PARLIAMENTARY. (From " Star " Parliamentary Reporter.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 232, 10 December 1887, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY. (From " Star " Parliamentary Reporter.

Wellington, December 4 to 8. Analysis of Minerals. It has boon decided that the cost of assay? at the School of Mines at Thames aii'd Reef ton and at the Government Laboratory at Wellington shall in all cases be reduced to five shillings. The pi'esent charge is one guinea. The nominal charge is retained simply with a view of preventing cart loads of rubbish being sent for analysis. \

Sir G. Grey on the Premier. Major Atkinson's successful efforts in carrying his policy bills in a very short space of time during the past fortnight seoms almost incredible to Sir G. Grey. The latter yesterday likened the Premier to a great necromancer, such as one reads of in Eastern tales, and eaid that the hon. Major was the slave of a bank. (Meaning of course the Bank of New Zealand.) The simile was probably intended to refer to Alladin, the slave of the ring.

Maori Representation. The Maoii members make a stubborn fight against the clause in the Representation Bill 1 educing their number to tluee by the abolition of the Southern Maori district. All tlio native members spoke on the question. Mr Taipua said they would be prepared to leave the House rather than vote on such a proposal. Mr Carroll expressed the opinion that if they meddled with the special representation of the Maoris they should do away with it altogether. Mr Sydney Taiwhanga, with an eye to possible benefits, said he would not object if they took away the native member for the South Island and gave the seat to the Koith Island. Mr Pratt, the member to be affected by the change, said this was not the greatest wrong to be done by the Government to the Maoris, as they wero bringing forward bills which would be a great injustice to the natives of the South Island. There are only 481 voters in the electoral district which the bill seeks to ipe out.

Late Ministers' Expenses. Two returns of a very interesting characlev were laid on the table of the House lasb night. One shows the allowances drawn by the Ministers during the six months prior to tiie meeting of the present House, and other expenditme on Ministerial residences during that period. The following is the return of travelling allowances and expenses respectively :—: —

This return is not consistent with the statement made by Mr Tole that he was nob draw-ing- any travelling allowance during the elections. The other leturn shows the following expenditure on Minibteiial residences during that period: —Bowen-street (Stout), £79 7s 9d ; Tinakori West (Vogel), £187 17s 8d; Moles-worth-street (Richardson), £124 7s 3d; Tinakori East (Tole), £78 9s 2d.

Tariff Revision Versus Retrenchment, , The Auckland members are still l-eceiving telegrams urging a revision of the tariif this session. Mr Fred Jeune telegraphed to Mr Goldie to-day as follows : —" Do try and bung tariff question forward this session. Meeting ot members and public to-night; people very indignant." The city members are fully alive to the urgency of a revision of the tarilf, but recognise the impossibility of getting it done till April. Any action in Auckland now is embai rassing them in their exertions to secure the retrenchment which is being so bitterly opposed.

The Representation Bill. The scandalous waste of time which has characterised the recent sittings of tho House was repeated last evening. The determined obstructive tactics were resorted to for the purposeof preventing the billreducing the number of members to seventy from getting into Committee. Notwithstanding the fact that between thirty and forty speeches were made on the motion for the second reading on Monday, the obstructionists succeeded in their threat to raise another debate on the motion of going into Committee. This discussion xvas commenced in the afternoon, and carried through tho whole night, and obstruction was apparent throughout. Mr Barroti rose at midnight, and made a practical protest against further infliction of autobiographical speeches, self -laudation, and unearthing of musty reminiscences, which were wearying to those members who were anxious to get the business of the country through. The discussion commenced at 3.30 p.m. on a motion ior the committal of the Representation Bill. Mr Fish protested against any attempt to amalgamate the city electorates, and said that while pledged to vote for the reduction of members, he saw no necessity for the passage of the bill this session, and also thought the proposed reduction too sweeping, and should therefore oppose the second reading. Dr. Fitchett supported the bill, as tho people had determined in its favour, but thought that after its passage through Committee Representation Commissioners could be authorised to map out new electorates, and people be, given an opportunity of determining whether tho bill should be passed before the third reading was proposed. Messrs Taipua and Pratt opposed doing away with the Maori member for the South. At the evening sittingthedebatewas resumed by MrSeddon who moved an amendment on going into committee, " That it ia inadvisable that the i Representation Bill proceed further than its second reading until the establishment of some similar form of local Government shall have rendered dependence on Parliament for local works unnecessary." In tho course

