PARLIAMENTARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8513, 2 July 1889, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WMLLIBTGTOy.

I TELEGRAPHED BIT OUB CORRESPONDENT. J LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION. TOEBDAT, July 2. — At a meeting of the Opposition yesterday morning, Mr Ballance formally intimated his acceptance of the leadership, and has since appointed as hiß whips Dr. Fitchetts and Mr 0. Percival, Although he attended the Opposition meeting the other day, Sir G. Grey is known to be disaffected, and doeb not agree in Mr Ballance's election to the leadership. So far aa I can learn the " Grand Old Man " does not aspire te the leadership himself, but he disapproves of Mr Ballance on personal groundd, probably not unconnected with that gentleman's retirement from the Grey Government in 1879. Mr Saddon is also slightly estranged from the party, ostensibly because he did not think it necessary to organise tnd elect a Under at this juncture. OPPOSITION CAUCUS. The following are the names of those who were present at the Opposition caucus :— Messrs Ballance, Blake, Buxton, OtidmuD, Duncan, Feldwick, Fitchett, Fitzherbert, Fraser, Sir George Grey, Grimmond, Guineiß, Hntobiion, Jones, Joyce, Kelly, Lance, Loughrey, McKenrie (J.), Mois, Parata, Percival, Reeves (R.), Richardson (E.), Samuel, Smith, Steward, Taiwhanga, Taylor, Tornbull, Verral, Walker. PROPERTY TAX BILL. The Property Tax Bill will be introduced to-day, and its second reading will be taken tomorrow and Thursday, i£ these days are not fully occupied with private measure! business. By arrangement with the Hon. Mr Ballaaoe, leader of the Opposition, the Financial debate will then be taken. THE REGISTRATION 01 ELECTORS BILL. This bill, which the Government intend to introduce, will make provision for a more efficient system of electoral registration than exists at present. Instead of its being competent for any electioneering •gent to bring in bundles of claims on the ere of an election when there is no time to investigate their eourdness thoroughly, every applicant for registration will have to appear in person, and eabetautvate hia claim, when he will take oat an electoral right (paying a fee of one shilling), and this right alone will constitute his proof ! of qualification to vote. If the Government's proposals respecting the Hare system are accepted, each man will have only one vote, so that plurality of voting will be definitely done away with. THE CORRUPT PRACTICES BILL. This is another bill in which provisions are made against corrupt practices, even more stringent than those at present existing. One feature will be the absolute prohibition of any lending of private carriages or other vehicles, even though there be no money consideration. The owner of a private carriage may take a friend with him ia his carriage to the poll, but may not lend it for the conveyance of voters generally, under a heavy penalty. THE REPRESENTATION BILL. The provisions of this bill are for eloctions under the Hare system, and for the much-talked-of "quota." Should the Hare element be eliminated by the House, then the fourth bill will be brought in for the regulation of elections on the present principle, only with various improvements ia the direction of fairness, secrecy, and efficiency. THE TWO HOUSES SITTING TOGETHER. A new and very important proposal which will be made by the Governor ent this sessiou is that henceforward any bill passed by one House and twice rejected by the other at an interval of six moDth», is (oa tho demand of the House which has passed the bill) to be submitted to a joint sitting of both Houses (the Spenker of the Council presiding), when it may be amended (provided the amendments be agreed to by each House separately), and then if an absolute majority of the two Houses sitting together pass the bill, it is to go up for the Royal Assent. This is not to apply to the Appropriation Bill, which moreover is only to contain the the regular appropriation clauses. The Council may require anything conflicting with this provision to be dealt with by a separate bill. If the House refuse to comply the question is to bo decided by the two Houses sitting together. The Governor, upon recommendation in writing by the Premier, may appoint a person to be a member of the Council who is to be made a member of the Executive, but snob Appointment is to last no longer than the ujeinberehip of the Executive. THE LIBRARIANS HIP. The vacant librarianship is likely to be held open for a tine, it is alleged, that Mr Collier may reconsider bis resignation; bat some persons think the real object is to keep the billet open for some person not named. On the other hand, Mr Edward Tregear, F.R.G.S., who is the author of " The Aryan Maori " and other works, and who ran second to Mr Collier last time, is again in the Bold with many supporters. On his merits he is unlikely to have any olose competitors, SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. The appointment oonf erred upon Captain Home, the Sergeant-at Arms, is the Governorship of the penal establishment at Trial Bay, New South Wales, with a salary of £450, and house and other allowances, making the total equivalent to about £800 a year. Colonel McDonnell and Mr Amelius Smith are spoken of as 1 candidates for the position of Sergeant-at-Aruas. The post is worth £200 a year. A RECIPROCAL TARIFF. An interesting discussion is expected to take place ou the following important motion of which notice hub been given by Mr Joyce :— " That in tha opinicn of this House the Government should telegraph to the Premier of New South Wales to the following effect :— ' That the New Zealand Legislature is prepared to consider a reciprocal tarijff treaty with New South Wales of tne following products : — Coals, oranges, lemons, butter, bacon, and ehoese.'" MR KERR ON CHAMOIS. The vote of £150 appearing on the Estimates for the importation of chamois afforded Mr Iverr an opportunity of protesting vigoronßlv against the introduotion of rnoie pests to the colony. Amidst considerable merriment the hon, member said ho was reliably informed that this animal was a cross between a pig and a sheep, and that it bred soab ; and ia case it might be a goat he romincled the Government that there were already plenty of those unimals running wild. The House, however, was quite resolved, and deliberately passed tho vote in spite of the earnest protests of the member for Motueku.