POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3477, 9 July 1880, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[FROM OUU SPECIAL COItttEHPOXDENT.] PAYMENT OF MEMBERS. Thursday, July B.— Yesterday being a member's day, no questions of public policy were discussed, the time being taken up in discussing the Payment of Members Bill and the Municipal Corporations Bill. The former Bill makes the honorarium permanent instead of it being voted annually. It passed its second reading, but it is not probable that it will become law, and the honorarium will be treated the same as salaries, and a percentage be deducted. THE ESTIMATES. No vote has yet been taken in Committee of Supply, but when the talk is exhausted it is expected the Estimates will pass rapidly, PEACE PRESERVATION BILL.. Mr. Bryce has given notice of the Peace Preservation Bill. The Bill has not yet been distributed, but it relates I suppose to the Maori prisoners. The time of trial fixed by law is now approaching, and must take place unless fresh legislation is made. WORK IMPEDED. The resolution which prevents nny business being gone on with after 12.30 a.m. is to be done away with, as it has effectually prevented anything been done so far. In Committee of Supply, most of the work done is in the early hours after midnight. The House will also sit on Mondays for the future. It is anticipated that business will proceed quickly. HANSARD. The abolishment of Hansard, which costs £0,000 a-year, would do much to facilitate business, as so many long speeches are made to empty benches, and recorded for the supposed benefit of constituents.