PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 145, 20 June 1888, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(by telegraph.—parliamentary re

PORTER.)

Wellington, this day. FURTHER RETRENCHMENT AND

ECONOMY.

linformed you on Monday thab a Committee had met to pass in review the various sums placed upon the estimates for the services of the country, with an idea to concerted action when the Estimates are before tho House. They see that their position is a difficult one, for without the assistance of the House they cannot do very much, but they have determined bo do what they can, and hope to place upon record their opinions and votes if fchey can do no more. They think that a considerable saving may be effected under the head of " Permanent charges under special Acts of the Legislature," and suggest bhab bhe Speaker of bhe Legislative Council ought to be reduced to £400; the Chairman ot Commitbees, to £150 ; clerk, to £500. .In the House of Representatives they suggest bhat bhe Speaker. Sir Maurice O'Rorke, should geb £500; Mr Hamlin (Chairman of Committees), £300; Ist clerk, £500 instead of £600, as now paid; the clerk assistant, £300. So far, I understand bhe suggestions up to page 2, which deals with class 1 and part of class 2, amount to over £4,000. They feel thab there is a serious difficulty standing in their way, in the fact that some of- these officers may elecb to retire upon their pensions rather bhausubmib to further reduction. With a view to know who these gentlemen are and what Lhoy would be entit:ed to receive, Mr Goldie has given notice to move for a return as follows: — " That a return be prepared giving the names of all persons now in Government employ who, in the event of their retirement from the service, would be entitled to receive pensions, with the amount that each person would receive if his services were dispensed wibh during the present financial year." THE PREMIER'S ABSENCE. There was a little fun evoked yesterday afternoon in the lobbies over the Premier's absence. One prominent protectionist jocuiarly proposed that a formal motion should be made, "That this House has no confidence in the Governmenb in the absence of the Premier,". on which a free trader prompbly bhreatened to. come to bhe rescue of the Government wibh an amendment to strike out the word " no," with the object of inserting the word "every." The inference clearly is that were the Premier oub of bhe way bhe Government would nob be likely bo insist upon a protective tariff. jNTERPOSITION OF PROVIDENCE. There are several hon. members in the House who have had private Bills on the Order Paper since the beginning of the session, and have been denied bhe opportunity of having their grievances 'considered. They therefore regard. the Premier's bemporary illness as an interposition of Providence, for it has had the effect of to-day and Thursday being seb apafb for privabe members' business. Mr Guinness Bill to Amend the Mining Acb, and Sir Geo. Grey's Special Sebblers Relief and . Land for Sebtlements Bills are the first orders of bhe day. for to-day. CON SOLID ATI_.G THE VOLUNTEERS. It will be interesting to volunteers to learn that the Minister of Defence is favourable, bo an amalgamation of bhe stronger wibh weaker corps, so as bo have fewer companies of greaber sbrengbh bhan at pre.enb. He would be glad bo see Naval and Garrison Artillery Corps ab the four centres where fortifications are esbablished, to be recruited up to a strength of 250 men ab each cenbre, and rifle companies increased from 63 to 100. He says he will consider if this can be done by amalgamation. If the revenue shows any elasticity at all, he will see if an extra capitation ot £1 per man, or as near thab sum as possible, cannob be given to Navals and Artillerymen, and the prcsenb authorised capitation extended to 100 riflemen in each corps instead of 63. MOKAU JONES'S CASE. A long letter from Mr J. Jones to the Native Minister, relative to the Mokau land case, was laid on the table of the House yesterday. In enlarging upon the difficulties to which he has been subjected, Mr Jones asserts thab Messrs Morrin and Russell, of Auckland, wibh bhe aid of the Native Land Courb Judges, have very recently acquired titles to lands at Mokau in a most illegal and unrighteous manner, other persons being better entitled to the land. He further alleges that he has seen clauses in Bills designed to give validity to bhese bransactions, and bhe agenbs of persons bo whom he alludes are creating some of his difficulties in the hope of acquiring his land, by a similar process. He accuses the Native"Minister of having told him bhab any communication from him would have no effect on the Government, and urges that an inquiry by a Parliamentary Commibtee would be more sabisfacbory for all parties than one by a Royal Commission, and says thab his interests may fall into other hands unless the matter is immediately dealb with by Parliament. In conclusion, he protests against the Crown appointing its own servants to adjudge between itself and a complaining subject. The Native Minister (Mr Mitcherson) sbated thab some of bhe allegations made in this letter were untrue. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL BOYS. Having in view a case which recently excited a great deal of interest in Auckland, Mr Seddon inbends to ask the Minister of Education whebher he will give instruction to the superintendents of the several industrial schools that in future, in giving notices to inmates.licensed out that they are relieved from the control of the Home, such notices shall be given to the police and served personally upon youths so licensed oub, and upon persons to whom the said youths have been so licensed. FAIR RENT BILL. The debate on the motion for the second, reading of this measure was resumed last evening. Many members spoke on the question, and various objections to bhe Bill were urged. Mr Carroll disapproved of its application to native lands, and especially to the West Coast settlement reserves. Mr Ballance feared that it endangered the hxiby of tenure, and Mr John McKenzie objected to the creation of a cumbrous body with powers equal to those of the Supreme Courb. Di\ Hodgkinson approved of iho application of the Bill to private property. Mr R Thompson thought- the Bill would cause people to defer payment of thenrents in the hope of being able by political' ac-itation to obtain their reduction. Amon-sb bhose who supported the measure were Messrs Walker, Cowan, Hobbs Peacock, White, Lawry, Duncan, T. Thompson O'Conno**, Steward, Buxton, Kelly, Cadman, Steward, Hutchison, Jones, Samuel and Feldwick. The second reading was ultimately carried, .turn. con. RAILWAY FREIGHTS. The Government have no intention of readjusting the railway freights with a view _f fostering the agricultural and pastoral tt Sof the colony, The Minister for Works has, however, informed Mr Anderson that it is his intention to set up a commi tee with the view of considering the tariff S xtsZ-ds bhe carriage of our agricultural % _v£roral products. The Governmenb. Jetgni c habX matter is an important one and will give it every consideration. THE GOVERNMENT STEAMERS. Tho Government havo not considered the . • ,-."_. _f the Hinemoa, bub bhe i!fitlZ Marine L bought the matter