of the debate the question of town and country and freetrado or protection were incidentally raised. Sir J. Vogol who had on tho previous night declared in favour of tho bill, said that in consequence of new developments he would now suppoifc amendment and urged Government, in event of committal of the bill being carried, to al ow commissioners to map out the new boundaries forthwith in place of waiting for thb I ' discretion of the Governor as fchemeasure directed. The Premier Said Government hoped to get the measure through the House, as ib was one of their bills to give effect to their retrenchment scheme. Sir J. Vogel said that from what Major Atkinson had now stated it appeared this bill was only part of the Government policy, which included important measure. 1 ?, and thcrefoie he felt justified in warmly espousing the amendment for deferring consideration of the question till the other measures had been brought forward. At 1 a.m. Mr Seddon said that in deference to the wish of several member's he would vithdraw his amend- , ment as to whether the House desired to go into Committee on the bill. The House divided on the committal of tho measures, which was cairie'l by 42 to 21. The following is the division list : — Ayes, 42. — Allen, Anderson, Atkinson, Barron, Beetham, Bruce, Buchanan, Dodson, Fergus, Fisher, Fitchett, Goldie, Graham, Ilamlin, Ilislop, liobbs, Hodgkinson, Jackson, Lawry, T. Mackenzie (Clutha), McGregor, J. McKenzie (Waihemo), Mitchelson, Monk, Newman, O'Connor, Peacock, Pearson, Rhodes, G. F. Richardson (Mataura), Ross, Russell, Seymour, W. J. Steward (Waimate), W. D. Stewart (Dnncdin West), Taipua, Tanner, Thompson (Marsden), Valentine, Ward, Why to, Withy. Noks, 21. — Duncan, Fielclwick, Fish, Fitzherbeit. Grimmond, Guinness, Jones, Joyce, Kelly, Kerr, Lovestam, Loughrey, Macarthur, Marchant, Moss, O'Callaghan, Parata, Percival, Seddon, Taylor, Vogol. Paiks. — For: Oimond, Wilson, T. Thompson, Fulton, Cowan, Cadman, Hall, Mills, Izard. Against : Pyke, Lance, Buxton, Samuel, Turnbull, Moat, Ballance, Walker, Richardson. The House went into Committee on the bill soon after one o'clock and it was stated the Government intended to push the measure through in spite of all opposition before the House adjourned. The first division was taken on the proposal by Mr Moss, that the bill should not come into operation ti,ll 31st December 1888. This proposal was defeated by 63 to 5. Mr Monteath then moved thatthebill should haveeffeet on expiration of Parliament by eflluxion of time only. It was asserted that this was a covert attempt on tho part of half-hearted supporters of the measure to kill or emasculate it. On the other hand it was held that it would be a safeguaid against arbitrary dissolution. The piopo^al was discuated till 2.30 a.m., and negatived on the division by 36 to 30. Mr Downie Stewart immediately divided tho House on the proposal that the bill should not come into operation till October 28th, 1839, and this was earned on division by 36 to 31. This l^erse was not expected by the Premier, who at once moved to report progress. He said that he had intended to go through with the bill, and his reason for adjourning was not the lateness of the hour. Progress was therefoie repoited at a quarter to three. The Government will decide to-day what action they will take.

