PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 106, 21 July 1876, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[from our own correspondent.]

Another week has passed away, and little has been done. The members have been quite as .busy in the lobbies as in the House. It is reported that there have been a good many caucuses during the week. The members from each of the large Provinces have, it is said, met and discussed the political situation. Certain members have been appointed to confer with certain other members, with the view of coming to an understanding. A very large numi ber of members are in favor of financial separation between the two islands, giving to each island the power to manage its own affairs, and limiting the power of the General Legislature to purely federal questions, such as the loans, the post-ofiice, justice, and a few others. The party holding these views is so strong, that it is very doubtful whether the. Government will be able to carry on. A considerable number of bills have been introduced, which are more or less necessary in order to give effect to the Abolition Act when it comes into question, and, judging from the discussion that has taken place on every clause of the Rating Bill, one of the measures referred to, it is .very doubtful indeed whether the Government will be able to carry their measures. There are so many points requiring elucidation, and so many on which there is diversity of opinion, that it is impossible to get on with these measures with anything like despatch. Sir George Grey has elected to sit for the Thames. The Committee that was appointed to consider the question as to whether his election at the Thames was legal, reported in favor. The parliamentary rule at home, it appears, is to allow a member in such circumstances one week to make his choice. There was a discussion as to whether thi^jndulgence should beextended in the present case. The Premier was rather opposed to this extension, and as is his custom, came down rather heavy on Sir George. The good sense of the House, however, prevailed. On the following day Sir George made his choice. A strong effort is being made in Auckland to return a member in Sir George's interest. The Government would much rather that Sir George had elected to sit for Auckland city. In this case the Thames would probably have returned a supporter of the Government. Tliere has been a rumor for sometime that the Government intended making the office of .Attorney- General a political one. Two names have been mentioned in connection with the office, viz., Mr Button and Mr Harper. It is more difficult to get a Bill through the House now than it used to be, because there are so many lawyers in the House. The clauses of the Rating Bill occupied the whole of Friday. So strongly did the Premier feel his inability to cope with the Opposition that he said he thought it would be necessary to put an Attorney-General on the benches, if only for the purpose of carrying Bills through the House.

The Counties Bill was circulated on Friday, also a Bill called the Financial Arrangements Bill — a Bill rendered necessary in consequence of the Abolition of the Provinces. Both Bills are exciting a good deal of attention. Nobody;, not even the most rabid supporter of the Government seems to be satisfied with them. The County of Clutha includes, as near as may be, the three electoral districts of Clutha, Bruce, and Tuapeka. The question will arise as to whether Balclutha, Milton, or Lawrence should be the county town. Of course each will have its strong supporters. It is proposed to throw the cost of the police on the counties in four years. The Superintendents are to get two years' salary out of the land fund for loss of office. It is next to impossible that these measures can pass. In addition to the opposition which they will meet with from those members who go in for separation, they will receive, in regard at all events, to their details, very strong' opposition from the supporters of the Government. It is reported that since the House resolved not to interfere with the issue of the Crown Grant lor the Piako Swamp, the Company have dismissed all their laborers. This shows that they intend putting as few improvements on the land as possible. It is said that the stock they now have on the land will pay interest on the money invested, and that they will lie on their oars till the land rises in value, when probably they will part with portions of it at a large figure.

It is said that at a caucus of the Canterbury members, they were all agreeable to meet the Otago members on the ground of sepparation, with the exception of Mr Stafford and Mr Moorhouse. This looks well for the cause of separation.

It was intimated in the House on Thursday night that Dr Featherstone

was dead. The Ilousi\ out of respect, at once adjourned. ii is generally believed that Yogel will either go or be sunt home as Agent-General. If the Assembly did no', happen to be in session, the prohabiiiiy is that in a week or two he would be on his way home. At' the close of the proceedings on Friday night the Premier announced that the Government intended giving the Superintendents two years' salary. The proposal, however, was very coolly received, and it is not at all likely that it will be cairied. But, indeed, it is not at all likely that the Bill itself will be carried, at least not in its present shape.