Political Notes.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5614, 27 August 1889, Page 2

Political Notes.

|FEOM OUE PAELIAMENTAEY EEPOBTEB.]

[by telegraph. J

Wk'-clinqton, Last night.

MIN_BT__IA_ STATEMENT. It was distinctly announced by the Premier to-night that so far as tho Government could see there is no reason why Parliament should not be prorogued in about a fortnight. On the House meeting to-uiglu tho Premier made a statement of the intentions of thu Government in regard to the course of business.' Ho said they proposed not to proceed with/ the Corrupt Practices Bill, the Destitute Persons aud tho Hospitals aud Charitable Aid Bill; and las to the Bankruptcy Bill, it had been circulated only for the information of members. There were small Bills which it would be necessary, to get through, but he could not read a list of "them, because some of them would depend on how long the House intended, to sit. Several'new Bills were yet to be introduced,, which would not raise party feeling,-and would prove of considerable advantage to the publio. Whe* theFublic Works Estimates were called on, lie would etato what it was proposed to do in regard to public works. Next day the native Bills would be dealt with. The Government would endeavor to get the House to pass them in .ome form. The Government would probably propose to proceed no further with the Property Assessment Bill (cheers), but he could not state definitely at present. In anßwer to __ Ballanoe. _the Premier said the Native Meetings Bill was one of thoso to be proceeded with, but some communication with the native members on the subject was going on. ' °

TAXING FOREIGN BONDHOIDBK-, A short taxation debate was raised in the Houso to-night by Mr Ballanoe' enquiring what action the Government propose to take in reference to Sir George Grey's amendment in favor of the taxation of foreign bondholders in London. So far as the Opposition were concerned, every member of that party was prepared to.express his disapprobation of tho proposal. The Premier agreed that the proposal was quite absurd and as the Opposition had now expressel their opinion the matter should not be discussed by the House because mischief might be done even in that way. The proposal was dishonest, and ought to be hooted out of the House if it came up, for once we began to tax bondholders we might at last tax away all the interest undertaken to pay in England?* After a denial by Sir George Grey that hia proposal tended to repudiation, and a complaint that / no opportunity had been given him for di--/ cussing it, several hon. members emphatically expressed their disapproval of the proposal, and the discussion dropped. OTAGO OBNTBAI.. Fourteen members attended, a jneeting convened this afternoon by Mr Pyke of the supporters of the Otago Central Railway Bid. The following resolutions were adopted :-(l.)'" That" tho Government be requested to proceed with the Otago Central Eailway Bill during this session, with such amendments as may be deemed advisable " (2.) "That as the"Otago Central Railway Bill was, in the opinion of this meeting, a decided step in the direction of closing the publio works policy, that Bill should not now be abandoned." (3.) "That, failing the procedure of the Bill, the Government should in any other way proceed with the live '_ „ Resoluti °ns were also proposed that the Bill should be proceeded with as a Government measure,.and that the Government be requested to place a sunt on thiß year's estimates to make provision for proceeding with the, contracts beyond Middlemarch, but both were negatived. °

SK-ECTOB&' I.A-D KK-VAIiTTATI.N Bll__. On tho motion for the committal of the Selectors' Laud Re-Valuation Bill to-night it was agreed, on the motion of Mr. J. MoKenzie, that it be an instruction to the Committee to insert a clause rernovinsr doubts whether the land required under the Land Acts before 18S7 should be taken into account in calculating the amount allowed to be taken up under the Act of 1887. The Bill was reviewed in committee without any amendment beyond that proposed by the Waste Land Committee that* provisions of the Bill apply to selectors under the village homestead settlement system. Objection was taken by Mr. Scobie McKenzie to the clause which "lakes tho decision of the Waste Land Board as to re-valuation subject to the review of a Minister. The'"* other members, however, thought that it was desirable that the Minister who was answerable to the House should have ultimate control rather than that absolute power should be given to an irresponsible Board, and they carried the clause on the voices. Progress was then reported in order to decide how Mr. John McKenzie's motion should be carried into effect.V LAND OEANT BILL. Wi Pere's Land Grant Bill passed all its stages in the House to-night. 5tH. VKBKAU-'s FAD. The motion for going into Supply tonight was interrupted by Mr. Verrall with his perpetual State Bank fad. Messrs. Taylor and Seddon alone spoke to the motion, and they complained that the question did not receive that earnestness which its consideration demanded. An; adjournment of the debate till to-morrW was then put and agreed to, and the House rose. This day. WABD-HISLOP CO__.IT_BE. The Wnrd-Hislop Committee have completed taking evidence. I hear they will merely lay the evidence on the table of the Council without making any recommendation.