PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 922, 19 December 1879, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Mr Shephard asked whether G ivermnmit wool I nuke prevision for paying the present rate of subsidies to local holies, for the ipiarter en June ;{p.h, IS j). The Hon. a 1 ij >f Atkinson aai 1 he coni 1 not make the promise aske I. It would be the duty of Government to brng down a general proposition on the subject next session. Replying to a question put yesterday by Mr M acandrew. The Hon. .1. Hall said that the following was the order of business propose I by Government They would pass before the close of the session the f .Rowing bills : The Customs Duties, Tobacco Manufacturers, Ilevision of Statutes, I’-opertv Assessment, Land Tax Collection, Bin] ling Societies Act Amendment, and lOlocmimT Acls Repeal. The other bills sat down would depend on the time of the House If time permitted he hoped to vet. through the Special Powers and Contracts 8.11. the ConnGes Bill, Public Reserves Sale Bdl, an I Regulation of Elections Bill- They saw no hope of proceeding with the Il iapital and Charitable Aid Hill. Tin other bills on the order paper would be drop )- I. including the Representation Bill, Electoral Petitions Bill, Gaming and L-dc erics Bill, and Alienation of Maori Lands B.d. If members would condense their speeches as much as possible Government hj qio I to be in a position to have the House prorogue 1 not later than Tuesday. After the Public Works Statement bad b ten road, Mr Macandrew said that the Minister for Public Works was to be complimented upon the clear and businesslike statement he had just made. He was glad to tin 1 the policy as originally initiated was to be carried out in its entirety. In Committee on the property assessment Bill, an amendment that all property belonging to or vested in persons, for mining, other than gold-mining, was lost on the prices. An Amendment that furniture and wearing apparel be exempt from assessment was also lost. Mr Thomson asked whether the Government intended placing any sum on l,h i E;timates for roads in deferre 1-paymenr Moots disposed of prior to Ist January, IS7J, as was done last year. The Hon. Mr Rolleatoii replied that LIO.OIO hail been vote 1 last yen- for tips purpose, and he understood they had nia le no provision for the matter this year, although considerable provision had been made for the opening of such lands for sale. Mr Andrews asked if the Government will take the necessary s eps to exten 1 tho money-order system to L2D, instead of LID as at present. The Hon, Mr Hall reolied in tho negative. Tho postal statistics did not warrant tHo Department in believing tint the concession was required for p-.i die cm vcnionco ; moreover, it would bo impossible to get foreign post-.iffic s to recognise the innovation proposed,

The Civil List Bill intro.lucoil hy the Premier last night provides for the appointment of an additional member of the Ministry, lint not for any increase in amount, at present paid to Ministry. The salary of the extra minister will bo made op by deducting L2OO from theamomit paid annually to the Premier, an.lLldO from each of the othor momhors uf Government. It was withdrawn this mnrninu for alteration. Conjecture is life as who will he the two additional Ministers, but nothing is definitely 'known. Humour points to Mr Header Wood as one, and some Otago member as the other. Mr Ireland asked the Minister for Public Works, if in the event of the five million loan being obtained, the Government will cause a survey of tlie railway line from Lawrence to Eo trick and It »xburgh to be made. The Hon. Mr Oliver replied that inquiries would be nude. It it wis found to be a desirable work for cunstrucoion, and funds were at the disposal of the Government then tlie survey would be ordered The Property Tax Bill imposes for the year commencin ' Ist April, ISBO, a tax of one penny in the pound on all property liable under the Property Assessment Act, which is to be re id an 1 construe I with this Act. It also imposes a duty of LI Ids per cent, on all premiums received in respect of ad (ire, marine, or guarantee po'ieies issued by any insurance .company. These taxes are to he payable in two equal instalments on such days as the G.ivernor-io-Council shad appoint, and a'e to be levied, collected, and pai I as provi led by the Property Assessment Bill. After a -do- I deal of pressure. Ministers have laid on the table the following return of branch district railways propose 1 to lie taken over by Government from companies: —Ashburton Forks, 22 miles, estimated cost L 74.00 0; Waimate branch, IS miles, cost LUIO.OI)); Dnutrom an 111 dcateramei, 4! miles, cost LI 2d. oid ; W dmsa Plans, 35 milts, cost LIOO 00 I ; Cnitcrbnrv ra -e----course, seveu-eigh's of a mi ! e md, L2OOJ ; Shoo , Point, one mile and seven-eights, LSOJO ; Dnnedni Peninsula, three wil-s and one-eieht. LIS 000 ; Kaitaugata, four miles and one-eight, L 14,000 total, L4SJ, 000.