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To omit Standing Order No. 288 and substitute the following in lieu thereof: — 288. Every Bill (except as before) is ordered to be prepared and brought in by a member, or members, named by the House. Note.—The words in italics are new, and are necessary to bring the Standing Order into conformity with the practice of the House. To omit Standing Orders Nos. 293 and 294. Note.—Corresponds with the proposal of Sir H. A. Atkinson in 1888, and aims at the abolition of an antiquated and cumbrous procedure. To omit Standing Order No. 297 and substitute the following in lieu thereof: — 297. A Bill is presented by the member, or one of the members, ordered to prepare and bring in the same, and such member is desired by Mr. Speaker to bring it up. Note.—The words in italics are necessary to bring the Standing Order into conformity with the practice of the House ; and for the same reason the words 11 who appears at the bar for that purpose," occurring in the existing Standing Order, are proposed to be omitted. To omit Standing Order No. 311 and insert the following in lieu thereof: — 311. In Committee on a Bill, the Preamble stands postponed without question put until after the clauses have been considered seriatim. Note.—This proposal corresponds with the procedure of the House of Commons, and is obviously the most convenient course. To omit Standing Order No. 329 and insert the following in lieu thereof: — 329. After the third reading, and further proceedings thereon, the Title of the Bill is agreed to, or amended and agreed to, and this having been done the Bill has passed. Note. —This, as in the Legislative Council, omits the formal question " That this Bill do pass." To omit Standing Order No. 331 and insert the folloiving in lieu thereof: — 331. On days on which Private Members' business has precedence, Private Members' Bills coming back with amendments from the Legislative Council shall take precedence of Bills standing for the third reading, Bills for third reading of Bills for report, Bills for report of Bills for Committal, Bills for Committal of Bills for further consideration in Committee, and Bills for further consideration in Committee of Bills for second reading. When committed together Bills for further consideration in Committee shall take precedence in Committee of Bills for the first time committed. Note. —This somewhat extends the classification under the existing order of corresponding number, which was introduced a few years ago with great advantage to the despatch of business. A somewhat similar proposal was included in Sir H. A. Atkinson's resolutions of 1888. To omit Standing Order No. 339 and substitute 'the following in lieu thereof: — 339. Amendments marie by the Council in Public Bills are' ordered to be considered on a future day, unless the House shall order them to be considered forthwith. They are then agreed to, or agreed to with amendments, or disagreed to, or the further consideration thereof is put off for three or six months. Note.—The proposed new Standing Order differs from the old Order by omitting till words " twice read and," the alteration being in conformity with the practice of the House. ■ ■■ -"■

To omit Standing Orders 356 and 357, and insert the following in lieu thereof: — 356. There shall be appointed at the commencement of every session a Committee on Local Bills, consisting of ten members, to which all Local Bills shall stand referred after they have been read a first time. If the Standing Orders on Local Bills have been complied with, the Committee shall report to the House on the merits of the Bill, and if, in their opinion, the Bill should be allowed to proceed, may make such amendments (if necessary) as they may think desirable. Every member in charge of a Local Bill shall, ipso facto, be a member of the Committee while his Bill is under consideration, whether he be nominated of the Committee or not. The procedure in such Committee shall be the same as in a Select Committee, unless the House shall otherwise order : Provided that strangers shall be admitted, except when the Committee shall order them to withdraw, and the said Committee shall not sit while the House is sitting without the order of the House: Provided also that any notice of amendment relating to any Bill which may be committed to the said Committee, given by any member in the House, shall stand referred to such Committee, and such member shall be entitled to be heard by such Committee in support thereof. 356 a. The Committee on Local Bills shall have power to confer or sit as a Joint Committee with any similar Committee appointed by the Legislative Council. 357. All Bills which have been committed to the Committee on Local Bills, when reported to the House, shall, if the Committee report that the Bill should be allowed to proceed, be set down for second reading on a future day, but may not be read a second time until after they shall have been reprinted showing any amendments therein ; and Local Bills that have been read a second time shall be set down for third reading on a future day, unless the House shall order that they be read a third time forthwith, or that they be committed to a Committee of the. Whole. 357 a. Unopposed Local Bills shall be placed at the head of the list of Local Bills on the Order Paper, and Bills shall be treated as unopposed against which no notice of opposition has been lodged with the Clerk of the House by Five of the clock on the day preceding that fixed for the consideration of the Bill. Note.—3s6, 356 a, 357, 357 a. These proposals, relating to Local Bills, are almost identical with those of Sir H. A. Atkinson in 1888, and, it is believed, contain some very desirable improvements upon the present procedure. To adopt the following new Standing Order, to follow No. 366 : — 366 a. On a Motion for printing any Paper being offered by any private member, the same shall be first submitted to the Printing Committee for report, before the Question is put thereon. Note.—This is identical with a Standing Order of the House of Commons of the Dominion of Canada, and is intended to secure that the House shall be in possession of full information-as to cost, Ma., before it can be asked to give orders for printing. To omit Standing Order No. 387.

[Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,200 copies), £110s.]

Price 3d.] By Authority : Geobge Didsbubt, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB9l.