Despite the fact that a Conf eren,ce on. the Chinese question has been determined on, Sir JL Atkinson thinks that the New Zealand Parliament should pass its Chinese Immi gration Act Amendment Bill, which would materially assist in the meantime towards th,e. prevention of an influx of Chinese,

J The committal of the Bill at the present sitting was opposed by M* Seddon, fwhb .moved that consideration :pf : the ' Bill be "postponed till Tuesday to secure 'bheattend an be of Sir George Grey. Those who supported the adjournment argued that there J was no need for extreme urgency in legis- I lating on the question, as the Queen's assent I to the Bill could not be obtained for some J time, and that further information of the I intentions of the Australian Governments I was requisite. The motion for the adjourn, j ment was negatived by 42 to 27. In I Committee, Mr Seddon moved that the oarrying tonnage of vessels he increased from one Chinese to every 100 tons, to one to every 500 tons, but it was pointed out that the effect of suoh restriox tive legislation would be that the Queen's assent to the Bill would be refused; every 200 tons was then proposed by the mem her for Kumara, which on a division was negatived by 45 to 32. Mr Seddon next proposed to have the poll tax increased from £10 to £30, and the Premier again warned. the House that the effeot of carrying this amendment would be to endanger the whole measure. After disoussion the amendment was lost on the voices, the Premier having given an assurance that before the conference was held an opportunity would be afforded the House of carrying a series of resolutions to place before the Conference embodying the views of members. The remaining clauses were passed as printed, and the Bill was reported with slight amendments. The Standing Orders were suspended in order to allow the amendments to be agreed to, and the Bi'l. passed through its final stages, de spite tbe opposition of Mr Seddon, who asserted that the Standing Orders were being violated. Shop Houns Bill. Mr Joyce is actively lobbying for support for the Shop Hours Bill, and is being backed by telegrams from the South. He received the following wires this evening. 