Image TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage Tile
Image size: 7168x10240 Scale: 35% - PanoJS3
Page overview thumbnail

Article text

COLONIAL PARLIAMENTS.
NEW SOUTH WALES.
Svdnev. May 25.
In the Assembly to-night, iu reply to
questions, Sir George DiDba said the
matter of subsidizing the Vancouver
mail service had received attention, but
no final decision had been arrived at by
the Government. He promised if
possible to pass a Lund Boilers Bill
this session.
BIr. See stated that the Government
were satisfied that when the time came
for taking up le-;al- tender notes gold
would be forthcoming. Asked if the
Government would tako steps to compel
the Commercial Bauking Company of
Sydney to refund the cash received the
day before suspension he said the ques
tion concerned the Bank and its cus
tomers, and not the Government. A further
enquiry by Mr. Black as to whether
the Government a*sured themselves as
to the assets of the Banks met with a
reply in the negative.
Contrary to general anticipation
the Government did not propose a
conferen -o on the Electoral Bill. Qn
moving a resolution to the effect that the
Bill be accepted as it was Mr. Barton
expressed the opinion tlmt they must
not be too grasping, and that, taking the
Bill as it was, it was the most comprehen
cive, liberal, 'And just measure of electoral
reform in any coun- ry of the world. He
pointed out th*t the measure included
provisions for one man one vote on
residential principles ; registration of
votes in a manner not influent with
hardship to the citizens ; transfer from
one electorate to another was rendered
easy ; and provision was made for the
purification of the rolls, for tho prevontiun
of personation, for voting when outside
the elections, and the abolition of the
£40 deposit Stringent provision was
made against corrupt practices, and in
reference to the redistribution of seats it
secured the advantage of a non-political
Commission. It also secured the great
gain of single electorates, and of having
all elections on one day. Mr. Reid, the
leader of the Opposition, cordially joined
in congratulating theHouse on tho substan
tial settlement of the great question, ai.d
supported the Government proposal to
take the Bill as it was, beauisehe did not
think a conference would do any good.
Some of the Labour members complained
of the Government action After discus
sion and several futile amendments a
resolution agreeing to the Council's
amendments w.ts carried byfiOto 15. The
Assembly adjourned ar. 11. In p.m.
The Loan Estimates tabled in the
Assembly to-night only amount to
£874,806. The principal items are
Military works, £20,000 ; railway dup
lications and improvements, £150,000 ;
railway construction— all further sums
towards the completion of works,
£268,075; harbours and rivers, £103,500;
Sydney Hospital, £43,fi57 ; bridges,
£36,500 ; metropolitan water and Fewer
aae, £78,850 ; public watering places,
£63,374; telegraph lines, £2u,000 ; re
payment of loans, £40,0n0.
The Lieuteiiant-Goverr.or held a levee
at Government House this afternoon in
honour of the Queen's birthday.
$