PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1775, 8 November 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

As days go on the feeling in favor of Ministers increases, and I think there is no reason at all for doubting that they will hold their positions thib session. That the Statement should be universally acceptable was not to be anticipated. That the protectionists, or rather those who wish to see promising local industries assisted — and the latter are the class who deserve most consideration — should bare expected Ministers in the ebort space of a fortnight to deal with the tariff in addition to propounding a policy to rueet the necessities of the immediate present in the way of reducing expenditure to something like the proportion of available income seems, to say the least, a little unreasonable. The unreasonableness of their demand will go far to remove the sting of the reproaches which will come from this section of the House ; and, though it is numerically strong and not without great influence in the country, and its complaints will be loud and long, I do not anticipate that the Government will suffer very much damage from it.

The fight will probably wax hottest ou the request of tho Government for carte blanche as to the methods they may ndopt for saving the amounts they propose to save. It will have been seen that they do not propose to submit detailed estimates, but simply to take reduced votes for departments and make the reductions in tha manner which to themselves seems most suitable. To this there is and will be very considerable objection. Mr. Ballance the other evening tried to induce the House to pass a motion, calling upon Ministers to lay on the table a return showing details, ro far as already decided upon of proposed savings, and he pointed out \ery truly that Ministers could not have arrived at the various totals without havin,' pretty well made up their minds how Ihe savings were to be effected. But the Government was very firm in refusing to accept the motion. The Premier distinctly declared that, after deciding how much the colony could afford to spend, the House must repose full confidence in Ministers fairly bringing the expenditure within the sums voted ; and that, if the House did not pxtend them that confidence, other Ministers must be found to take their places.

The challenge was very direct, and the position was made thoroughly clear ; with the result that the motion was withdrawn. But though the motion was withdrawn, the contention involved is by no means at an end. Ministers evidently feel, and have said as much, that if their schemes are to be liable to attack in detail their task will be enormously increased by the pressure to maintain this that and the other which they think may be done away with. But the Legislature has for years been gradually, thoifgh very surely, encroaching as to the functions of the Executive, and will not very pleasantly concede what is demanded by Ministers. There is a large question of principle involved ; and besides, the Opposition would probably gain many a vote from malcontents, were the details of Ministers' intentions made known ; so that the attempt to drive Ministers from the position they have taken up on this subject will be vigorous and well sustained.

The Midlaod railway question has assumed a new phase. It may be expected to assume new phases every s°ssion, and to embarrass our politics for years to come. The present trouble is that the company, the " ricketty " company (as it has been described by one hon. member), is asking for "more." The main concession granted was a grant of over two million odd acres of land, to be taken by the company as worth not less than 10s per acre. That it is worth 10s per acre is very doubtful. Many people would not give 10s per acre for it. But it was represented to the House that, in consideration of this grant, the company would construct the line, and after much debate and many misgivings, the land was offered. The company accepted it, and after a fashion work was commenced. Now the company want the colony to guarantee the land as being worth 10s par acre, which is a horse of a very different color. The Government have submitted a resolution, under which, it the land when sold by the company does not realise the estimated amount, the colony shall, subject to certain safeguards to prevent untimely and extravagant sale, make the difference up by giving the company additional land. The Government further proposed that the House should resolve itself into committee ot the whole to debate and decide the matter. Sir George Grey and others protested against this proceeding, holding that the colony should not move au inch from the concoßsions already given. Eventually, it was moved, as an amendment, that the whole subject should be referred to a select committee for report ; and debate was adjourned till Tuesday to allow of consideration. It is said that there are 52 votes pledged to accept Government proposnla. The whole affair is a very bad business, arising out of a mad project to build a railway which has been consistently reported against by every unbiassed authority as not likely to pay working expenses.

The Northern railway question is lying by in the meantime, but preparation for the fight is steadily proceeding. I will only say that those who are best acquainted with the circumstances have the keenest appreciation of the difficulties of making the proposed change. This is oracular, I know ; but I am not prepared to go further into details.

The private members' proposals for legislation during the week have been as numerous and as various in objects as usual. Sir George Grey is of course to the fore with his bills for throwing the profession of the law open to all (which was read a second time) ; and for compulsorily expropriating private estates for settlement purposes. The Government supported this bill so far as the seccrnd reading was concerned, on the ground that repeated proposals by Grey and the late Government had unsettled men's minds, ami it was as well to face the question and endeavor to settle it. Major Atkinson hoped that the -Waste Lands Committee would put the Bill into a better shape, and offered the suggestion that compulsory clauses should be replaced by clauses enabling the Government to negotiate for the purchase of piivate estates, which in certain cases, he said, might with advantage to the public be acquired by the colony. So the Bill passed its second reading. A Bill to remedy some of the evils under which the country districts now euflpr owing to the hospital and charitable aid law, has been introduced by Mr. Macartbur and read a second time. A Bill to amend the law relating to auctioneeis has also been read a second time. So has Sir George Grey's Bill to limit each elector to one vote. And among the bills to be introduced is ot?e by Mr. Pyke the object of which is to provide that the Catholics shall be paid two-thirds of statutory capitation for each child they pass through the Government standards ; this would be aboat £3 per child.

Among the questions of which notice has been given are the following :— Mr. Marchant to ask the Government, Whether they will consider the question of amending The Fencing Act, 1881, so as to legalise the erection of dividing cattle fences of barb-wire or of mixed barb and plain wire of a less number than is now required by the said Act? Mr. Smith to ask the Minister for Public Works, If be will reduce the railway

freight on red-pine for export outside the colony down to the same price as that charged for white-pine for export? Mr. Smith to ask the Premier, IE it is the intention of the Government to propose any legislation dealing with absentee landholders in the way of imposing special extra taxation i>n this large and increasing class of property owners ? Mr. Mills to ask the Government. If they will take steps to amend the laws relating to juries, so as to provide that jurors shall in all case be allowed necessary travelling expenses when attending Court ?