Parliamentary Gossip.

Thames Star, Volume XX, Issue 4663, 14 July 1888, Page 2

Parliamentary Gossip.

(BT TBMGB^PH—OWN COBBESPONDBNT.)

Wellington, Last night. Native Policy Bills-

THE NEW COMMITTEE^

The.differences of opinion existing >in the House as to the course to be taken with regard to' the' constitution of the' Committee to which the Native Policy Bills are to be referred have been compromised by the appointment of a new Committee, consisting of the' Premier, Native Minister, Sir Geo. Grey, Messrs Hialop, Ballance, Carroll, Graham, Monk, Hutchison, Kelly, Ormond, Samuel, Pratt, Whytc, Taiwhanga, and Taipua. It will be remembered that it was originally proposed to relegate the Bills to a joint Committee of both Houses. The Totalisator. The report of the Committee of the Council who have been enquiring into the working of the totalisator, sets forth that, in the opinion of the Committee, the Totaiisator has gone far to reduce the business of the bookmakers.' The Com* mittee thought, however, that only large racing clubs whose rules were drawn on the lines of the Metropolitan-race clubs should be licensed to work the totalisator.

The Premier Indisposed. The Premier was again indisposed today, and was unable to attend the sitting of the House this afternoon. : Land Boards to be Retained. The Land Act Amendment Bill WBS considered to-day by the Waste Lands Committee, and most of the clauses were approved of without material amendment. The Committee decided by 7 to 3 in favor of Jhe retention of! the Land Boards in their present form. Old Settlers* Claims- r The Naval and Military Settlers and Volunteers Land Bill was read a second time in Council* this afternoon, and referred to the Waste Lands Committee.

The Mining Act Amendment \ ...... .......Biii-,..,,^;;;;; ;;;:;. ■ The Mining Act Amendment Bill, as amended by the Goldfields Committee, came up for committal in the House this- afternoon. Mr Guinness divided the House on a motion for v com« mittal, which was carried by 47 to 10. Most of the provisions of the Bill relate merely: to the systems, in i-vogue in. the South Island,.and are therefore of little interest to the northern goldfields. An amendment by Mr Guinness to strike out the provision that the judge or magistrate should sit alone without,assessors evoked from the' Minister for Mines a declaration that if it were carried he would drop the Bill. The amendment was; negatived by 42 to 30, and a proviso moved by Mr Pratt for allowing an appeal from the decision of the magistrate was also lost by 46 to 22. The clause passed as printed, and the remainder of the Bill was agreed to without amendment. Some debate was excited on the motion to read the Bill a third time, but this was. eventually agreed to without a division.' Portfolio of Minos- ■. f There is some talk of the'portfolio os Mines being handed over to Mr Fergu during' tbeJ^recess. Some of tho gold' fields members are dissatisfied • with Mr Richardson's control of the department. This day.

The House was in a capital working humor last night, and besides agreeing to the second reading of the Native Policy Bills, and referring them to a Committee, it also agreed to the following second readings :—-Fencing Act Amendment Bill. Regulation of Local Elections Act Amendment, Bill, Yoiunteer Drill Sheds and Lands Bill, and State Forests Act Amendment Bill. , , Fay of the PoliceAn impression appears to exist- that Mr Goldie is endeavoring to secure'a re-' duction of. police pay. Such' is not the ' case. He has, however, pointed out that £6000 for long-service pay should be discontinued, and considers that such achange would cause no hardship, as the money goes to the better-paid grades of tbe police, and the lowest grade, the third class of constables—none of whom get long-service pay—receive 7s per day.