PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 157, 23 July 1889, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

I (From our own Correspondent). I (By Telegraph.) Wblllngtoit, July 22. The system of Monday sittiogs commenced to-night rather inauspioiously, for, i ost sad of tackling the Representation Bill* straight away aa was expeoted, over two hours were spent in discussing a question of privilege raised aa to the publication of tbe Ward* ■Christie correapondenoa by tbe iV. Z. Times. The debate was entirely fruitless, its principal feature being a free expression of opinion that the Timae -artiole gave a garbled version prejudicial to Judge Ward. At an early stage the Speaker bad expressed bis opinion tbat no breaoh of privilege had been com* mitted, and tbe House evidently held the came view, for it ultimately negatived tbe motion thut tbe article be read by tbe clerk. Comment was made on the impropriety of members of the Houae acting as newspaper correspondents, and it seemed to be pretty generally agreed that the issue of the en--juiry into the main question wonld be tbat •either the Judge or. the member of tho Ministry concerned must go. Thh Repbksentation Bill. The debat* on the second reading of tho Representation Bill was resumed by Mr Tanner, wbo drew a laughable pioture of tbo difficulties which the candidates for country seats had to contend with in contesting their eleotions, and aaid it wonld take an allowance of 60 per oent to pat the oountry and city on an equality. Dr Newman followed and said the Premier Jsad had the effrontery to ; bring down a .Representation Bill advocating the -Hare and after tbe House showed itself to ibe against it, to deolare that it was only in* tended as an educational measure. The .amalgamation of tbe oity electorates had bis i entire approval, but he strongly denounced tche zaonstroitß- increase of the quota os a grave wrong to the town member?. The only other speaker waa Mr Thomas MoKenzie, who pointed one that tha Bili really did not give any advantage to tho country districts, but would deprive tbem and the oity constituencies 0 f representation for the benefit of the large boroughs, Ho approved of the amalgamation of the oity oon.etitaencies, bub thought the measure required jsome radical amendments in Committeo, At this stage Mr Humphrey moved the adjournment of the debate till to-morrow. , Tj_e Oasb ot Ohemib. Ministers had the first portion of the Judge's notes in the Ohemis case before them thia afternoon, and will have the re. jnainder under review to-aaorrow. After the Oabinat meeting to-day the whole of the Ministers visited the scene of the murder. Hfce petitions for the reprieve of Ohemis will be presented on Saturday, and the Cabinet will decide by Monday what aotion iB to be aken. July? 3. The town and Buburban members again 1 met this morning to consider the Representation Bill, when ifc wu3 decided that speeches : antagonistic to the measure should be made to-night by Mr Humphrey, Sir G. Grey, ! Mesßrs Withey, Goldie, and Ross. It is also | .expected that Mr Ballance will speak dead ! - against the Government measure. There ; was some desultory conversation over a pro« . posed no-confidence motion, and it was Btated that eleven members who had hitherto , voted with the Government would support the proposal if jSabled, Mr Ballance will ■•';•_- fee approaohed, and, if he .consents to be

I made a cats-paw o we may shortly expect I to be plunged into a no-confidence debate. J It may be worth mentioning that when the reduction of members was effected in the fi>st session of the present Parliament, an attempt was made by Mr Seddon to have the allowance to country districts raised from 18 per cent to 25, and this was negatived by an overwhelming majority, every member of the Government voting against it.