POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2650, 6 July 1889, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

{lIY TIiI.UGUAL'H.— OWN' COttItKSI'ONDIJNT.) Ww.i.iNdTos, Friday. 8113JjiO READING IN SCHOOLS. A MEKTING was held of members favourable to reading the Bible in public schools. Messrs Downie Stewart, Tanner, Fulton, Joyce, Hodgkmson and J3u\ton were present. After some discussion, it was resolved to introduce a Bill, and it was agreed to ask Mr Tanner to do so. THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT. Capt. Kussell drew the attention of the Minister for Defence to the fact that the eight thousand volunteers in the colony were not properly trained, and in order to enable them to repel an external enemy, tho member for HawUe's Bay said he regretted he could not move to increase the Volunteer Vote by £2000 to provide for capable commanding ollicei's being stationed in each disfrict, and also to provide for the volunteers being put under proper course of training and drill instructiou. Captain Russell further said that in the protent unsettled state of the European Continent no jne could tell how soon a devastating war might break out, in which England would bo almost certain to be engaged. In such case it was extremely likely that New Zealand would have to depend on her volunteers if visited by an external foe, and it was absolutely necessary that tho volunteers should be put on a proper footing and ill a thorough state of organisation. He hoped the Defence Minister would see his way to do something in this direction. Mr Fergus said the Government had not lost sight of this matter, and in order to test the feeling of the House he intended putting a sum on the supplementary estimates for dealing with it. During the general discussion on the Volunteer Vote which followed, Mr Fergus said the volunteer tureo was never m a more efficient state than it is at present. TOWN AND COUNTRY. Another meeting was held by the country members this morning on the quota question, presided ovet by M.r Seymour. It was agreed by those present that every consideration should be sunk, but ' that of increasing tho quota to thirthy-three per cent. It also transpired that a requisition with nearly 50 sisrnalures had been prepared, urging on tho Government the necessity of withdrawing the Representation Bill, introduced by the Colonial Secretary, and substituting a new Ijill altogether, which might be mora in touch with the country district than the present one could possibly be. The country members still profess to have an absolute majority of I,lie House on the increase of the quota, and also against the Hare system. TlllO HARBOUR QUESTION. Mr Scoliie intends to traverse the Premier's motion for the appointment of a select committee to enquire into the position of the various Harbour Boards of the colony, and ho will probably move ail adverse amendment to it. The member for Mount Ida strongly objects to the colony identifying itself with any of the harbours now ill course of formation and contends that every R >ad l> iard in the colony has just as much right to an enquiry into their financial position and prospects as the various Harbour Hoards. MAC 11 INERY EX KMFT 10N. Several of the prominent Fiee-traders intend resisting the Property Assessment IJill to exempt machinery from taxation, on the ground that this is a further move in a i'rote.jiive direction. A strong effort will be made to get that clause struck out of the Bill. LOCAL GOVERNMI NT. A petition on this subject received a large number of signatures to-day. The petition was as follows :—" We the undersigned members of the House of Representatives being of opinion that the system of local government, as existing in New Zealand, is unsatisfactory, urge upon the I'remier the desirability of, this session, inviting the House to appoint a select committee, with the usual [lowers, to consult and report upon the systems of local government throughout the colony, and make such recommendation as they think fit," TIIF, BUSH "FIRING BILL. The Bush-firing l'ill introduced by Mr Marehant to-day, empowers County Councils to appoint a bush burning season each year by Special Order. During the peiiod it is made lawful for any owner of felled bush to fire it, provided be gives notice to all his neighbours within a radius of one mile from such bush. THE RE L' RES KNT AT lON HILL.

A lengthy debate look place to-night on this llepresentation Hill. Mi; Ll.i-lop's spccch was a logical one from his point of view, but it was evident from the frequent interruptions that he received the. House was not nt all enamoured with the Hare system. .Mr Dallance unmercifully chatted the new electoral system introduced into the liill. The Premier and Sir John Hall were waking full notes of the objections to the Dill, and both gentlemen will probably speak on it before the debate closes. It is confidently expected by its opponents that the Dill is doomed. In fact there are not more than about thirty supporters of the Hare system in the House.