PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume VIII, Issue 1355, 10 July 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(BY TELEGRAPH.)

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

WELLINGTON, July 9.

I don't think that the majority for the second reading of tbe Haibor Board Bill mcaus very much. Tbe real fight will be in committee. There will be an attempt to make various amendments, and whether the attempt is successful or nut the result will be that the bill will lose the support of a good many who asked for the second reading. Some members avowedly voted for the bill with the resei vation that Hawera and Man.iia must he included, and others voted for it because it did not include those parts of the district, and whatever be tbe result of attempts made in committee to include them, the support of one section will be lust. lam not at all certain that the bill will be passed by the Lower Houso, aud then it has to run the gauntlet of the Upper House.

The whole of last night was occupied with a bill brought in by Mr. Macandrew, to enable the Government to make advances to agriculturalists on tbe security of tlit'ir lauds. The bill provides tor advances up to one half the valne of property as assessed by the Property Tax Department. No individual or copartnership to receive more than £2000; interest to be at 4^ per cent., and advances to be made in the shape of Government debentures having so much currency. Tbe bill was read a second time. There is not much chance of its going further this session, and I aaspect that many voted for it, knowing this, and more out of compliment to the father of the House, than from approval of tbe proposal. The Government opposed the bill.

Sir Robert Stout, replying to a question, said that Mr. Carrington had declined to accept n seat in the Legislative Council.

Tbe Committee, appointed to enquire into a transaction of the purchase of district railway debentures, which Mr. W. J. Steward negotiated, have reported inter alia : That your Committee are of opinion that while Mr. Steward has avoided any technical breach of the Disqualification Act, they unanimously regard the transaction referred to as calculated seriously to reflect upon nnd impugn the integrity of any member of Parliament eDgaged therein, and to give rise, as bns been the case in this instance, to public scaudal ; that it may fairly be assumed that had the Government dealt directly with the companies, the nniouut of commission mi»ht have been saved to the colony ; that it is greatly to be regretted that neither Mr. Steward nor Sir Julius Vogel, as appears by their respective evidence, recognises any impropriety in a member of Parliament actiug as a pail agent in making a Fale to the Government. The matter is to be considered on Wednesday next.