PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2192, 27 July 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

$r Question of Priveldge. £| '-'" Wklmnqton, Saturday. - A QUisiiosr 6f privelege has arisen between both Houses of Legislature over the Local BodiestLoin.Bill. The, Bill, as passed Uy the House of Representatives, provided that a local body may raise a loan on a poll of three- fifth s of the ratepayers absenting to it The Legislative Council, Jowever, has amended that clause by lsertinp a condition that * majority, of the otes must be in favour 11 of the loan, which of course makes a very material difference, as in the latter case absentees would virtually give a negative vote. The Government rejected this , ; amendment. A conference of the two 1 HoUsts met to arrange a compromise, but witnout any effect, the Council insisting on its amendments. The matter came up in the Council yesterday as a question of privilege, but the Speaker ruled that the Bill, being a money Bill, could not be aj^ered by the Council. Dr Pollen took exception to the ruling, and said the grivileges of the Council were worthy of atng considered. The clause was finally postponed on the motion of the Colonial Secretary. Sir J. Vogel stated in the House yesterday afternoon that the conference had .met again and were unable to \3o*m6 to arrangement, so that, the matter has come to a dead lack. It is scarcely likely, however, .that the .Council will still insist on the amendment, in 'the face of Sir W. » Jfitaherbert's ruling- that it was to all intents and purposes a money Bill, over which the Council has no control.

The Loan Debate. The d&f&te.ori the Loan Bill, so far as it has proceeded* ,haa created such an impression on the House that it .is generallay believed that a-direct vote of np-confidence \wbuUl ;be' brought down but for the late' period of the session. Major Atkinson's speech was a damaging criticism of the financial policy of the Uoverrimeht, and it evidently had weight wtjh- the House. Mr Fergus also made a, string opposition Hptech, wd especially attacked the public worjis management, .presided over by Mr Hich'arddon. He brought .out some startling facts, which Mr Richardson endeavoured to explain, but created a very poor impression by doing so.

Tta Sacred Buildings, of Parliament. V, I have previously informed you that there was considerable opposition to the proposal for holding a conversazione in the Parliament buildings in aid of the sufferera.by the Tarawera disaster. The idea ftaVnow been abandoned, in consequence of the staonj? difference of ' opinion that exists amongst members as to the propriety of throwing the House of Parliament into ft.sbow place. , An effort is being made to obtain " funds for the object by private subscription.

Arrival of Te Whiti. The landing of Te Whiti and the other Mauri prisoners was effected quietly £his morning, and they were taken to the Terrace gaol to await their trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Courj; here. The Government are of opinion that the ordinary criminal laws will be ample to deal with the prisoners. I hear that the present f F^emierj when Attorney-General in the Grey Ministry, was in favour of treating Te -Whiti s.o on che outbreak of the M&uri fanaticism on the West Coast about seven years ago, but the Premier, Sir U. Grey; would not agree to it.*

111-fated Bills. Wellington, Monday. The proposal to set apart (his afternoon for private members' business was of very little use to the numerous members who have Bills on the Order Paper, as that illfated measure, the New Plymouth Harbour Bill, for the fourth time blocked the way. It was reached at 4 o'clock, when Col, Trimble again took up the interrupted debate in opposition to tlie committal of the Bill, and kept it going till half past live, there being a miserably thin House the whole time. He received assistance indirectly from several Opposition members, who frequently called the Speaker's attention to "state of tffe' House' upon which Sir Maurice O'l^orke ordered the bell to be rung for a quorum. This happened about a dozen times during the afternoon, and of coarse it assisted the Colonel in his persistent stone-walling, by giving him a little occasional rest. There were several passages at arms between the Colonel and the niember in charge of the bill (Mr Samuel), in one of which Mr Samuel taxed Col. Trimble with not having been so successful in business as he himself had been. Col. Trimble retorted that he had been both successful and unsuccessful, but that nobody had ever heard him murmur. He added, shaking his finger at Mr Samuel, " when the honourable gentleman reaches my age (nearly 62), perhaps he will not-; be so successful as he has been." Another amusing little incident occurred. Colonel Trimble was speaking warmly against the bill, and' said he would pin the honourable gentleman to his seat until he had heard his talk, Mr Samuel calmly took up his hat and left the House.

The Rabbit Nuisance. The Premier intends to introduce a Rabbit Amendment Act, to give effect to the; legislation recommended by the joint committee to consider the question of the rabbit peat.

The Loan Bill. The debate on the Loan Bill is assuming a formidable appearance. It was decided at an Opposition meeting to-day, that an amendment should be moved by Mr G. V, Richardson, member for Mataura, to the effect that before the Bill is read a second time, the Government shall amend the schedule , so as to exclude the proposed provision for new lines of railway, and provide instead for carrying on more vigorously the. -main lines now in course of construction. It is quite on the cards that this will be carried, if so, it would provide funds for completing the Napier-Pal merston line, and also for the extension of the north of Auckland and Otago central lines.

Representation Reform. I understand that should Mr John McKenzie's • motion for _ the reduction of European members in the House to seventy it will be negatived, find Major Atkinson will move in committee on the Bill that the number be reduced to eighty, which is likely to be carried.

ThQ Borrowing Policy. Mr McKenzie intends moving on going ihto- committee on the Loan Bill, that during the present financial year only £75,000 be raised, leaving the balance of the million and a-half loan to be raised next year. ______________