POLITICAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 93, 23 April 1891, Page 5

POLITICAL.

Mr George S. Graham, Sir Walter Buller, Colonel Fraser, and others aro mentioned aa candidates for tlie vacant seat in the Te Aroha electorate.

Tho Legislative Council Reform Bill> which the Government intend to introduce next session, will limit tho term of office of new members of the Council to seven years.

A new clause has boon added to the Go : vernment Contracts Bill, in thedirecfeion indicated by tho Minister of Public Works, of making the letting of sub-contracts within the consent of tho Minister illegal.

There are still thirty Sheep Inspectors loft for the colony under the new arrangement. In connection with the Stock Department, more responsibility will be thrown on the Rabbit* Inspectors than has beon the case hitherto.

Tho Premier has been adviaed that the Minister of Education has been ablo to make such arrangements as will obviate the necessity of resigning; his position in the Ministry, this contingency having been feared in consequence of the death of the Hon. W. P. Reeves.

The " Gazette " notifies that the services Of Inspectors Atcheson, Moore, A. Thomson, Kiely, and Goodall, and J. G. Fox, chief clerk in the Police Department, will be dispensed with at the expiration of the leave granted thorn, on retirement;, Juno 30th.

The purchase of the Manawatu Railway Co.'s lino will probably be one of the things brought under the consideration of the Cabinet before long. Tho terms on which it can be taken over are already fixed by Act, but the process is subject to the sanction of Parliament.

Large reductions and reorganisation ara to be made in the Native Land Court Department. The Stock Department will be re organised, especially in regard to the system of inspection into which the Minister of Lands is now prosecuting enquiries. There will also be considerable alterations in the Survey Department in the way of transfers.

Newd from Hokianga etatos thab on April 9th a large native meeting opened at Waima, an adjoining settlement, to take into consideration the necessity of the federation of the Maori tribes throughout New Zealand for political purposes. Hapakuku Moetara, chief of the Waimamaku, one of the delegates from the Southern tribos for tho above purpose, addressed the meeting most of the nfbdrnoon. Six hundred people were on the ground. A large hall, 80 by 25, has been built for the meeting.

The Premierhasreplied bo the letterof the Ekatatuna Knights of Labour who recently forwarded him a series of resolutions favourable to the abolition of Customs duties upon thenecessariesoflife, andtheaubetitutionofa tax on land values for the property tax. In reply Mr BallancetellstheKnights heagrees to a large extent with their resolutions, and that it is only a question of a little time when they will no doubt be reduced to practice. He expresses the hope that in the coming session of Parliament they will proceed some distance at any rate in giving effect to the epirib of the resolutions.

The Government have beon urged upon their retrenchment crusade to some extent to meet charges for special services, and an anticipated deficit in land revenue amounting altogether to about £80,000. Provision will have to be made for a contribution of £21,000 towards the cost of the Australasian Squadron, tho census will cost about £15,000, there will be an additional charge of £15,000 in connection with property assessment, and the deficib from land revenue will bo about £30,000, caused mainly by the heavy land sales in Canterbury during the pasb year or two, leaving very little available land from which revenue can be derived.

The Hon. P. Buckley, Attorney-General, arrived by the Hinemoa on April 11, it was understood for the purpose of attending a meeting of the Executive here, but owiog to the absence of His Excellency the Governor ab theKaipara, and the departure of the Hon. A. J. Cadman for the South, this was impossible. Mr Buckley during his brief stay waa the guest of Mr J. M. Shera, M.H.R., _ab Eemuera, and he also found time to receive a deputation on the subject of dummyism, which there appears to be some reason for believing exists in Auckland land transactions as well as in the South. Mr Buckley promised to have the matter fully inquired into. He returned South by the Hinemoa the next morning, his presence in Wellington being required on public business.

A few days ago, Ministers were asked by Judge Edwards to allow themselves to be represented by counsel in the Aldridge case and to maintain his judgment by opposing the motion for writ of quo warranto. They have replied, declining to take any part in Court proceedings on the ground that they do not recognise Edwards as a judge. The Premier states that almost immediately after taking office the Government wrote to the Chief Justice protesting against Edwards taking any judicial business until Parliament should deal with his case. Having done this, they acknowledge no further responsibility until the matter comes before the House.

