PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9628, 28 September 1894, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

BT TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday,

THE KERMADEC ISLANDS. The Public Petitions Committee have jusb disposed of the petition of H. K. Hovell, of Devonport, who alleges thab the Sur-veyor-Genoral's report upon the Kermadec Islands induced him to become the leasee of a run on Sunday Island, that he has since discovered the report to be exaggera ted and misleading, that in consequence he has been involved in serious loss, and thab his run has now been forfeited and the valuation of his improvements allowed in favour of another. Hovell prays for inquiry and relief. The Committee have reported that as the petitioner has entered into an arrangement with the Minister of Lands for the settlement of some of the points raised in the petition they have no recommendation to make. A BILL IN DANGER. The Rating Upon Unimproved Values Bill, which was very keenly debated during its passage through the House of Representatives, came before the Legislative Council to day. The Hon. Mr. Pnarazyn is believed to have pronounced its doom by moving thab it be read this day six months. The debate stands adjourned until to-morrow, when the measure will almost certainly be killed.

THE BANKING QUESTION. In addition to Mr. Larnach's question upon the banking situation, Mr. O'Regan has given notice of his intention to ask the Government if they will explain what are the duties of the president) and auditor of the Bank of New Zealand in relationship between the Bank and the Government, as the chairman of the Bank of New Zealand meeting yesterday is reported to have said, "The Government will know nothing more about the confidential affairs of the Bank in the future than it has known in tho past," and if that is the case, of what avail will be the appointment of these high officials ?

JOTTINGS. Mr. Crowther thinks bhab Ministers are right in appearing before the Council Committees in support of their bills. He adds that the Minister of Labour has jusb as much influence there as among the weakkneed Liberals in the House of Representatives. Mr. Earnshaw has very little hope for permanent reform in the position of labour until tho liquor question is fairly grappled with. Let us get to the vote, said Mr. Reeves, while Mr. Stevens was speaking this afternoon. To this Mr. Stevens warmly replied, "Ibis only once a week I offer an opinion, and I have a right bo do bo provided I keep within the rules of the House." During the debate upon the Consols Bill Sir Robert Stout quoted from two of the most eminenb European authorities in support of his criticism of the measure, bub Mr. R. McKenzie contemptuously brushed these opinions aside with the remark thab any member of the House knew more about finance than the writers referred bo.

Mr. W. Kelly wants the PostmasterGeneral to establish telephone communication at Waitekauri, Thames goldfield. Mr. Crowther says there is no necessity for the Consols Bill. It ib a leap in the dark. He says we are going to get a large sum of money, and the Treasurer does not tell us to what the money is to be devoted. Ib is an indication of the uneasy feeling in the House as regards the magnitude of the financial proposals of the Government when such usually reliable supporters as Messrs. J. W. Kelly, McNab, Jones, Buick, and Montgomery were found voting against Ministers on the desirability of reducing the amounb authorised to be raised by the Consols Bill from £1,000,000 to £500,000. The purchase of the Wellington-Mana-watu Railway is being advocated by Mr. Wilson.

The Native Affairs Committee recommends to the consideration of the Government a large number of petitions against the resumption of the pre-emptive riant. A Mr. H. B. Thomson, of Waipukurau, has written to the Minister of Agriculture, offering to extirpate the codlin moth in New Zealand within three years for a sum of £2000.