PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8987, 19 September 1892, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

♦ [BY TELEGRAPH. correspondent.] Wellington, Sunday. ELECTORAL. I have seen a copy of the Electoral Bill, as amended by the Statutes Committee of the Council. The important amendments are as I informed you they would be, that is to say, the female vote is to be by electoral right, the four cities are to be divided each into three electorates, so as to carry out the one-man-one-vote principle to the fullest extent. I understand, however, that the Attorney-General has intimated his determination to fight these amendments one by one, and to the bitter end, and the Government will refuse to accept them if the. Council pass them, so as the Council appa- • rently intend to pass them regardless of all threats, there is trouble hovering ahead. Ministers think that if the Secretary of State's decision is favourable, they will immediately have a dozen new Councillors appointed. Another amendment in the Bill provides that schools are only to be used for election meetings when no other buildings are available. LENGTH OF THE SESSION. Various rumours are afloat as to the probable duration of the session. One competent authority expresses the opinion that it cannot possibly close till near the end of Occober. THE SUMNER SCHOOL. There was an animated discussion in the House on Saturday morning regarding the management of the school for deaf and dumb mutes at Sumner, Canterbury. Mr. Fish alleged that children were overworked there, and that their education was neglected. He read two letters published by the Southern press declaring there was need for an inquiry. Other members, including Messrs. Shera and R. Thompson, urged than the matter should be investigated. Mr. W. P. Reeves then read a report from Mr. Beetham, who had inquired into certain charges made recently. This report, dated August 12th, was entirely in favour of Mr. Van Asch, the principal of the school. Mr. Fish moved the reduction of the vote for the maintenance of pupils, but withdrew the amendment upon an assurance by Mr. Reeves that if he preferred his charges in writing they would be made the subject of a full and impartial inquiry. JOTTINGS. The House sat till about four o'clock yesterday morning discussing the Estimate?. When the vote of £560 for twenty pupils at the School of the Blind. Auckland, was under discussion in the House yesterday morning Mr. W. Hutchison argued that blind children should be sent to the ordinary public schools. The suggestion was not favourably received. There has been an increase of over 7000 in the number of telegraph messages sent in New Zealand during the past year as compared with the number in 1890, 1,961,161. The Post Office report just issued contains the text of the articles of the Universal Postal Union in which New Zealand was included in October last. New South Wales is now the only Australian colony which has not an intercolonial parcel post.