POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 318, 29 June 1889, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

*>—THE LATEST FROM THE HOUSE. [most OCH OWN aoBBBSPOSDKNT.I Wbllinotos, last night. The Hon Mr Larnach was amongst the arrived members, who put in an ap--1 TKarance this afternoon, "Sir George Grey tabled a motion for Wednesday next, affirming that in the opinion of the House it is not desirable that House allowances should be made to any member who does not reside at the seat of Government, and another for Tuesday that the above motion shall have precedence of all orders of the day. On Wednesday even-, lug Sir George Grey gave notice of a bill to provide for the election of Governors of Lew Zealand, and a!»o of the Land for Settlement )sjn, Mr Guinness signified his intention to Introduce the Workmen’s Wages bill. The Premier, in answer to Mr Hobbs, said that no further information had been received In reference to the wreckage found at the North Cape, and which is supposed to have ooms from H.M.3. Dart. The Premier gave notice of the Otago Central Railway Bill tod the Property Assessment Bill. Mr Fisher announced that when ths correspondence between himself and. the Premier is laid on the table he. will either move for a committee to enquire into the •abject, or will leave the initiative in the matter to the Government. The Premier said he hoped the papers would be laid on the table on Tuesday. Mr Fisher’s last letter, of 63 pages of foolscap, reached him while he was preparing his Financial Statement, and so he had to delay his reply, It would, however, be sent to the hon, gentleman in a couple of days, and then he would produce the whole correspon-

dence. A deputation of about twenty town members waited on the Premier yesterday, and urged him not to accede to the wishes ef the country members by proposing an increase from 18 to 33 per cent, in the margin allowed to country districts under the Representation Act. The Premier said the question would not be made a party one, Ministers being divided in opinion upon it. He promised, however, .o give consideration to the views During the afternoon representing the recent representatives, also the GovKUment with reference to the same question, onilYefieived a similar Various rumors, generally more' dr kss incorrect, have found currency as to the » intentions of the Government with regard ■to electoral reform have now obtained some authoritative on the subject. Four separate been prepared dealing with this in its different phases. One of these, will be rendered useless if the other Registration of Electors Bill will provision for a more efficient system electoral registration than exists at the present time. Instead of it being competent for any electioneering agent to bring in bundles of claims, on the eve of an election, when there is no time to investigate their soundness thoroughly, every applicant for registration will have to appear in person, and substantiate his claim, when he will take out an electoral right, paying a fee of one shilling, and this right will constitute his proof of qualification to vote. If the Government proposals respecting the Hare system are accepted, each man will have only one vote, so that plurality of voting trill be definitely done away with. The Corrupt Practices Bill will contain provisions against corrupt practices, even mor* 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 call age may take a friend with him in his carriage to poll, but cannot lend it lor the _ conveyance of voters generally, under a heavy ♦ Js?alty. The Representation Bill will include the provision for election under the Hare f system, and for the much talked of “ quote.” Should the Hare element be eliminated by the House, then a fourth Bill will be brought in for the regulation of elections on the present principle, only with various improvements in the direction of fairness, secrecy, and

efficiency, As yet the Opposition party have been disorganised for want of a leader, but at a meeting held this morning, Mr Lance in the ehair, it was unanimously resolved that Mr Ballance should be asked to accept the leadership, and asked, after consideration, to give his reply on Monday next. Thirty two members were present, including Sir George Grey, and seven others were accounted for. The motion was proposed by Mr J. McKenzie and seconded by Mr W- Fraser, It has transpired that last month the New Plymouth Harbor Board were not able to pay the interest due on their debt, and the Government advanced the required sum (£2200) on the security of the rates under the Crown and Native Lands Bating Act, and the Land Fund, which will accrue between May and November, and the amount of which exceeds that of the advance by £2OO and £3OO, The prospects of the Hospital Bill passing fa its present form are very slender. The introduction of the Hare system is hardly likely to meet with the approval of the majority of ioembers.