POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7636, 9 August 1886, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(Fuom Oui! Own Cjbrkstoxdknt.)

Wellington, August 7.

So far as ordinary foresight can reach, there seems nothing now that need prevent the prorogation taking place during the coming week. The Order Paper, so far as the Government Orders of the Day are concerned, has diminished to nineteen items, of which three an; very formal; the other sixteen comprise Government bills, mostly in various advanced stages. The Government Insurance Bill, Local Bodies' Nuance and Powers Bill,Hospital,andCharitable Bill are set down for third reading, the former having slipped through committee with ease and celerity. The District .Railways and Rabbit Bill have to be further considered in committee. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the (Succession Duties Bill, Civil Service Reform Bill, Counties Bill, and Municipal Corporations Bill have to be considered, and the following bills are set down for second reading :—Public Reserves, Settled Land, Property Tax, Property Assessment, South Island Reserves, ami Representation. The last is, of course, the crux ; but I find many are confident of its passing, if Sir K. Stout is well enough to take it in hand, but in his absence it would stand a poor show, because it is understood there is little enthusiasm on the part of other .members of the Cabinet,who are opposed to the matter being dealt with this year. At present the bill stands last on the Order Paper, but I understand that if the Premier is better Monday it will l»o put up high on the revised Order Paper. There seems _ a reviving opposition to accept a reduction in the number of members, as so strongly recommended by tho Legislative Expenditure Committee, and also the principle of automatic readjustment by an independent board; but members want to go home, and some members of the Government want to get rid of them, so if there should threaten to be muoh opposition it is very likely thu bill will be shelved. Following up my former telegram as to the action of the Privilege Committee of the Houseof Representative's, I may add that the committee are paid to have adopted at to-day's meeting the resolutions passed by the House of Commons in relation to the Paper Duty Bill of 18G0, with the substitution of the words " House of Representatives " for " House of Commons," " Legislative Council" for " Houst of Lords." A preamble has been affixed to the effect that the rights and privileges of thu Houso of Representatives are the same as those of the House of Commons. Consideration cf a further resolution, which is intended to give effect to the foregoing resolution, has been adjourned till Aiomiay, when a ful lor attendance oi members may be secured. The following arc resolutions come to by the House of Commons and adopted by the Privilege Committee oi the House of Representatives:—" (1) That the right of granting aid and supplies to the Crown is in the Commons alone an essential part of their constitution, anil the. limitation of all such grants as to_ the matter, manner, measure, and time is only in them. (2) That although the Lords have exercised the power of rejecting bills of several descriptions relating to taxation by negativing the whole, yet the exercise of that power by them has not been frequent, and is justly rega-ded by this House with peculiar jealousy as affecting the right of the Commons to graut the supplies and to provide ways and means for the service of the year. (3) That to guard for the future against an undue exercise of that power by the Lords and to secure to the Commons their rightful control over taxation and supply, this House has in its own hands the power to impose and remit taxes and to pay bills of supply; that the right of the commissioner as to the matter, manner, and time may be maintained inviolate." As I pointed out, however, in previous telegrams, there is virtually no doubt that the Upper House is right and the Lower House, wrong regarding the Loan Bill schedule, and that the Lower House must give way. Indeed, it is freely stated that an authorisation bill will bo introduced to authorise the North of Auckland railway. It is understood that this was Sir i l. Whitaker's object in raising the question, as he knew that if the schedule passed in its present shape the money could not be spent, and then the North of Auckhnd liv« would be left out in the cold. It is not now believed that in existing circumstances there can be no conflict between the two Houses. Captain Russell has given notice of his intention to ask the Premier on Tuesday if any despatches or other communications have been sent to or received from the Agent-general, Admiral Tryon, or any persons on the subject of contributions from the colony towards the creation or maintenance of a colonial and Imperial squadron of the Royal Navy in Australasian waters; and if there is, whether any injury to the public interests is likely to arise fromiheir beinglaid before the House. On the same day Mr Duncan is to ask the Minister of Lauds why the land at Kurovv is not advertised for sale, and if he will at once give the necessary notice to tho lessee of the Kurow land that about 2000 acres are required for settlement not later than August 18S7. Mr Rollestou is to ask the Minister of Lauds if the Government will offer a bonus for the encouragement of the flax industry. Mr Peacock is to ask the Minister of Lands—(l) Whether he has seen a letter from Mr Arthur Clayden, in England, to the New Zealand Herald of the 21st July, in which he denounces the low-toned commercial morality of New Zealand. (2) Whether that gentleman is receiving pay from the Government; and if so, does the Minister consider that Mr Clayden, while holding and expressing such opinions, is likely to render any services to the colony. Mr Conolly is to ask the Minister for Public Works if he will, during the recess, cause a survey to be made of the line between Nelson and Blenheim by way of Rai, Pelorus, aud Kaituna Valleys and Renwick, aud also of an alternative part of the same line from Kaituna to Tau31r Conoll.yis to ask the Minister of Justice whether the Government intend to pay the cost, or any part of the cost, of the defence of Te Whiti and others in the Supremo Court. Mr Duncau is to ask the Minister for Public Works if he will cause cattle yards to be erected at Kurow for loading cattle and sheep. Mr Ross is to ask tha Commissioner of Po=:s and Telegraphs if he will during the reco.-s institute inquiries as to the reason why such a Email proportion of the operators in tho Telegraph department presented themselves at the recent competitive examination in telegraphy; and if any dissatii.fMet.ioii i.s found to exist, will he take steps to remove the cause of it. Mr O'Callaghau iv to ask the Government ■whether they consider it necessary, iv view of the facilities afforded by the ordinary steamers, to send the Hinemoa to Auckland for the conveyance of members to their homes at the end fjf the present and future sessions. Silr Barron is to ask the Commissioner of Customs if he will state why different duties are charged upon the same class of goods in quality and quantity Mr Guinness is to ask the Government whether they will, seeing that it is the intention of the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone to seek repose beyond Great Britain, communicate by cable with the Right Hon. gentleman and invite him to visit the colony of New Zealon I. Sir George Grey is to ask the Minister of Marine if the Government will cause a few books io be purchased for the use ot lighthousebeepers; causing small boxes of these books to be carried from station to staliun en route by the vessels which visit those lighthouses. Mr Brown is to move tha': nil reports by provincial district audi:or.< for the current; year b<: laid before the House-, and that in future all such reports be dealt with in like manner after each session of Parliament. There are just 20 private bills still on the Order Viiptir, and Ministers have promised thinif other business makes sufficient progress a sitting will be given for dealing with tbism a-i far as possible, but few anticipate that this will prove practical. The curiously discordant views of the different members of the Cabinet, illustrated by what

passed yesterday with reference to tho question of colonial distilleries and iriburance fund investment, has excited a good deal of comment today, and the impression prevails that there have been some narrow escapes of a break»up lately.

Tho oponuess with which Sir ■(. Vogel declared the difference between himself and Suit. Stout on the distillery question, and the uncalled for scorn with which ho alluded to the I'iouiier's " sentimental " objections, were very noticeable, and also his chagrin at. a defeat through the action of his colleagues on the insurance investment question.