The 'proposed Electoral Bill, which the Government have in contemplation, includes the extension of Sir George Grey's one-manone-vote principle. Applications for enrolment will not be received after the issue of the electoral writs, but all claims to which objection may be taken can be considered at a speoial sitting, of the R.M. Court, to be held three days later. Ib is also proposed to give a, more liberal reading to the residential clause, so that if a man goes out of his own district to work he will not be disqualified as an elector if he shall have resided there, within a week of six months, and if a man removes from-'ope district) .to, another ho ''will be qualified"" to* 'vote after one month's;residence in%B district io*wMQhl»e •*^^

Parliament meets on June 11. Acting on the suggestion of the recent deputation from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to the Premier, the Government have drafted a Bill for the amendment of the Companies Act, giving Joint Stock Companies power of so altering their articles of association so to enable them to extend thsir field of operations. The Bill will enable a Company: 1. To carry on business more economically or more efficiently, 2. To attain its main purposes by new or improved means. 3. To enlarge or change the local area of its operations. 4. To carry on some business or businesses which under existing circumstances may be advantageously combined with the business of the Company. 5. Or to restrict or abandon any of tho objects specified in memo, of Association or deed of settlemeut. A draft is to be submitted fco the various Chambers of Commerce in the colony for consideration.

The New Zealand Railway Commissioners have applied to the Government for £40,000 "out of loan, for increasing plant, etc., on opened lines. The amount voted last year was £12,000. Mr W. B. Perceval, of Christchurch, in reply to a letter asking the Miniater of Public Works if there was any foundation for the rumour that the Railway Commissioners were ordering boilers from Home for corcain class of engines, has been informed that the Railway Commissioners reply that they have ordered four renewal boilers from England, ab a cost of £1,800, and give as their reasons the want of shop accommodation and inability to get the boilers done wibhin tho time required. The Minister of Public Works is nob satisfied that the reasons given are sufficient justification, and is asking for further information.

A census was taken on Sunday nighb, April sth. The object of the census is to show the actual number of the population of the colony, their distribution over the country in counties, boroughs, villages, towns, goldfields, etc., together with the particulars aa to sex, age, condition (whether married or single), profession or occupation, birthplace, state of health, religion, and degree of education. Under the latter heading provision has also been made to ascertain what proportion of children are being educated under each of the three following systems, (1) Government primary schools, (2) college, high school or private school, (3)receivingtuitionathome ; also particulars of the distribution of each description of live stock, and certain information as to land. The previous census was taken in 1886.

Of the £9,000 per annum propoeed to be saved by retrenchment in the Land and Survey Departments, £6,500 is Bayed by the amalgamation of those departments and £2,500 by reductions in the Stock Department. Ten stock inspectors and one clerk aro to be desponsed with ; the stock districts are to be enlargod and placed under the remaining inspectors. In the Land and Survey Departments 33 officers will be retrenched. Mr Percy Smith will remain at the head of the Survey Department, Mr Baron becomes Under-Secretary of Lands, and Mr Huntley Eliotb Undersecretary of Mines. It is proposed to transfer five of the Crown Lands Commissioners, Messrs Humphreys (Auckland), Marchanb (Wellington), Baker (Christchurch), Mueller (Westland), and Spence (Invercargill), and it is announced that the number of judges in the Native Land Court will bo reduced from thirteen to eight. It i 9 proposed to divide the North, for the purposes of the Native Land Court, into circuits, each in charge of one judge. The Justice Department is to be dealt with in a day or two. It is calculated that so far the retrenchment effected by the present Government amounts to £50,000 per annum. The Auckland branch of the Land and Survey Department has come in for its full share of retrenchment under the recent application of the Government pruning knife. It is rumoured than Mr Humphreys, head of the Auckland office, has been transferred to Southland, and that Mr Moeller, from the Wesb Coast, is to take his place here. No less than seven officers have been retrenched in the Auckland districb, but as the Government have refrained from publishing names until the officers affected have received official intimation that their services have been dispensed with, some difficulty has been experienced in ascertaining who are the sufferers. We understand thab those Auckland officers who have already received notice include Mr Sturtevent, senior, in the Lands Transfer department of the Deeds Office, who is a very old Governmentofficer ; MrFraser, caretaker of the VVaitomo caves ; two temporary clerks in the Land office, and one acting ranger.