tho Stella nor the Hinemoa had been built for mercantile purposes ib is extremely improbable bhab a tender would be obtained for either steamer. Changes are, however, being mado in the Hinemoa, with a view of reducing the annual cost.

DECREASING THE PROPERTY TAX

It is clearly the opinion of the Hon. H. J. Miller that tho property tax should be decreased. He has, therefore, given notice in the Council bhat he will move on nexb sitting, " That a return be laid on the table, showing; the amount available from the property tax, if collected from all sources of property, except bhose who possess only £100. Also bhe amounb derivable from the imposibion of baxes on all increases exceeding £150."

THE MOKAU COMMISSION.

Hamera Mahupuka is the native member of the Royal Commission which the Government intend to appoint in regard to Mr Jones's Mokau land claims, with,Lieut.Colonel Roberts and'Mr Davy.

CLUBS IN HOTELS.

It is the intention of Mr Goldie to move " Thab, in bhe opinion of this House, it is undesirable that licenses should be granted to clubs who hold their meetings in hotels, and should any such licenses exisb bhat steps be taken to cancel them ab bhe earliesb possible moment."

LICENSING PROSECUTION.

The Minister of Justice declines to issue instructions bhab all licensing prosecutions shall be brought before Resident Magistrates, as lie thinks such a regulation would be a reflection on Justices. He, however, promises to look into the matter, and if there has been a miscarriage of justice he will take the proposal into his consideration.

