collecting the Customs and other revenue at the principal ports of the Colony during the last financial year was : Auckland, L 2 7s 5d ; New Plymouth, Ll2 15s ; Wellington, L 2 Os lOd ; Napier, L 3 Gs lid ; Picton, LI 4 lls 4d ; Nelson, L 2 19s' 6d; Invercargill and Bluff, L 3 14s 6d ; Dunedin, L 2 83 ; Oamaru, L 3 19s ; Timaru, L 4 2s 2d. Christchurch and Lyttelton L 2 lls 2d ; At Hokianga it cost L 77 Is lOd per cent., at Monganui L6O 19s lOd, and at Russell L4O 17s 9d. The average for colony was L2 l4s 3d. The cost of collection calculated on the Custom revenue only (less drawbacks and refunds) amounted to L 3 19s 6d per cent. In the United Kingdom on the same basis it was L 4 6s 4d for the year ended 31st March, 1886.

Bills. Two bills remedying defects in previous measures were advanced a stage in the House yesterday. The Counties Act Amendment Bill was read a third time, and goe3 to the Legislative Council, whilst the second reading of the Mining Act Amendment Bill was agreed to without discussion.

The Trunk ltaihvay. Information of an important nature was elicited from the Minister of Lands last night by Mi* Peacock who, asked how much had been expended out of LlOO.OOO taken for the North Island trunk railway for land purchases on the route of the railway. He also wanted to know how much had been taken for the Native Park Lands. Mrßallance replied that the area so far was 423,540. The acquired Waimarina block which was acquired ran for thirty miles on each side of the line. In reply to Mr Newman, Mr Ballance said L 7,000 was the amount already paid, not L4s, ooo, which would be the total cost of the land.

mount Eden Range. Two petitions were presented, to the House asking that Mount Eden Range might remain open for th« us© of Volun-

teers as at present. The Petitions Committee having considered the matter report that the petition should be referred to the Government for consideration.

Special Settlements. The Village Setfclementscandal is likely to cause attention to be directed to the Special Settlement blocks scheme. Already 45,000 acres have been allotted under this scheme, and 42,000 acres more are in process of allotment for the present year. It is alleged that associations and companies havo made application direct to the Minister, who has granted them without reference to the local officers, and the Surveyor General has altogether been ignored. The Act also provides that all blocks are to be valued by competent valuators, but Ministers havo contented thems'olves with acting as valuators themselves, and several thousand pounds of loan monoy havo been spent in giving access to these blocks. It is stated that legitimate settlement will be effectually barred by the allocation of these blocks, as the eyes of tho country are being picked out, and a number of the blocks are said to bo adjacent to the main lines of railway in process of construction. An Otago member has just informed mo that he intends directing attention to the matter with a view to ascertaining the feeling of the House with respect to this Special Settlement Scheme.

s>r. Pollen's Pension. The Public Accounts Committee have determined not to consider Dr. Pollen's claim this session.

fi&oomcd Electoral Districts. Under the new Representation Act the electorates of Heathcote, Picton, and Waikouaiti will be wiped out of the South Island.