PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 485, 5 July 1890, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

. . ■ Wellington, Thursday. Colonel Fraser, M.H'.R. for Thames, gave notice to-day of the Mines Act, 1880,. Amemlment. Bill, The question of local government reform was raised this afternoon on both sides of the House. Notice was giver, by the'Minister of Education for the appointment of a Select Committee to consider the question of local government reform. Mr Moss also gave notice of a series of resolutions (to be moved on going into Supply) affirming the need of immediate reform in the present system of local government, such reform to be mainly in the direction of granting enlarged powers to local bodiea. The Hon.'Mr Fergus has given notice to move, “That a committee be appointed to consider and report on the question of local government, with power to call for persons and papers, three to be a quorum, the committee to consist of Dr HoJgkinson, Mr T. Mackenzie, Mr Bruce, Mr Tanner, Mr R. Thompson, Mr Lawry, Air O’Conor, Hon. John Bryce, Mr Saunders, and the mover.” Sir George Grey having discovered that the Representation Act provides that electoral rolls cannot be made before tile sth of October, the day on which present Parliament expires, has introduced a Bill by which the rolls can be made up two mouths earlier. Air Cadman has given notice that he will ask the Minister of Alines : (1) What lias become of the ore, the produce of the Auckland mines, sent from Melbourne to the Paris Exhibition ? (2) ha-s iifivofit bpeii:suld, and, if so, what.

.Government, and, if so,, was this, done with the knowledge arm consent of rim owners? awTf-l) what were the emO ditions on which the ore was given to the Government., and will the Govern-ment-carry out those conditions ? News has been received from Wellington that the Petitions Committee derided to recommend the House to sc|>- up immediately* a Special Coimmttes'to enquire into tho desirability of .riving YMk-’s system a trial on a section of the railways of the colony and report as soon as possible. Mr La wry, M.H.R., has taken measures to ascertain the feeling of the House re the advisableness of abolishing tile present i system of public or oral nominations of candidates for Parliament, the result being practically' a .unanimous opinion that the present system should be'abolished,'and that obtaining in connection with local elections substituted for it. Mr Perceval, the Opposition whip, is strongly' in favour of the proposal, and states that it will have j his support; and he believes the support of his paityU Mt - Hislop has promised todo what he can to furthcqiThe movement, and Mr Cadtnan will co-operate with Mr La wry in ■'arranging .for igi influential .deputation front both sides .of' the. House to wait on . tire -Minister, to urge the desirableness of amending the electoral litw in tlnj direction stated-