PARLIAMENTARY NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6164, 19 August 1881, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS AND GOSSIP.

[BT TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL 00BBE3P0NDBNT.] ■Wellington, Thursday. THE VOLUNTEER BILL.

The Volunteer Bill, having passed tha Upper House, has been sent down to the House of Representatives for it 3 concurrence, some new clauses having been introduced, the principal being thoso relating to the recovery of subscriptions, or fines and penalties for wrongful sale, &c., of public or corps' property. One clause provides that fines and subscriptions may be recovered either in a summary way, as provided by the Justices of the Peace Act, or by a civil action at the suit of the commanding officer of the corps. Another clause provides that if any person designedly makes away with, sells, pawns, wrongfully destroys, wrongfully damages, or negligently loses anything issued to him as a voluuteer, or wrongfully refuses or neglects to deliver up on demand anything issued to him as a voluuteer, the value thereof shall be recoverable from him with costs, and ho shall for every such offence bo liable to a penalty not exceeding £5. Wrongful buying of arms, &e., from a volunteer is punishable by a penalty of, not; exceeding £20 for the first offence, and for a second offence a penalty of not less than £5 nor more than £20, with or without imprisonment, for any term not exceeding six months, with or without hard labour. Wilful injury to butts or targets, or searching for bullets without leare, is punishable by a penalty not exceeding £10. < , 1 PAYMENTS TO THE GOVERNOR. Mr. Pyke is to ask the Government tomorrow afternoon, "What arrangements have been made, or is it intended to propose shall bo made, for payment of the salaries and expenses of their Excellencies the Govenor and the Acting Governor during the probably prolonged absence of the former whilst engaged in the performance of his functions as High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, and whether the salaries and expenses of both Governors, or what proportion thereof, will be charged against the revenue and defrayed by the Treasury of the colony?" MR. MAC ANDREW'S MOTION. The sole feature of the day has been Mr. Macandrew's notice of motion in favour of quasi - separation or dual provincialism. This has created much comment, and promises to form the subject of another lengthy debate next week. THE BUSINESS BEFORE THE HOUSE. In view of the fact that the general estimates are only just touched, the Public Works estimates! not even approached, the Representation Bill only on the threshold of committee, the Railway Bill not yet read a second time, the Property Tax Amendment Bill, and the Customs Tariff Bill not yet introduced ; while there are liiuety-one Bills and twenty-two notices of motion on the order paper, it does not look as if the prorogation would take place early next month, as hoped and expected. There must either be a tremendous massacre of the innocents, or else the House will have to sit at least two months longer. The latter is eminently improbable, in view of the approaching elections. Apropos of this subject, Mr. Pyke gave notice of a motion in regard to the progress of the session. This of course is one of Mr. Pyke's ponderous jokes, but it contains some home truths and pointed hits. There is little doubt that the greater portion of the private business will not be even looked at this session. Members are making 1 the most of this, one of their few remaining days, but the practical result is microscopic. REPORTED DEATH OF MR. MOOR- . HOUSE. There was some little excitement in tho House shortly before midnight, owing to the report being circulated that Mr. Moorhouse, M.H.R., who has long been dangerously ill, was dead. His relatives —• Mr. Wigley, M.L.C., and Mr. Studholme, M.H.R.—were suddenly sent for, and this was feared to augur the worst—every minute the House expected to receive the painful news of the death of one of its members, and held itself in readiness to adjourn immediately. Ultimately, however, intelligence was received that the report was incorrect, although Mr. Moorhouse is in a most critical condition, and the fatal termination it is feared can hardly be long delayed.

Tpress association.] ADOPTION" OF CHILDREN. Mr. Tole moved the recommittal of the Adoption of Children's Bill to reconsider clauses 5, 7, 9, and 10. Mr. J. B. Pishee objected to the Bill, and moved, " That the chairman do leave the chair." The Honse divided. Ayes, 17 ; noes, 39. Mr. Pyke pointed out that two illegitimate children, brother and sister, being adopted by different persons, would be legitimate, and in that case they might intermarry. Ho moved, "That progress be reported," to give time for further consideration. The motion was negatived on the voices. The Bill was passed and reported with amendments, and the amendments ordered to be considered that day. week. MARRIED WOMEN'S PROPERTY. Mr. DkLatour moved the sccond reading of the Married Women's Property Bill. The motion was carried, and the Bill ordered to be committed this day week. GOLD DUTY ABOLITION. On the motion for going into committee on the Gold Duty Abolition Bill, Mr. Rolleston said that a feeling prevailed that the deficiency occasioned by the passing of this Bill would be made up by the Government out of some other fund. He cautioned them against entertaining an opinion of that kind, addincr that this duty was the best means that could be adopted.. In raising the necessary funds for goldfields roads, &c., he wished it to be clearly understood that the Government did not propose to make up the deficiency out of' any other fund. . Mr. Pyke supported the Bill, and strongly condemned the special taxation on miners. Mr. Weston intimated that he could not rest until he got a corresponding tax levied on wool, if this tax_ on gold was not removed. • • Mr. Hall oontended.that .it. was,the most convenient way of raising the contributions, and every locality had. a right to contribute. He hoped they would not forego that contribution until some other means had been devised for supplanting it. Mr. Gisbobot pointed : out that while the contribution by . other districts had been supplemented by £ for £, this had not been the case in the goldfields contribution. To that extent the goldfields had been dealt with exceptionally and unjustly. : Mr. Sheehan argued that the miner was much ! heavier taxed than other classes,: while at the, same time, the miner created much more employment than the runholder. ; The tax -was unjust and' unfair. He believed that if. the abolition was granted, that applications would be made for • assistance for roads,: &c., in" another, way, and that the Government would .be Entitled to' treat such applications favourably. It• would : not be unfair to ask that the public finance should be redistributed, and the goldfields get'full share., : ;There, was no reason why there .should be separate, treatment.-,. He;thou§ht it 'would be wise to 1 snake the'Bill permissive'

to tlocal bodies'. The circumstances of the Northern and Southern goldfields " were different, and it should be left to the former' to nay whether or no the Bill 'would suit their purposes. In committee ho would rnovo in that direction.

The discussion was proceeding at 1.30 a.m.