A PLEA FOR BAP MAIDS,

In justice to barmaids, Mr Fish has made representation to the Governmenb with regard to the lengthy hours of service to which the barmaids of Wellington are subjected. He says ho knows of cases in which the barmaids are kept ab work bill one or two o'clock in tho morning, and mentioned one insbance of a girl working on a recent Sunday from ten in the morning till half-an-hour after midnight. The Minister of Justice promised to give in structions to the police to see thab bhe regulations are strictly enforced. DEPOTS FOR CASTAWAYS. Arrangements aro being made by bhe Governmenb that on her nexb brip bhe Sbella shali establish dep6ts for the relief of castaways and shipwrecked sailors on the Kermadec Islands. Sir George Grey has repeatedly urged this matter on their abbention. LAND PURCHASE GRIEVANCES. The Governmenb have decided bo move bhis session for the appointment of a Commission to inquire during the recess into all grievances connected with land purchases. They admit thab there are large numbers of hard cases enbibled bo be considered, and they promise bhab among obher grievances bhose of Luther Owen, of Nelson, anu the Mokau Coal Company shall be dealb wibh. MR REISCHEK'S LOSS. Mr Peacock has brought bhe mabber of Mr Reischek's loss under the notice of the Governmenb, but. the Minister of Marine says that all they know of ib is vvhab bhey have seen in the newspapers. He admits thab a case containing birds' skins bo tho value of £200 was destroyed by seawater on bhe Stella wdiile thab vessel was under bhe charge of Capbain Gray, bub bhey do nob know who was to blame. The Minister said ab - bhe same time thab while the Governmenb could nob promise cash compensation to Mr Reischek they would give him every facility bo replace bhe collection lost, and would purchase skins to the value of £20 or £30 for presentation to American and other Governments. INCENTIVES TO MATP^LMONY. Mr Bruce has revived an old proposal which might, if adopbed, be an incentive to bachelors to enter the matrimonial state. He intends bo ask the Premier whether the Government, with a view to a more equitable adjustment of taxation, will consider the advisability of imposing an annual tax of say £1 per head on all bachelors between the ages of 21 and 50; whebher they will bake into consideration bhe advisability of making all bachelors now paying property tax liable to an additional contribution of one halfpenny in the pound. THE PUIHIPUHf FOREST. The exbent of the damage caused to the Puihipuhi forest by the fires which raged borough it some months ago has been never until now officially stated. The Minister of Lands mentioned to theHouseonMonday in answer to Mr Hobbs that the ranger estimated the quantity consumed ab 105 million of feeb. Mr Monk, rising excibedly, said bhab no greaber rubbish had ever been furnished to any body of men than was contained in the xeporb in question. Amidst exclamations from members on all sides, bhe Speaker ruled bhe hon. gentleman out of order. RETRENCHMENT AND COMPENSATION. Tho Minister for Marine says bhab no departure from the Customs had been made m granting compensation to officers for loss of service. The Customs Departmenb had been . rebrenched wherever possible, and the pilot service in bhe Manukau Harbour had been cub down. Boatmen in that service were not entibled bo compensation, and none had been paid to them. THE TARIFF. The delayed further consideration of the new tariff has been deferred till Friday in consequence of the illness of the Premier. Mr MacrathurtwibbedtheGovernment yesterday afternoon with th c fact bhat th ere were five able-bodied Minisbers on bhe benches, and seeing bhab bhis question was one of such urgency before, he wondered thab bhey,could nob go on with it. Mr Mitchelson said thab the Government were quibe prepared to go on with the tariff if the House wished it, bub bhe motion for adjournmenb was ab the request of the Premier himself, who is working up a number of amendments which he intends to propose in the tariff. POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS IN RAILWAY WORKSHOPS. The railway workshop changes which have often been the subject of gossip in Auckland for some time past in connection with the dismissal of Mr W. Elliott, late locomotive foreman of Newmarket shops, and his replacemcnb by a nephew of ilajor Jackson, M.H.R., occupied the attention of the House for some time yesterday afternoon. The Public Petitions Committee reported thab having examined into the mabter they had no recommendation bo make, thereupon Mr Moss moved bhab bhe leporb be referred back to the Commitbee with insbrucbions bo report upon bhe circumstances under which the petitioner was replaced by the present foreman. The member for ParnelJ, who claims to be the mouthpiece of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, said the matter was one which concerned tho railway employees throughout the colony, and affected more or less the integrity ot the whole public service. He wenb ab lengbh into tho b-rievanccs •of various Auckland artificers who had been eibher bransferred or dismissed, and broadly alleged thab ib looked as though the Governmenb were endeavourin"- bo fill the shops wibh bhe relatives of their polibical friends. In conclusion, Mr Moss stated that ho was not personally acquainted with Mr ElUobt, butln Auckland ib was openly stated that thone men who had vobed against the late Governmenb were being removed from their positions in bhe railway workshops, and thab these changes

were being made as covertly as possible in order to uverb thab public indignation which would probably be aroused by bolder means of getting rid of these people being employed. Mr Moss supported his case by quoting freely from a letter sent to him by tho Amalgamated Society of Engineers, and brought up the cases of Messrs Tizard and Juiy as well as thab of Mr Eiliott. Air Tizsrd, he stated, was forced to resign in consequence of the arbitrary and insulting manner in which he was addressed by Mr Jackson. The action of the Department was characterised as a coverb attempt to reduce wages, and the economy shown in the discontinuance of soap with which to wash, and the oatmeal for the men's drinking water, w*as ridiculed.

The Minister for Works, in opposing the amendment, said thab a saving of £1,250 per annum had been made in bhe railway workshops by dismissals and amalgamation of offices. Ib was perfectly true thab Mr Jackson was a nephew of one of the Government whips, bub he had served his apprenticeship in the Newmarket workshops. He had a large amount of experience and braining in every department, and in the various parts of the colony where he had been employed he had done justice to himself and to the country. The speaker emphatically denied that the appointment had been the result of political influence, bub simply because Mr Jackson wa.-< a more able man bhan his predecessor. The Government had no voice in the appoinbmenb beyond formallyapprovingofib,andhe (Mr Mibcbelson) was satisfied that all the changes lately made were to the interests of bhe service and of the colony.

The discussion was continued by Mr Levestam, who cibed an instance in which the late manager of the Nelson disbricb railways hud been replaced by a nephew of bhe late Hon. Geo. McLean, while Mr Seddon gave it as his opinion that political influence had also been brought bo bear in the appointment in the Addington workshop, and twitted Mr Mitchelson upon his eulogium of Mr Jackson, and said if he was such a remarkably good man and had managed all the railways from the North Cape to Invercargill, the Governmenb need no longer brouble aboub bhe selection of a Chief Commissioner of Railways, bub should appoinb Mr Jackson ab once.

