PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5129, 25 June 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegraph.] (fbom oub own cqbbespondent.) Wellington, Last night. The Counties' Act Amendment Bill aims at establishing Counties upon a fixed basis without power of alteration from day to day. New Counties will henceforth only be created by the Assembly, which also will be the sole authority for making any change in the boundaries of Counties, except in so far as these may be affected by the creation of Boroughs or from districts on tbe borders of Counties. Town districts shall constitute separate ridings of themselves, and provides for the formation of ridings in a manner that every local body therein may preserve its integrity. The power of suspending the Act for the future is abolished. The Secretary of the Free Trade Committee has sent a telegram asking Messrs P. and D. Dungan, the well known implement manufacturing firm at Christchurch, whether the protection extended by the new tariff was beneficial to their business, and the following answer has been received : —"No; we know the requirements of tha country, and the public use colonial in preference to imported implements or machinery." It is understood that the Disqualification Act Amendment Bill; now before tbe Council, to exempt the commandant of the forces from the disqualification imposed by the existing law, will probably be amended so as to apply directly to tbe case of Colonel Sir George Whitmore rather than as a general measure. It will provide that while he holds the the office of Commander of (he forces, he shall not occupy his seat in the Legislative Council, and shall not incur any penalty or disqualification ; the seat, however, not being forfeited, but simply remaintng dormant while he holds a paid office. It is understood that this alteration will disarm a good deal of the opposition to the bill; although some members of the, Council are opposed to any compromise on the question, at present Government have heard nothing of the amendment as proposed, and it is doubt' ful if they will accept it. It is considered, however, that the only chance of the Bill passing will be an assent to amendment on tbe part of Government. The members of the House, who ar* beginning to cut up rough over th« local Government proposals, urge that the distribution is most unfair, and tUt toe £300,000 to be distributed U

merely a Government guarantee of interest oa loans raised. It is pointed out that counties in some parts of the colony receive only a very small portion of the subsidy, whilst goldfield* counties, besides a special subsidy of £2000 each and a subsidy on general rates, have euormoui borrowing powers on the security of subsidies themselves. A meeting will be held to-morrow to initiate a protest against the proposals in the direction of the limitations of the borrowing powers, and a more just basis of distribution in the direction of making adequate provision for counties wholly in Road Districts. The proposals are openly spoken of as bribery, and whilst condemned by themselves, will be supported by members whose districts benefit by the proposals. I have myself heard a member say—• "The whole thing is a swindle, butldere not oppose the scheme, or I would never be re-elected to the House." .;

To the surprise of some, and the con« sternation of others, Mr Macandrew's motion that the House sit at half-patt ten in the forenoon was carried. It is ex» pected that the scheme will not be found practicable, and threats have already been made by a good many members to— the effect that they will not attend in the^ morning, and so leave the House without a quorum.

This day. It was rumored a few days ago that the Canterbury members were dissatisfied with the statement made by Sir Julius Vogel, to the effect that if the East and West Coast Railway could not be made out of borrowed money, the Government could not undertake its construction, and that a meeting should be held with the object of protesting against such a douche being given to railway enthusiasts. It if now understood that it is inadvisable to take any such action, and the proposed meeting has therefore fallen through. Today Mr J. C. Buckland is to ask the Minister of Lands if he will consider the advisability of amending -the Land Bill, so as to allow Pastoral Deferred Payment settlers the same privileges of capitalising their unpaid instalments a& are enjoyed by the Agricultural Deferredl Payment settlers.

Among the notices of motion for to-day is the following important one by Mr Macandrew, who will move that the Standing Orders, No. 178, be suspended in order to consider the following motion, "That a Select Committee be appointed to consider and report as to how far it is expedient that the credit of the Colony should be applied towards making advances at a low rate of interest to settlers on the security of their land, and also as to the best mode in which such credit may be so applied."