PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 4062, 8 June 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[telegraphed dy special correspondent.]

PEACE PRESERVATION BILL PASSED. Wednesday, June 7.— The Peace Preservation Bill was passed through Committee without any material alteration ; and the Indemnity Bill passed through the second rending without debate. The fact being that the Colony as a whole is in favor of the native policy of the Government, hence the strong support the Ministers have on this question. AUCKLAND AND TARANAKI RAILWAY. The Anck'and and Taranaki members have unani.iionsly agreed to support the liie of railway from To Awamutu to Waitara, as against the line from Cambridge to Palmerston, via West Taupo. A Committee appointed to enquire into the case has reported that the line via Mokau is the best one on account of the shortness of the line, and, consequently, less cost ; also that the land is better and the mine a 1 wealth great ; and that in regard to native difficulties, they are no more likely to be encountered along the Mokau route than the other. The whole of the members of both districts will probably wait on the Government at an early date to urge these views, and that an appropriation be made, and the work commenced during the recess, in the event of the House deciding that a loan be raised. NATIVE RESERVES BILL. The Native Reserve Bill was fully discussed, ard the debate adjourned. This Bill concentrates the management of mtive reserves in the Public Trustee in Wellington. It does not interfere with the reserves made in the confiscated land, but only outside that boundary. There is a feeling growing that t^e Government is building up a native landed aristocracy of an uneducated sort, and that by the large amount of land made inalienable, and the ample revenues that will soon be derived from them that fie natives will be kept ia a very unwholesome state of idleness, which will have a demoralising effect, especially on the Maori character. The West Coast Native Reserve administration is also centered in Wellington, and the Public Trustee will soon have the administration of vast quantities of land. WANTING TO GO TOO FAST. An r Ltempt was made to-day to push on the work of the session by sitting on Monday, but the House thought it was premature, and rejected the motion. THE COAL FIELDS. The coal fields of the Colony were brought under review to-day, in a motion made by Mr. Munro, for a Committee to inquire into the West Coast coal-fields, with a view to cause facilities to be given for the export of coal. Tnis, of course, meant money, and all the members of coal districts began at once to puff the merils of their respeotive coal seams. An amendment was made to extend to all the coalfields, but this was not approved of, and the member had the happiness of carrying hia motion. [from a correspondent].