Parliamentary.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 806, 16 August 1877, Page 2

Parliamentary.

[From Our Spocial Correspondent.] Wellington, last night. PROPOSED ALTERATION OF TARIFF. In tha House to day Sir George Grrej gave notice of motion to move on goinj into Committee of Supply that th< present Bystem of taxation presses unfairly upon the different classes o society, ;»nd that the sydtem be alterec so that duties on flour, sugar, tobacco cuff e, and other necessaries of life, anc some other articles of clothing bo aboli shed, and 1033 to the tevenue be mat( up in para by imposing a tax on ino >me: ibove a certain value per annum, anc upon all raal property in the colony. TREASUKY BILLS. In reply to Mr Rees, The Treasu<-fli aaid, of £412,000 Treisury Bills *90 00t weie truat fuuds, £120,0U0 ware rait.ee by the Commercial Banking Company, Sydney, £112.000 by tne B*nk New New Zealand. Tha Utter amount waf due in London, and the Ageut-'.ieuerai had been instructed to renew tuein, The amouut of interest, due froir the September quarter was £312.54' 15s 101, for December quarter, £162 879 The Government did not intnud payiufc this y ar auy balauoe of Treasury Bills over £412,000. AUCKL \ND VOLUNrEdR CLAIMS. Mr Lusk a3tted Government whether they will lay before this douae all papercounetjted with claim* of Auckland defonct voece to grants of land in recompense foi services of that force, during tlie war ia Auckland iu 1863 and 1864 ? In doing so, be said he merely called the attention of the Government io tne fact toat tha matter had bee i a standing grievance to members of tlie force. The force had rendered very important services to the colony at a lime wheu tho colony needed those seryices, and it seemed to him very unfortunate that they should still have this grievance. Ho hoped Government wouid lay upon the table the papers asked for. The Government in reply stated their willingness to lay on the table the papere equired. ELECTION OF GOVERNOR. This afternoon Mr Stout moved, "That in tho opinion of the House tlie G-ofernor should be elected by the people." He spoke well and temperately, but his arguments were more fitted for a debating society than a Legislative Assembly. He quoted Sewell's and recent correspondence between the Australian colonies on the subject. Mr lole seconded. He thought the Governors nip of the colony should be a position to which colonists might aspire. Mr Bo wen in an able speech reolied to Mr Stout's arguments, and s wowed the result of elective Presidents in America. . Mr Hodginson followed, and during his speech referred to the present Governor as a partizan. The Premier drew the attention of tue Speaker to the wordsThe Speaker ruled them improper. Messrs Stout, Groy, and Rues defended the right of members to criticise the conduct of the Governor in a debate of this character. M,r Hodgiusyn resumed, and conclude^

by referring to politics aa a pjlitioal scramble for plaoe arid pay. He compared the careers of leading man- in the itouse, and spoke of M.r Raid as having Provincialism, aad epoke in string terms of his goiig ov f to the Ministry. : Mi Reed replied in vigorous/tefenas, and vinaidated his conduct. He^oinejcU the ? Ministry beoauae he ooild no -longer net withVSir Greorge Grey's party, atop by tlieif action gave up all thit lwd been won. When he, Mr Reid, met his' oon•cituents before joining the Ministry, he told them the repeal of the Abolition Aot was impossible- The speaker was proceeding to dUcuss the when the hour for adjournment arrived. THE WAIKATO COAL MINES. In reply to Mr Swanson to-day, the Government promised to state on Tuesday next /vhatstepj it is prepared to take in regard to the petition of Small and Barlow.