PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6483, 28 September 1892, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(FROM OUR OWN' CORRESPONDENT. )

Wellington, last night. The Electoral Bill passed its third reading in the Council this afternoon, and the Conciliation Bill passed its second reading after a brisk debate, in which members favored the Conciliation Boards, but objected to the extension and compulsory powers conferred upon the Arbitration Court. Objection was r.iade to the Supreme Court Judges acting as presidents of the Arbitration Courts, and to the railway servants being brought under the operation of the measure. In the House, the Mining Act Amendment Bill passed its third reading after some debate. The Hon. Mr McKenzie has assured Mr Parata, who was enquiring after the welfare of the Natives on the East Coast, and who have suffered much illness, that the Government are most desirous to do all they can in the matter. They had recently afforded the services of a medical officer, and had ordered an extra supply of medicine. The Public Petition Commmittee considers Sir Julius Yogel has no claim on the colony for his alleged services as stock agent in floating the five million loan. The Native Land Courts have an immense accumulation of work on hand. There were awaiting investigation on July 22nd, 1357 cases for original hearing, 3656 partition cases, 7729 succession cases, 95 application for rehearing, and 33 cases in which rehear - ings had been ordered.

'Wellington, to-day. The balance of the estimates, with the exception of the Government Insurance Department, was put through without a single reduction before the House rose this morning. Mr Meredith moved to reduce j the volunteer vote by £50,000, considering that too much had been spent in that direction, but was defeated by 34 to 6. The total of the votes passed at the sitting wa3 £383,463. The Actinsr-Premier said he hoped next year to place before Parliament a scheme for a new Parliamentary library. Rapid progress was made by the Council in Committee on the Land Bill last night. New clauses introduced by the Waste Lands Committee restoring the original posiiions with regard to the functions of the Lanct Boards were agreed to by the Committee, The proposal to strike out the clause debarring married women from taking up land was confirmed by S to 6, Mr Ormond's motion to allow a parent to take up 1000 acres for each of three children under seventeen years of age was carried by 7 to 0. The limit of the cash sales each year was by 11 to 2 fixed at 250,000 acres, instead of 150,000. Progress was reported before dealing with the residence clause.

The Public "Revenues Bill passed through Committee in the House, and the Local Bodies Loan Act Amendment Bill in the Council. WETJ.ixfJTON', this afternoon. In the Public Works estimates a vote of £10,000 appears for co-operative works for the unemployed. It is understood that the Council managers for a free conference on the Electoral Bill will consist of Oliver, Stevens, and Stewart. The Premier is decidedly improved in health, and a consultation of leading medical men in Wellington is to beheld to determine his treatment in the future. The Native Affairs Committee, by five votes to four, have decided to " whitewash 1 ' Johnny Lundon for his part in the transaction relating to the sale to Government of Native lands, where the Maoris were defrauded of several hundred pounds. A deputation of memberss representing Tavanaki, Auckland, Hawke's Bay, and Wellington waited on the Minister of Public Works to ask him to subsidise the Manawatvi Railway Company, with a view of getting an improved service in connection with the through train on the company's line. The deputation asked the Minister if he would agree to the Commissioners entering into an arrangement for the payment of a subsidy to the company. The Minister said he could not agree. If the Commissioners had power to make arrangements with the Manawatu Company they had power to spend money, and he could not see what he could do in the matter beyond undertaking to interview the Commissioners, and let the deputation know the result.

An amendment is to be moved by Mr \V. Kelly, when the Payment of Members Bill comes on, to provide that the payments, instead of being monthly, shall be in a lump sum on the last day of each ordinary session, but that there shall not be more than one payment in any one year. The Post apeaks of this Bill as a brazen-faced and malodorous measure. Mr Rees, in a speech on the Native Lands Purchase Bill, strongly urged a return to the committee system of dealing with Native lands. The clauses which he has drawn up to provide for this scheme are now to be proposed when the Native Committee Bill of Mr Carroll is before the House.