PARLIAMENTARY NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6148, 1 August 1881, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS AND GOSSIP.

[by telegraph.—special correspondent.] Wellington", Saturday. ; GENERAL AND LOCAL FINANCE. . Me. Saunders has given notice of his intention to move on Wednesday week " That no financial proposals will be acceptable by this House that are not based on the strict adaptation of the annual expenditure of the colony to its annual revenue, without any assistance from borrowed money, and that do not aim at the complete separation of colonial and local finance, and the entire emancipation of the latter from the control or interference of this House." It is not supposed that the debate on this motion will assume at all the character of want-of-con-fldence, but will deal mainly with the abstract question of borrowing or no borrowing for the future. It is of course to some extent aimed against proposals to assist local bodies out of money borrowed by the whole colony, as indicated in the Treasurer's local finance scheme. It is not thought anything particular will come of it either way.

THE COMMISSION OF THE PEACE. Mr. Finn lias given notice of the following motion for Wednesday next" That in the opinion of this House (1) the" system of making appointments to the commission of the peace in this colony is unsatisfactory, and is not conducive to the due administration of the law ; (2) that a system lated in principle to that in Great Britain, where the selection of magistrates is practically left to the Lord Chancellor, would be calculated. to secure the usefulness and dignity of the station of Justice of the Peace, and command respect for the • discharge of their functions ; (3) that in view of the important objeets in question, the Government be requested to bring in a Bill for the cancellation of the present commission of the peace, and for the issuo of si new commission at tho recommendation of the Judges of the Supreme Court in their respective judicial districts." SPREAD OP SMALL-POX IN AUSTRALIA. Mr. McCaughan has given notice that on Tuesday next he will ask the Government if in vieiv of the alarming spread of small-pox in New South Wales and Queensland, they will suspend for the present all communication with the port of Sydney. ESTIMATES AND PUBLIC WORKS. Ministers have been engaged in close Cabinet'all this afternoon and evening, finally revising the estimates, which will be distributed on Monday if possible ; also, I believe, considering the draft of the Public Works statement, which is not in a forward state of preparation. THE FINANCIAL POLICY, ! It is still intended to take a debate on tho [ general financial policy of the Government, as intimated in the budget, next Tuesday evening. It is not expected that the debate will be a very protracted one. THE LATE DIVISION. Mr. Reader Wood, as well as Mr. Ormond, left by the Rotomahana last night, both evidently in high dudgeon at the failure of their recent scheme. A GOVERNMENT CAUCUS. The Government convenedameetingof their party to-day to consider the general programme of Parliamentary business as now proposed by Ministers to be carried out. I hear that forty-five members were either present or " accounted for." The Government intend to bring down the estimates next Tuesday, and also to introduce the Representation and Railways Construction Bills during the week. The Public Works statement will most likely be delivered on Friday . next. It is not yet decided what precise steps will be taken in reference to the Local Finance Bills and the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Bill. The Government suggested that every effort should be used to push on the business of the session to a conclusion as rapidly as possible. The proposals of tho Government are understood to have met with the approval of the party, but, as on the previous occasion, an agreement was arrived at to keep the proceedings strictly secret. The meeting lasted over two hours, and it is stated that satisfactory unanimity was manifested by the party, notwithstanding some minor differences of opinion. It is now considered that Ministers are safeof a good working majority during the rest of the session.