Parliamentary.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1881, 1 July 1892, Page 5

Parliamentary.

Colonel Frasci is already to the fore with his Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill, the object of which is to abolish the totalisator and legalise " sweeps " under Government supervision.

The scandal of members practically writing their speeches has induced Mr Eamshaw to ask the Government whether they will apree to I he corrections of Hantard proofs being confined to alterations of an ungrammatical character only. The Maori memliers propose bringing in a Bill providing for the constitution of a Maori Parlia ment specially designed to manage the affa'rs of the Native race ; the measure to be applicable to the North Island ouly. Reference was made in feeling language on Friday by the Hon. Mr Rolleston to the death of Sir F. Whitaker. The deceased gentleman, he said, vas a most practical worker in the interests of the people of New Zealand, and he believed that no man had had more to do with the legislation of the colony, or who was more earnestly impressed with liis duty and with a desire to consult the interests of all classes of the comniuuity in the legislation which he promoted. In the Legislative Council the Hon. J. B. Whyte, referring to the series of very serious charges which had been preferred against him, said that although perfectly innocent of these charges, he did not intend sitting whilst they were pending. He had taken his seat as a matter of right, and haviug said so much he should retire from the Chamber.

In the Electoral Bill, provision is made for the women's franchise and for placing commercial travellers and shearers on the same footing as seamen by giving them the privilege of voting on an electoral right throughout the colony. One elector one roll is the burden of clause 12 which provides that every person who is entitled to be registered as an elector in one or more districts in respect to any qualification shall at the time ot making his or her application for registration make his or her choice as to which district and to which oualifi. ation he or she will be registered, and shall frame his or her "laim accordingly. A holiday on polling day is retained, but the Bill does not propose to cloae the public houses. A new Bill touching Acclimatisation Societies is likely to be brought forward this session. In the House on Tuesday, Mr M'Guire gave notice to ask whether, with a view to alleviatiug taxation, Government will during the session amend the Customs tariff in order to reduce the present duties on sugar, tea, coffee, rice, boots, and woollen goods, and recoup the revenue by an additional impost on articles of luxury ; also to a3k whether the Government will appoint experts to grade flax, butter, and cheese. The schedule cf text books from which the board of education have to make a selection now numbers 130, and with a view to lessening the expense caused to scholars by changing their school books and necessitating probably a new set, the list has been reduced by the Hon Mr Reeves to sixty nine.

The Noxious Weeds Bill introduced by the Minister of Lands provides that Californian thistles broom, brier, and any other growths may be considered noxious; and the Bill will make provisions for their eradication on private 1 mds and hedges within certain distances of roads, if not altogether. Mr T. Mackenzie's Californian Thistle Bill will be probably merged in the Government measure.

The Licensed Victualler's Assocation are promoting a bill providing for the payment of compensation to publicans who are deprived of their licenses without just or reasonable cause. Mr Mackenzie is to ask if the Government will, in connection with the Electoral Bill about to be introduced, consider the propriety of adjusting the electoral districts of the colony with a regard to community of interest and material boundaries rather than by a hard and fast population basis. Ministers intend to introduce the Liberal Bill at an early date. The object of the Printers' and Newspapers' Registration Bill, of which Mr Rhodes gave notice yesterday afternoon, is to place newspaper companies on the same footing as other joint stock companies with respect to actions at law. It propose* to allow the chairman or managing director to gu».

Leading oppoiitioiiiVH ridicule <he notion of a dissolution, :iu<'th- cssio . wil run i'* com o without any Ministerial crisis. It .8 all«'K«d th:it the cry was got np to frighten the opposition. It is understood Government will not increase the amount of the progressive tax or the tax on land at first proposed, and should the revenue warrant it it will increase the exemption allowed for improvements.

The Railway Bill which the Hon Mr Seddon is introducing, will not abolish the Commissioners, but propo.-es to give the Miuister of Public Works a seat on the Board with power to vote over the Commissoners' acts.

The Payment of Members Bill will again propose a salary of £240 per annum for the Lower House and £l6O for the Legislative Councillors.