Parliamentary Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 12, 13 July 1888, Page 13

Parliamentary Notes.

eeclneeday, 4th* — In the House an amendment was moved . Mr. Withey to the effect that further retrenchment amounting to £100,000 a year should be made — especially by means of reductions in the educational system through the classification of teachers. The Premier moved a new clause in the Customs Duties Bill providing for the importation free from duty of plant and material to be used in the construction of the Midland Railway The debate on the motioß for th« tkird reading of the Bill was adjourned . It is announced that Sir Dillon Bell has bsen re-appointed Agent-General for a term of three years. The Wellington Post has published an article on the assumed inconsistency of Mr. Fulton, member for the Taieri, who advocates the possession of the franchise by women, yet opposes their wearing corsets. The point, however, is doubtful, Mr. Fulton probably desires that women should show themselves possessed of " back-bone," and so deserving to exercise the part of free and independent electors. And of course the man who has no back-bone is a feeble tort of a creature. As to what the woman in such a condition may be, we have no opinion to pronounce on the matter. It is ill to meddle with edged tools. Thursday, <gtll. — The motion for the third residing of the Customs Duties Bill was carried by 45 to 22. The Premier in his concluding speech deprecated the notion that the duties bad been imposed for protective purposes, but pronounced them necessary for the Colony at present. Mr. Msh.has promised his support to the Government becauee. of their protectionist tariff. Friday, 6th. — Gross bigots of Otago, whose lying creed teaches them the lawfulness of plunder, have petitioned Parliament not to give aid to Catholic schools. Gross bigots at the same time further trample the pearls of the Gospsl under their swinish feet by petitioning in favour of Bible reading in schools. It is to be hoped their petitions in favour of continued plunder, as well as of compelling Catholics to asßiet in the teaching of a lying creed, will meet with the ! contempt they deserve. In replying to a question the Premier said I he would support a proposal to give the franchise to women. Is this by way of reparation for his refusal to impose a tax on bacheloro and will it be taken as an eqjivalent? The Premier moved that the House should insist on disagree' ng with the Council's amendments in the Chinese Biji. Sir George Grey proposed that the Bill should be dropped and the conduct of the Council submitted to the judgment of the people. Mr. Ballauce said that the Council's reasons for persisting in their amendments were most insulting, in which the Premier substantially agreed with him. A free conference was appointed to confer with the Couuctl. The motion for the second reading of the Mining Act Amendment Bill was agreed to. Tuesday, XOth.— The second reading of the Customs Bill was moved in the Council by Mr. Stephens, and opposed by Bir George Whitmore and Dr. Pollen. The debate was adjourned.— ln the House, Mr. Richardson, in answer to Mr. Guinness, said that the Agnews had no claim on the Colony, and had been too liberally dealt with. — The Premier, replying to Mr. Seddon, stated that, probably owing to the break in the cable, he had received no definite inf rmation as to whether the Midland Railway Company had decided to sign the amended contract. — The Minister of Lands moved the second reading of the Land Act Amendment Bill, which wsb mainly introduoed, he said, to deal with pastoral leases falling in in 1890. — Sir George Grey stigmatised the Bill aB containing nothing. The motion was agreed to.