PARTIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 484, 28 June 1890, Page 2

PARTIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

Wellington, Tuesday. At a meeting of members of the House, convened by Major to day, resolutions were passed' affirming the expediency of an opportunity being taken during the session of discussing the desirableness, or otherwise, of substituting for the present system of party Government some modification of the Swiss system. A committee was appointed to arrange for a debate. : • Mr been elected Chairman of the Public Petitions’ (M. to Z,j Committee, and Mr Downie Stewart as Chairman of the Local Bills’Committee. Mr Rhodes, M.H.R. for Gladstone, who lately enquired into the question of the limits of the Thames Harbor Board’s jurisdiction a few months ago, has presented his report to the Goveriimeriti He says that it is absolutely necessary, in the interests of the up country settlers, that the Waihou river'should be kept from snags, etc., and open, to navigation, and as the River Board has control only to the junction with the Hikutaia river, portian ü between that-junction jand Opani Point should be put under the control of some local body. . After full consideration he has concluded that the Thames .harbour should extend up 'the Waihou river a distance of five nautical miles in a straight line from Opani Point. One of the grievances complained of by the settlers on the banks qf this portion of the river was that the Thames Boroqgh had undue, representa-

tion on the Harbour Board. He recom- J mends that these settlers be allowed some direct representation apart from the County representation. The fact of the wharves being private property, although a reason that the Harbour Board should buy them or make some reduction in dues, hardly warrants interference by the Government. In reply to MrCadman, the Minister of Mines said it was the intention of the Government to give effect to the recommendation of the Goldfields Committee of last session respecting the system of examination and classification of mine managers, j» accordance witn their proficiency. A caucus of the Opposition was held at noon to-day to consider the line of action to be adopted by the party on various questions. There were about thirty members present, Mr Ballance occupying the chair. Mr Ballance explained that the meeting had been called to consider what should be done as to the Address-in-Reply, the order of business and other matters. Considerable discussion took place on the question of dissolution, the land policy of the Government, the: Railway Bill appointing the Commissioner?, and the Property Tax. Among the speakers were Messrs Seddon, W. P. Reeves, Fisher, J. Me Kenzie, Steward, and W. C. Smith. It was finally resolved unanimously (T), “ That the Address-in Reply should he fairly debated, but that theie should be no waste of time ; (2) that an appeal to the country is desirable at the earliest possible moment.; (3) that no appoint., ments should be made to the Legislative Council until after the new Parliament lms assembled.” It was understood that Mr Ballance would take the earliest opportunity of moving a resolution preventing anyappointmente to the Legislative Council. The meeting was unanimously of opinion that no such appointments were required in the present, stete of the country, and in view of the reduction of members in the Lower House.

A meeting of M.’sH.R. of the temperance party was also held to-day to consider the Bill drafted by the Government to give ratepayers a direct vote at the ballot box. hut no decision was come to. The Bill is entitled. “ Licensing Prohibition Bill,” and it. is proposed to he brought into force on the Ist January next. Provision is made for taking an anvnal poll of the ratepayers in eacli licensing district to decide whether any licenses shall be granted within the district during the year. In theeveqt of the public voice deciding in favour of prohibition, it folio'"? that the business of the licensed . victuallers within the district must absolutely cease. If. however, voters decide against pro hibition. a second poll is to he taken Under the local option laws now in existence, to determine whether there shall be any increase of the different classes of licenses.

Wednesday,

Mr Hislop moved the speond reading of the Registration of Electors Bill, explaining that it was practically the same Bill as that introduced last session, except that the fee of Is for electors’ rights was now dropped. Messrs Ballance, Steward, and Smith opposed the Bill, and Messrs Tanner and Fulton supported it. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. An Imprest Supply Bill for L 200.000 passed through all its stages, and also for L 509.900 for the renewal of Deficiency Bills. A resolution authorising the imposition of a primage duty of one per cent for three months was agreed to on the voices.