PARLIAMENTARY NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6149, 2 August 1881, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS AND GOSSIP.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Monday.

THE REPRESENTATION BILL. A meeting;of Otago and Southland mem- . bers was held at the Parliamentary Buildings to-day. The meeting was convened by Mr. Macandrow, who presided. ■' :I understand that the inembera present were :—Messrs. Bain, Barron, Bastings, Brown, DeLautour,

Finn, Fulton, Hirst, Jones,- Macandrew, I McCau£han, ; : McLean,-- Murray,' .Fyke, Shanks, Shrimski,- Stewart, and Thomson; The special object of the meeting was to discuss the Representation Bill, and offer suggestions to Government as to the mode of dealing with the question. There was considerable discussion on the Ministerial proposals for redistribution of the.repretentation as they are understood to be. A very strong feeling was expressed against the proposed increase in the number of members to 91, and nearly all present intimated a decided ■ preference for reduction in number to 60 or i

thereabouts, : but it was generally agreed that this, however desirable, was impracticable owing to the unpopularity of depriving any place of its special' representative, and thus, in appearance at any rate, partially disfranchising it. One or two differed from the views that there were too many members already, and argued in favour of increasing the numerical strength of the House. ;- After considerable discussion the following-resolutions' were agreed to:—1. Oα the motion of Mr. Brown, " That in the opinion of this meeting there shouldbe no increase of the Humber of members in the House of Representatives,-and that in any re-adjustment it shall'be understood that city and suburban constituencies should ;upon tKe average : have 33 per cent, more ' inhabitants to the representation than country constituencies." 2. On the motion of Mr. Murray, "That each provincial district should have apportioned to it the number of irembers it is entitled to, 'and-the distribution of such representation should then be arranged by the members at present representing such provincial districts." 3. On the motion of Mr. Barron, it was resolved that Mr. Macandrew. should wait upon the Premier to arrauge for a deputation of Otago members,

to lay the above resolutions before the Government. A copy of the resolutions was tcansmitted to the Government in arranging for the deputation, so that Ministers might be prepared to deal with the matter. It is probable that a similar course may be adopted by the Auckland, Canterbury, and I Nelson members, it being generally felt that the chaiices of agreement on the plan of redistribution, are almost hopeless, unless some understanding can be arrived at for facilitat- , ing the settlement of this vexed question.

. THE ESTIMATES. The Estimates were formally revised and considered to-day. They are now definite j in the hands of the printers, for presentation to Parliament to-morrow. Every effort is being used to have them ready in time for distribution at the afternoon sitting, but, at all events, they are almost certain to be down in the evening. They have undergone extensive modifications, and it is this which has caused delay in printing.

THE BUSINESS. Ministers have beeu in Cabinet all the afternoon on the Public Works Statement, which is expected to be delivered on Friday, or, if not then, on Monday, when it will be proposed that the House sit for Government business. The present intention is to take the debate on the Financial Statement tomorrow evening on the motion for going into Committee of Supply. There is yet no indication of any fresh hostile movement on the part of the Opposition, nor does it appear probable that another attack will be made on Government this session. The chances of the Opposition are plainly seen to be hopeless in the present Parliament. The only hope is to get up a good " case" in preparation for tho general election, which it is now expected will take place about November next. The Representation and Railways Construction Bills are still not quite ready, but are likely to be circulate! towards the end of the week.

GAMING AND LOTTERIES BILL. Many anxious inquiries are being made as to when the Gaming and Lotteries Bill will come into force if passed. This, however, is not provided for in the Bill, and Parliament has as yet come to no decision in the matter. Should the Bill pass without a proviso to this effect being incorporated, then it will take effect from the date of its receiving the Governor's assent. The general opinion now is, that the Bill will not get through the Lower Rouse, but will meet with the same fate as in former years. Many regard it as excessive in its stringency, and as trenching too much on the liberty of the subject. This feeling has grown since the debate commenced, and I look on the present prospects of the Bill as somewhat gloomy.