The Colonial Secrebary poinbed oub thab Mr Jackson had received mosb of his promotions while bhe Hon. E. Richardson was Minisber for Works, and said bhat the people of Napier were so pleased with him thab bhey were averse bo losing his services. He assured bhe House bhab so far as the Nelson case was concerned the Governmenb were nob aware bill bhab afternoon bhab bhe genbleman was relabed wibh bhe Hon. MiMcLean.

Messrs Kelly, Kerr, and Ormond objecbed botheacbion of the Governmentinindividual cases of retrenchment being reviewed by the House, and argued that the discussion had shown the necessity of the administration of bhe railways being removed from bhe sphere of political influence. Mr Ormond also said thab Mr Jackson was bhe best railway officer they had had at Napier.

The amendment was losb by 47 bo 18. The Auckland members who supported ib were : —Messrs Fraser, Goldie, Moss, T. Thompson . and Taiwhanga. Againsb : Messrs Cadman, Graham, Hamlin, Hobbs, Lawry, Hon. E. Mitch elf on, Moat, Monk, li. Thompson, and J. B. Whybe. JOTTINGS. Tariff deferred till Friday nexfc. Further petitions from Auckland againsb any alteration in the Education Act. The Government are considering whebher bhey will release Hoera be Mimiha, the Hauraki chief, from gaol.

Mr Bruce is still urging the establishmenb of a Highland crofber settlement ab Tauranga. The Governmenb refuse to allow railway surfacemen to taketheirthree days'holidays, allowed by regulations, on successive days.

Thetriangulation of pastoral leases in Canterbury is expected bo be finished nexb summer.

Mr Allen is asking for leave of absence for a week on uigenb private business. Mr Hislop has given notice of the Waikabo Reserve Bill.

Mr Smith is asking the Government when bhey intend to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr Justice Johnston.

Mr Prabb is asking bhe intention of the Govornnienb with regard to.the disclosures respecting illegal sealing ab Auckland Islands.

Mr Feldwick wishes the Governmenb to bake step 3to bring the Macquarrie Islands under the jurisdiction of the colony.

Petitions numerously signed in favour of bhe female franchise were presented to both Houses yesterday.

The pulp duty is giving a lob of brouble bo the Cabinet, and the Premier has told his colleagues that he wants the mabter reconsidered.

Captain Russell took his seat in bhe House yesterday afternoon, and the Hon. W. '11. Reynolds in the Council.

Mr Taiwhanga is in favour of the Chinese because he has heard that they are the only people who can work the quicksilver mines at the Bay of Islands.

Every allusion in bhe House bo New Zealand's Chinese ambassador, who reached Sydney too late for bhe Conference, is greeted with roars of laughter. Mr Peacock says Mr Reischek's health is broken down by exposure during tho various periods of self-imposed exile in the interests of natural history. Sir George Grey says there should be no compromise on bhe Chinese question ; absolutely no more Chinese should be allowed to come.

Major Steward has given notice of cerbain amendmenbs in bhe Fair Rents Bill.

Ib is the intention of Ministers from time to time bo throw open for sebtlemenb portions of the State forests, as they become cleared of timber.

Mr Smith is anxious to know when the vacant judgeship is to be filled up. Mr Macarthur, who has had an abback of goub. took his seat yesterday afternoon, after an absence of some days, in the Council.

A clause has been added to the Land Transfer Act Amendmenb Bill giving bhe Governor power to cancel surveyors' licen.e..

Mr Seddon says the West Coasb disbriebs are bhe greatest sufi'erers by bhe Chinese invasion.

An ineffectual atbempb was made by some of bhe Lords bo havo the Criminal Code Bill introduced by the Hon. Mr Buckley shelved.

The Government have no inbention of bringing in a measure this session for the rerjeal of the State Forests Act. Extended leave of absence for one month is being asked for Sir J. Vogol, and for a forbnighb for MrPearson, who is now out of danger.

Ministers disapprove of Mr Guinness's idea of publicly opening tenders for Government works.

Mr Feldwick is asking tho Governmenb if they have classified officers of tho Civil Service since Inst session, and I believe the answer will be in the affirmative,

Mr Grimmond wanbs the Governmenb bo bake sbeps bo prevent tho rabbib pesb invading Soubh Wesbland bhrongh bhe Haasb Pass,

Mr Monk is asking whether Mr MoCallum has been appointed to lecture on dairying, and ab what salary, Mr Feldwick is questioning the Governmonb as to negotiations said to have taken place with Australian Governments relative to a lighthouse on the Auckland Islands.