PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1913, 6 July 1889, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

women’s eights. No less a personage than Sir John Hall has signified his intention of inserting a clause in the Electoral Bill extending the franchise to women, We have always warned people against this “ fad.” We said that if women got the right to vote the result would he that the wives and daughters of the wealthy would register and vote, while the wives aud daughters of the poor would not. Does anybody think that if Sir John - Hall thought that poor women would / take advantage of this he would propose it ? Not he. There is nothing he regrets more than that working men even have votes. Enfranchising women means doubling the voting powers of the wealthy classes. It is hard enough to make working men register their votes and poll them — their wives could not be got to do it.

TOMFOOLERY. Mr E. M. Taylor, of Sydenham, stands on a par with Mr Kerr, of Chamois fame. The agitation *» re the sweating system in Dane din. led Mr Taylor to think. He saw that the members for Dunedin were commissioned by their constituents to bring the matter before Parliament, and on the first day of the session Mr Taylor cut the ground from under their feet by introducing the matter himself. This is a habit adopted by men who can never conceive an original thought themselves. They watch the way the wind is blowing, and when others have done all the thinking they jump the claim and take all the honor to themselves. Mr Taylor has also introduced an Eight Hours’ Labor Bill, and made a speech on it, in the course of which he congratulated His Royal Tghness the Prince of Wales on favoring “ socialism.” Now, we are ready to beta silver sixpence to a brash farthing that Mr Taylor does not know what “ socialism ” means, and that for the life of him he eannot explain what it proposes to do. Mr Taylor claimed to be the author of the eight hours* system, and this brought on him the ire of Mr Downie Stewart, who denied that he was, and gave Mr Bradshaw credit for it, Of course the eight hours’ system is as old as the hills.

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS, The Bibla in Schools party, with whom Mr Buxton is working vigorously, are agitating in favor of the introduction of the Bible into, the public schools. A meeting of those favorable has been held, and Mr fanner, of Hawkes Bay, has been deputed to take charge of a bill embodying that principle.

FISHER T. ATKINSON. The Fisher-Atkinson correspondence in reference to Mr Fisher's enforced resignation as Minister of Education has come to light. The New Zealand Times has published ft in. fall, and it takes up 28 columns of the paper. The general opinion is that Mr Fisher has got the worst of it.

THE HARE SYSTEM. The Representation Bill (which includes the Regulation of Elections Bill) is just out. The principal provision is the division of districts The whole colony is to consist of four electorates, viz.—the district (comprising the Auckland provincial district), to return 16 members ; the Central district (comprising the Wellington, llawkes Bay, and

Taranaki provincial districts), 15 ; the Midland district (comprising the Nel-

son, Marlborough, Westland, and Canterbury provincial districts), 21; the Southern district. (comprising the Otago and Southland provincial districts), 18. This is far better than the bill of last session. The constituencies are now so large that no man, however wealthy, can do much in the matter of canvassing. depeeeed payments.

The Minister of Lands is going to

Y introduce a measure to enable deferred’s payment settlers to borrow money on the security of the interest they hold in the land. By this means their land will by-and-by fall into the hands of the money-lenders. SERGEANT-AT-ARMS.

Captain Horn has resigned his position as Sergoant-at-Arms, and it is said that the vacancy will be given to Colonel Trimble, who was defeated last election. Another applicant for the position is Colonel McDonnell, on whose behalf several members have interfered. Colonel McDonnell is a brave soldier, who distinguished himself in the Maori war and gained the Victoria Cross for for personal bravery. He has shed his blood for the colony; ’he is in destitute circumstances, with a wife and family dependent on him, and it is a disgrace and a shame not to give him the appointment. He wants it badly; Colonel Trimble does not, but he has always been a faithful follower of Sir Harry Atkinson, and hence his preferment. BANK OP NEW ZEALAND BILL. The Joint Committee on Standing Orders have replied on the Bank of New Zealand Bill, recommending that inasmuch as the promoters have complied with the spirit of the Standing Orders, and in a not immaterial respect with the letter, Standing Orders No. 16 and 20, relative to private bills, be dispensed with, and the promoters be allowed to proceed with their bill. The bill has accordingly been read a first .time.. auctioneers’ licensing bill.

Mr Samuel’s Auctioneers’ Licensing Bill is similar in its provisions to one introduced and read a second time in 1886. Among other provisions a licensed auctioneer may, during his absence or illness, appoint a substitute for not more than six months. In case of bankruptcy or death, the license may he transferred. _ Auctioneers may hold wholesale licenses under “ The Licensing Act of 1891,” but not publicans’ licenses. Account sales must bo rendered within 10 days. Mr Samuels has not much hope of carrying the bill and his proposals for what he deems the more equitable division of the proceeds of license fees is bitterly opposed by representatives of districts which at present get more thfru their share in this respect. THE VAAfTT.T BAEKA.CLES. Mr Fish is curious to know whether Mr Theophilus Cooper has been appointed deputy-inspector of hospitals and lunatic asylums. This family seems to devote itself to the public service with much whole-heartedness. The head of it is an under-secretary, and two of his sons are supposed to he in the Supreme Court. The collateral branches are also well represented. The Under-Secretary of Defence is, it is said, a brother-in-law of the head of the house, and the R.M. Courtis said to enjoy the benefit of the services of another relative. There is a proposal to move for a return showing the family rammifications of the Civil Service, and it is said that if obtained it wouldbe very instructive. THE SHEEP TAX. Mr Thomas Mackenzie wants to abolish the sheep tax, though the connection between this and the Californian thistle seems somewhat remote.