Tho Division List. The following is the division list on M l ' Downie Stewarts amendment : — Ayes (36). —Blake, Duncan, Feldrick, Fish, Fitchett (Teller), Fitzherbeit, Fraser, Grej', Gremmond, Guinness, liodgkinson, Jones, Joyco, Kelly, Kerr, Lcvestam, Loughrey, Mackenzie, M. J. S. Marclmt, Mackenzie, J. Moat, Newman, O'Callaghan, Parata, Reeves, JR. -A. J. (Teller), Reeves, W. P., Ross, Sjaddon^JSmith, Steward, W. J.Stewart. W.- D. Stuart-Menteath, Taipua, Taylor, Valentine Ward. Noes (31) : Allen, Anderson, Atkinson, Barron, Beetham, Bruce, Buchanan, Carroll, Dodson, Fergus, Fisher, Goldie, Graham, Hislop, Hobbs, Jackson, Lawry, Mac Arthur, McKenzie, T. McGregor (Teller), Mitchelson, Monk, Peacock, Pearson (Teller), Rhodes, Richardson, G. F. Seymour, Tanner, Thompson, R. (Marsden) White and Withy. Pairs (ayes) Vogel, Walker, Ballance, Pyke, Lance, Burton, Samuel, Turnbull, Moate, Richardson, Percival; (noes) 0 "Conor, Mills, Hall, Ormond, Wilson, T. Thompson, Cowan, Cadman, Izard and Russell. The reverse suffered by the Government on the Representation Bill is the talk of the lobbies this morning. The position, however, is 'clearly defined. The Government intend to resign unless the decision is reversed, and they meet immediately to decide more fully on their course of action. They complain that for ten days they have been subject to the insults of the Opposition, and that their own supporters have stood by and allowed this. Tho Opposition are jubilant at the outcome of their tactics. The latest authoritative information is that immediately tho Rouse meets at 11 o'clock Major Atkinson will make a statement and ask for an adjournment. The Opposition Active. The Opposition are whipping hard against tho reversal of last night's vote, even though the Government make it o party question. I have Mr Stewarts authority for saying that both Messrs Allen and Barron expressed themselvesas in unison with his amendment, but being strongly in favour of a reduced House they voted with the Government, as the Premier had threatened to drop the Representation Bill it tho amendmont were carried. The conduct of Mr Downie Stewart in distinctly pledging himself during the election campaign to vote for a reduction of members, and then on the firet chance proposing a resolution which virtuallymeans killing the bill is strongly commented on. Mr Stewart asks me to explain that his motion was tabled, riot with a view of killing the bill, but in order to' prevent the Government from holding the power of dissolution "in terrorem " over the House in the same manner as the late Government acted, by threatening members that they held a promise of dissolution in their pockets. Messrs Scobie McKenzie, Marchant and Pyko hold that enlarged districts would

strengthen tho hands of town member?, anct would consequently aid the movement in favour of a Protective policy. At a ministerial caucus held to-day, the Premier said he-must look upon the Representation Bill as a Government measure. The Government were pledged to the country that these policy measures should be carried. Whilst lie recogni&ed the right of individual judgment on the part of members, still when a question of no confidence was befoi c the House, as it certainly was this morning, he thought he should expect tho loyal support of those who desired that? tho picsenb Government should carry on the business of the country. He thought* private members should be prepared to sink. individual judgments on matters of thafe kind. He proposed now to recommit the Bill, and carry the clause objected to. If the Government were defeated upon thab question they would resign, and then a new administration could take place. Speeches were made by Messrs JN"ewman, Scobie McKeimc, Taipua, Marchant, Ross, Moat and other Go\ eminent supporters who had voted for the amendment. They explained that they had not known the Government had taken such a determined stand, and thab if they had known a vote of no-confidence was involved, they would have voted the other way or else walked oufc of the Hou'.e. .Some paid they would not vote with the Government. Others left ifc to bo inferred that they would not vote at all. Mr Scobie McKen/ie objected to members being tied down too tightly, and Mr Menteath justified his own action, and said the Premier should have taken a more definite stand in the beginning. The following resolution proposed by Capt. Jtus&eli and seconded by Mr McKenzie (Clutha) was carried unanimously, " That in order to xhe the Government an assurance of support, this meeting agrees that it is desirable to re-commit clause 2 of the Reresentation Bill." There were fifty members present at the caucus and three were accounted for. Mr Vincent Pyke presided.

Allowances Expenses Total € s d £ s cl £ s d Stout Vogel Biiliance Buckley Richardson Larnach Tole Reynolds Total 50 0 9 108 2 0 86 0 0 8 8 0 121 2 5 176 8 0 93 9 0 94 10 0 126 17 9 176 18 6 14 0 0 122 2 0 57 15 0 143 15 0 4 4 0 12 12 0 27 11 0 143 13 5 158 16 1 335 4 1 18 4 0 111- 13 0 3 6 0 97 16 0 1,148 14 10