PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 270, 16 November 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN REPORTER.)

Wellington, this day. The Hare System of Voting. Mr Peacock gave notice yesterday of his bill for the introduction of Hare's system of voting in connection with city and suburban electorates. It is entitled " The Representation of Cities aud Environs Bill." For Auckland, the districts of Auckland Central, West, North, Parnell, Ponsonby, Newton; Eden and Manukau are constituted amalgamated districts for tho purpose of voting under the Hare system. For Wellington: East, Te Aro, Thorndon South and suburbs, and Hutt. For Christchurch: South, North, Sydenham, Lmwood, St. Alban's, Heathcote, Avon, and Lyttelton. For Dunedin : East, Central, South, Roslyn, Caversham, Peninsula, and Port Chalmers. The voter puts the figures 1,2, 3, etc., opposite to the names of candidates in the order of preference. Only one vote is exorcised, but if the candidate against whose name No. 1 is put should happen to have already obtained the quota, the vote is given to No. 2 and so on, so that the vote is not wasted. The Commissioner, under the Act of last session, still apportions the various districts according to population, but those mentioned are amalgamated for voting purposes. _, Chinese Poll Tax. Mr Seddon's Chinese Influx Prevention Bill increases the poll tax from £10 to £20 (allowing the Governor power by Order-in-Council to raise it to £100), compels masters of vessels to give tho number of Chinese passengers and Chinese seamen on board, raises the fees for tho naturalisation ol Chinamen from £10 to £20, and provides that any Celestial who has paid a fee and leaves the colony cannot return without paving again. Masters of vessels conniving at "evasion by Chinese passengers are liable to pay the license fee, and havo vessel forfeited.

Tho Midland Railway. The Midland Railway Committee completed their sitting yesterday morning. Tho following new clause has been inserted in the contract: — " Within three months after the expiration of one year after the completion of the said railway, an account shall be taken of all moneys theretofore received by and then owing to the Company as the proceeds of the land granted to and sold by them as the proceeds of their timber and coal, whether by way of purchase money or royalty, and a valuation shall be made either by agreement between the parties hereto or by arbitration as hereinafter provided of all tho land, timber, and coal of the Company then unsold ; and if the aggregate of moneys so received and owing, together with the sura of such valuation, shall not amount to £1,250,000, the Company may within six months thereafter select further land out of the land then remaining nnsclccted, and described as available for selection under Section 2 hereof, to the extent of such lands then remaining so available, but all such further lands shall bo valued cither by agreement or arbitration as aforesaid, or the Company shall not select any such further land to a value greater than the difference (if any) between tho aggregate of the moneys so received and owing, together with the sum of such valuation as aforesaid, Unci the said sum of £1,250,000.

Tax on Bachelors and Spinsters.

Two novel propositions have been mado to the Government by Mr Joyce, with tho object of augmenting tho revenue for education purposes, and avoiding tho necessity for reductions in teachers' salaries or cost of ordinary administration. Ono is that exemptions under tho property tax should be reduced, from £500 to £100 for throe years, and the proceeds dovotcd to tho purpose referred to. The other is that an annual tax of £1 per head should bo imposed for threo years upon the adult male population of the colony. That the sum of £2 per head be levied on bachelors over thirty years of age, and £5 per head on all bachelors and spinsters over thirty years of age who are worth property of the value of £500 and upwards. The proceeds of theso taxes would bo devoted to the same object. Tho Premier will give answer on Thursday. Reports on Auckland Petitions. Amongst the petitions reported upon by the Petitions Committeo aro the following: —From Auckland : J. Cowley, for compensation on loss of a boat, supposed to have boen stolen by boys escaped from Kohimarama Industrial School. — The Committee aro of opinion that petitioner has no claim against the colony. G. N. Brassey, for payment of five guineas alleged to have been awarded to him by arbitrators in a claim against tho Post-master-General. The Committeo_ report that rietitioner has no claim against the colony. Edward Marsh Williams, formerly judge of the Native Lands Court. Report, no claim against the colony. H. Y. Smythe, surveyor of Auckland. Report, no claim against the colony. John Caswell, formerly warder in Auckland Lunatic Asylum, claim for allowance equivalent to board and lodgings. Report, that petitioner has no further claim against the colony. Sir Julius Vogel wants to know whether the Premier will bring in a bill this session to legalise certain expenditure by municipal bodies disallowed by the Controller and Auditor-General, not because of its being improper, but because it was technically not sanctioned by law. Mount Albert Crossing. The Minister of Public Works informed Mr Lawry yesterday that he had received a telegram from the railway manager at Auckland that the person charged with crossing at tho railway line at Mount Albert, when the train was approaching, was very much to blamo, as he had not observed proper precautions. An expenditure of £1,500 would be necessary to effect an alteration in the crossing, aud the Government have not sufficient information yet to justify them in incurring the expenditure, but would make further inquiries. Denominational Education. Mr Goldie is to ask tho Minister of Education if there is any truth in the statement made by the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, as reported in the Auckland Evening Star of the 10th inst., that the Government had made it known in Wellington that they were prepared to make considerable concessions to those who will ask for a transference of education to the religious bodies. If so, will the Government inform the House the nature of the concessions they propose to make, and when such concessions will be given effect to 1 Auckland Petitions. Amongst the batch of petitions presented yesterday in favour of State aid to Catholic schools, were several presented by Messrs Peacock, Moat, Lawry, and Hamlin. The following other Auckland petitions were presented:—Elizabeth Agnes Madigan, that she may be assisted in maintaininp- her family, her husband having been disabled in the Government service (Major Jackson); Heber Candwell and twenty otherdeferred payment settlers, complaining that their land was wrongfully described (Whyte); W. C. Mocklow and two others, complaining of the operation of the Property Assessment Act (Moat); Stephen Spalding, that he may be transferred from the Auckland Lunatic Asylum to the Mount Eden Gaol (Hamlin). Richard Hawkes and brothers, that Crown grants for certain lands may be issued to them (Gadman).

