PARLIAMENTARY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 139, 15 December 1887, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

From our Special Correspondent. [llY TELEGRAPH.] Wellington, Dec 14. DENOMINATIONS L SCHOOLS. Tho Education Committee report to-day on several petitions from Roman Catholics and others asking for State aid towards denominational schools although they have gone fudy into the matter they stato that as now before Par"ament they have no recommendation to make. PU.3LIC PAI'E'-S. Tho following is tlie average cost per year of tho production of the various official pub’io«tions •' Parliamentary papers, £1 : Hansard, 15s; Gazettes, £1; statistics, lOd ; statutes, Gs lOd ; Journals of Council, 11s 7d ; ditto of House, £ls ; appendix to Journals of House, £1 15s Gd. A long sitting of the House last right or rather this morning got through some useful work, and there is now every hope that the session will be over by the 22nd or 33ril.

The Land Bill, which has bean a stumbling block iu tho way of progress, was finally got through Committee, and despite the late hour the House at once Went on to the Railway Bill, which is one of the most important measures of the season, and it was passed through Committee, the House averaging throughout littlo more than 25 members. One or two members contested certain section, somewhat strenuously, but the bu’k of tlu clauses were simply slummocked through. The number of alterations and provisions were inserted on the motion of the Minister for Public Works, but no one could hear a word that Mr Mitche’son said, and no one seemed to care. Salaries of Commissioners were fixed, the Ch’.ef Commissioner’s at at £ISOO, and two other Canm ' •wieners at £IOOO each. The house adjoin ued at 5 a.m.. justbefore decent people were going to their work. POOR RUNNY. The dabate on tke report of the Rabbit ( niiiriiiti-e was taken to-day, when the Premier stat'd it would be impossible to bring in a Bill dealing with tho question this session, but ho added that Govern-

Im nt would take the necessary steps to carry out tho mo t urgent and important recommendation lurin.: iho recess, for which they will ,k nui.u 'isat-ion on next ssion. T> the di i • ion it transpired that la i ito Government had let contracts p -ior 'o going out of office for very large works in connection with the rabbit question, without authorisation from the House, and a rather lively discussion followed, but no steps were taken ■ in the matter. The Municipal Corporations’ Act as gone through such emasculation that not even its fathers could now reoogniso it. jt has been admitted into the Lower House, and will be brought on for the second reading to-morrow. It is anticipated that an effort will be made in the I louse to have a certain el-.use re-intro-duced, in the hope that subsequently an arrangement will be come to with the Council in the matter. DETEJUU'-D PAYMENT SETTLERS. Dr Newman has discovered a sore point in the administration of the Land Act, in regard to the deferred payment settlers, who, he has ascertained, are treated differently in some districts to what they are in others ; ho will consequently enquire of the Minister of Lands to-morrow whether the deferred payment settlers are sued for arrears of payment in one Land District and not in another ; if so, on whose authority are these cases brought. What with the all-night sittings and the fact that a large number of committees are sitting daily, with the idea of getting through their work before the close of the session, it is very difficult for committees to get a quorum now of a morning, and if this is done there is just the bare number importation of stock committee who are now considering their final report, were unsuccessful in getting a meeting this morning, and to-day had to ask Government for the unusual privilege of a meeting during the time the House was sitting thi afternoon.