PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2175, 17 June 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[BY rKI-KOUAI'H — nl'KflAL (.'OUIIfiPONDKST.] The Privilege of the Press. Wk(,lin«;tok, Wednesday. THKHK was "nine little e\cit> nifiit canst d in the Housh this afternoon by Die breich <>f privilege brought up by Sir Julius Vogel, and a lengthy debute took place mi the whole question <>f neu-papei criticism <>f public men. Major Atkinson and Mr Rolleston took a sensible mow of the affair, and bttth said they hud brcn subjected to much more f»ro«s abu«« th m the Colonial Treasurer cmipl.iine'i of, but they did not take the trouble to notice it. Mr ItolleHton especially -aid that during his public career he had been attacked by people in C.intcrbmy probably more than any man in NewZealand, but ho had nut rotiliated. He said that the whole affair this afternoon was a .storm in a teapot, and ho was not the only member who took a mmilnr view of the ijre.it "bitwwh of privilege." Mr Ross, member for Ro-.!>n, put a curious question dnrincr the dincnsnion in rathet a significant manner. Ho wanted to know whi-tht'i- it vv.n ttii- year or last year in which Sn Julius was charged with ha\ing promised Mr Auckland anything be wanted for his district if ho would only vote for him (Sir Jitliti"). No reply, however, vva-. pivon to tins question. The discimsion apparently would h.i\e extended much fnither had not Sir Robert Stout advised the House to accept Major Atkinsnn'« amendment tor the adjournment of the debate, which was agreed to without division.

Tawhiao's DemandsIt is undei stood Mint T<iwhiao'n demand for a ooparate Maoii Parliament, which was recently suggested to the Native Minister by a special delegate, has been definitely refused. Mr Ballance has, I hear, informed Tawhiao that he cannot sen hw way to grant the request, and does not think it would be beneficial to the native race if it was possible to grant it.

A Slight upon Mr Ormond. Some commotion has been occasioned by the fact of Mr Ormotid not having been put on the Native Attain Committee this session. As tho member for Napier has served on this committee for many years, the committee resented this little oversight on Mr Balance's part, and a resolution has been unanimously passed by them that his name should bo added to their number. Mr Ballance accordingly put a motion to that effect on the order paper, but on etch oceamon when it has been reached twothirds of the House have not been present, so that tho standing order* could not bn suspended. The consequence is that the motion .still appears on tho order paper.

RepresentationIt seems to be generally accepted now that the programme of next year sketched out for your readers a few days ago will be adopted over the Representation Bill. The Times this morning protests against the course proposed to be token by Ministers. It says there is no justification for incurring the heavy extra expense in holdincr two sessions in one year. Such a proceeding is of course unavoidable when Government, having been defeated, have appealed to the country, as in 1884 ; but it seems inadvisable to incur the costs of a double session. Ministers talk of saving thiity or forty thousand in the year's cunent expenditure, but an extra session would swallow nearly, if not quite the whole of this saving. It is useless to retrench in one ditection, if all the money saved with one hand be wilfully flung away with the other. The Tunes contends that by tho time the regular business of the session is got through with, the census returns should be sufficiently prepared to enable the requisite data for ft scheme of readjustment to be obtained from the Registrar-General's Department, so that a Representation Bill could be passed this session. The article concludes aa follows : — "In the present condition of the country, and in the face of the loud cry for retrenchment there is to be heard, such needless extra vacjanco would be utterly unjustifiable, and we protest most earnestly against such a piece of wanton extravagance. We sincerely hope and trust that an assurance will be promptly given that no such course of action is contemplated by the Government."

The Government Insurance Association. It may interest your readers to send the full te\t of Mr Dowmc Stewarts question relating to tho Go\ eminent Life In.Niir.iuce Association Jind aUo Sir Julius Vogel'.s reply. Air Stewart asked whether the Government are aware that agents of the Government Inis.inince Department (Industrial branch) have induced many persons in poor circumstances in Otnpo to .surrender their policies Ijv implementing that nomoio picniiuui!> would be received, assuchbr.inch did not pay, nnd the Government had decided to close it, aud whether the Government will cause steps to be taken by which such pohcieh will be revived. Sir Julius Vogel said the facts of the case were that two agents in Dunedin had misunderstood their instructions. The branch did not pay, and tho agents were instructed that it would be closed and facilities given to insurers to take out policies in the ordinary branch. As some of tho agents h.id misunderstood their instructions the board had decided that those person* who had been induced to surrender their policies would be reinstated in the ordinary branch if they desired. ■

A Lull in Political Matters. Political news is oxtremcly scarce this week, 'and there is a total absence of rumours of any kind.

Mr Bryce and the Loan. The loan proposals of the Government will, no doubt, c.vise more excitement, especially if Mr Bryce moves his threatened reduction of the loan by half n million, nobody, however, expects for a momont this will be carried.