PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1850, 28 June 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(feok ous special coeeesfobdbmt.) THE VOLCANIC DISTDEBANOBS. In the House of Representatives on Than* day the Mines Minister, in answer to Mr Grace, said the Government would plaes a sum of the estimates for the assistance of sufferers by the recent volcanic disturbances. SCAB. Mr Pearson asked, if scab were noneradioated in the Colony, would the Government proposed to remove the restrictions on impor* tation of sheep. In Canterbury the land wea in some cases overstocked ; and he might say that recently 22,000 sheep were sold foe £IBOO. The Minister, in reply, said it was qnita time that the scab had been eradicated. The subject of restrictions would be considered. PROTECTION OP MACHINERY. Mr Moss moved, That it is desirable to impose Customs duties on all machinery now imported duty free, but which can be manufactured well and cheaply to the Colony, care being taken to make a corresponding reduction in the duties on articles not manufactured in New Zealand, in order that the total taxation may not be increased. The Premier said the Government would not oppose the motion—it was simplv a re-echo of the Government policy last session. He congratulated the hon gentleman on hie conversion. The subject was further discussed, but ultimately the debate was adjourned. LAW PBACTIOKEBB BILL. This Bill was considered in Committee. Sir Robert Stout moved that the Chairman do leave the chair. He opposed the Bill on the ground that ife aimed at abolishing the educational test. Sir George Grey, in reply, said the English bar was iu its greatest glory when there was no educational exanimation. He said that be took up the examination paper once and found that he eould not answer one of the questions on the Pacific—and if there was a man in the world who ought to be able to pass an examination in that subject he should be able to paea it. A very lively and “ mixed ” discussion followed. Sir George Grey and Sir Robert Stout went at each other " hammer and tongs.” Then cvety lawyer in the House assailed the bill and tried to tear it to piece*. Finally the motion that the speaker should leave the chair w..s carried by 21 to 18 votes, and the bill ws* therefore “ bung up.” Sir George Grey moW the second reading of this Bill. There wee a general desire throughout the country that there should be elected Land Boards, and the Bill he now introduced provided tor them. The Premier opposed the Bill. He would not have opposed it if a popular franchise had been provide J for, bat in this Bill the looa. bodice were to elect the Boards. He considered the effect of that would not lie to induce liberal land laws. Mr Soobte MacKenzie considered the principle of the Bill was certainly a geod one, and he should support it. With regard to the franchise objection, ho contended that the local b.aUes fairly represented the people, and the election by them of Lands Boards wee a liberal proposal. If the present boards, however, wore continued, an end should be pat to politicians sitting ou them. Mr Buchanan agreed with Mr Mackenzie's suggestion as to members of the Hone* sitting on boards, and would go further by obtaining a guarantee that no gentleman elected to a Laud Board would off*r himself for election for the House for a certain time. Ultimately the Bill passed its second reading, and the House rose. JME OOStmioN or TU., COLONY. On Thursday in the Legislative I'onneil Mr Halt resumed tie debate on 1..„ motion, calling for a seled committee to o <piin mte the condition of the Colony. He said that property-holders were rated at 1« fid in the £. This iat« was too high in Ins opinion, and if persisted iu would prevent capitalists from Investing their mooet. If this stale of things was persisted in, it would have tbs effect of outside capital bi ing w.thdrawu, 1 bs motion was carried.