Cartage from Railway Stations.

Tho Minister of Works has refused to re. scind bhe order compelling consignees who

remove their own goods from the railway station to pay the cartage rate for Avork which the department does not perform, as contracts have been let. He says that merchants and others are pleased with the present system, and the only persons dissatisfied are small carriers and others.

Dairy Produce In England,

Tho Government havo learned unofficially that there would be a considerable market for our dairy produce in Great Britain, provided that it was of superior uniform quality. They are of opinion that a dairy expert should be asked to come from England and report on the produce of the colony. The Legislative Council have adopted, on Mr Menzies' motion, a resolution affirming the expediency of obtaining and circulating information on tho subject of dairy produce.

Smuggling of obacco.

Theattention of the Government has again been directed to smuggling in tobacco and cigars, which it is said is extensively practised in the larger ports of the colony. They say, however, that the fact of arrests having been made within a recent period for supposed offences of this kind shows that a fair amount of vigilance is exercised. Large Shipping Companies, too, have under taken to dismiss men in their services found defrauding the revenue in this way. The principal offenders are firemen and other hands on large ocean-going steamers.

Reform of tho Legislative Council.

The Lords discussed this question for an hour yesterday, and then adjourned till today. Mr Richmond said the present system of nomination was far from satisfactory, and had been greatly abused. Mr Reynolds opposed tho proposed change, but admitted that a change in tho constitution of the Council was necssary, and that no person should be appointed except by resolution of the House of Representatives, and no person should be eligible who had not served a certain number of years in the other Chamber. The Hon. Ceo. McLean moved an amendment to tho effect that the number of members of the Council be reduced to half the number of the members of the Houso of Representatives, and that hereafter the same proportion will, as nearly as possible, be maintained, that the question passed to the Select Committee. Mr Mantel spoko till the adjournment.

Pushing on Government Business,

Tho beginning of the end was indicated last night, when tho Premier moved, " That Government business take precedence to-morrow," otherwise the session would not close before Christmas. The day is devoted to taking private members' bills, and no attempt is mado till the business of the session is well advanced to interfere with private members' prerogatives. On the question being put, Sir George Grey entered an emphatic protest against any attempt to deprive him of getting passed into law measures tho preparation of which had cost him many anxious hours, and complained that avenues opon to privato members woro being closed against them. No doubt thoy would bo compollcd to submit to tlio power of a majority, but tho latter might bo guilty of as absolute tyranny as could bo exorcised, a power which tho Premier, when in otiice, had always exercised to an unwarrantable extent.

Air Fish expressed tho opinion that too much private legislation was attempted, and that the ordor paper was Hooded with bills which ought to bo brought in by tlio Government! or not at all. After further discussion, Major Atkinson pointed out that no retrenchment could begin to take effect tUI after the prorogation of Parliament. Tho House merely ordered retrenchment to bo done, and tho Executive gave effect to their views. This was a special session, called for the purpose of prosecuting the business of tho country through tho Government, and not for tho transaction of privato business. The motion was carried by an overwhelming majority, and Government business will accordingly be takou to-day, Jottings. The cost to tho colony of cablegrams connected with tho Midland Railway was £998.

Petitions praying for the legalisation of sweepstakes have boon referred to the Government for consideration.

A week's extension of time has been granted the Midland Railway Committee to bring up their report. Eighty-nine members, including pairs, voted On tbe motion re tariff revision. Those who abstained from voting wore Messrs Brown, Buchanan, Hodginson, McArthur and Mills.

Mr Joyce is urging the Government to compel clubs to pay an annual license foe. Tho Logislativo Council has appointed a committeo of ten members on tjio rabbit pest question. Mr Beetham is again asking the Government to impose a tax on totalisator tickets for charitable aid purposes. Serious charges against Dr. Bullet*, in connection with the Owbaoko-Kaimanawa claims, are made in a paper laid beforo the Legislative Council. The Government intend to devote the balance of the 1886 loan to the completion of the Groymouth-Hokitika railway. It is not the intention of tho Government to deal with the truck system this session.

Mr Seddon intends to-day to question the ruling of the Speaker in calling Sir Julius Vogel to order. H time permits tho Government will endeavour this session to give effect to those recommendations of the Municipal Conference of which they approve.

The "Financial Critic." There has been a great deal of newspaper controversy here relative to an article published by the " Post" prior to tho general elections, represented to bo from the London "Financial Critic," and eulogising Sir Julius Vogel in a somewhat extravagant manner. The " Press " denied that the paper existed, and both the " Post" and " Lyttelton Times,"which published the article,maintained that the article was a bona <ide one. The " Press" last night returns to the attack, and asserts that no such paper is registered or known in London, and that the wholo thing was a disgraceful electioneering trick. It also said it was " verylikelyafew copiesof a brochure of some sort called the "Financial Critic" may have been published in July for electioneering purposes." I will simply add that I was last night rfiown a copy of the paper in question of last December's date, and it is undoubtedly a bona fide publication. . Beyond this, the gentleman in whose posses- j sion it was has been a subscriber to the paper since it was first issued.