The five Native Land Court judges to be retired are: W. G. Mair, J. A. Wilson, W. Puckey, W. Trimble, J. S. Clendon. Extensive reforms in the administration of the Native Land Court are contemplated, though their exact nature has not yet been decided on. The proposals, it is understood, go in the direction of assigning to each judge a district, within which lie shall travel on circuit. Ib is also intended to strip the Land Court of some of the superfluous paraphernalia which ib is associated with. The presiding officials, instead of being, called judges, and so appearing on the face of it to have co-ordinato rank with members of the Supreme Courb Bench, will have some distinct title, probably that of "Recorder." The expenses in connection with the employment of clerks and interpreters will also be cub down considerably. The Native Minister proposes to ask for legislation next session to enable him, instead of the Chief Judge, to direct where and when sittings of the Native Land Courts are to be held. The Minister also intends to devise some scheme to improve the system of re-hearing. Probably provision will be made that proceedings upon rehearing will be similar feo appeals upon law points in the Supreme Courb, in so far that they will be confined to the particulars" upon which the decision of the original judge is challenged.

The following are fehe principal alterations and innovations agreed to at the Postal Conference in Sydney, which will affect New Zealand. An insurance scheme for parcels posb up to £50 to London and £20 intercolonially ; fee of 6d for every £5; maximum of money order raised to £20 instead of £10 ; new rates to be 6d for £2, Is for £5, and so on to 4s for £20, instead of Is for £5, and 2s for £10 ; maximum weight of newspapers to be lOozs; fee of 5s to be charged for registration of newspapers at the G.P.0., intercolonial newspaper rates to be half-penny, trade, account and similar documents to go at book rate, and will also probably admit them at circular rates within town limits, intercolonial parcel post rates to be eightpence for the first pound, and sixpence for each additional pound, the present rates are Iβ 2d for the first 21bs, and 7d each additional; no telegram to cover more than one telegraphic money order sent by the same person ; book packet rates reduced to Id for every 4oz in place of Id for every 2oz inland, and Id every ounce intercolonially. With the following: proposals, which were agreed to by the other colonies, New Zealand disagreed ; names and addresses on telegrams being oharged for in New Zealand . (they go free up to ten words); to bank' notes being seat in open packets ; to unpaid letters and packets being detained and sent back to the writers ; to the abolition ot the intercolonial cypher and mess«ges vbejng sent ■. ab ■ single rates ; to 'limiting -the^nuraber'o£' words v.of' prepe,

The Government) have received a circular from ,the Colonial Office covering correspondence between the Chinese Ambassador in London. The ambassador asks the Prime Minister to recognise the general principle of the appointment of Chinese Consular agents in Her Majesty's dominions, assuring him at the same time thab in the case of accord, the Chinese Governmenb does not intend at present to take advantage of ib to any greab extent by applying for " Exequators," bub only to apply for them as circumstances may require. Lord Salisbury replies that as a matter of principle Her Majesty's Government will be prepared to grant exequators to Chinese Consuls, bub must reserve the free exercise of discretion in this respecb in particular cases when local considerations may afl'ecb the principle. Lord Knutsford's circular intimates that Her Majesty's Government believes thab colonial governments may be disposed to accede and asks if thab is the case, and considers that as their restrictions upon Chinese immigration have placed that question on a definite footing, commercial and other considerations render it desirable to maintain good relations with China by making concessions to the feelings of that country in other matters.

The Hon. A. J. Cadman, Native Minister, had a mosb cordial welcome on his arrival at Otorohanga on April Ist, amongst the chiefs present being :—Wahanui, Taonui, Te Kanawa, Te Aroa, Tβ Naunau (Ngatimaniapoto tribe), Hone Kaore Taenua (Ngatihikairo tribe), Hitiri Paerata, i Hauraki Hapapa, Kerekeha, Tβ Heuheu, Ngatiraukawa (Te Wharetoa tribe). The natives were strongly urged by Mr John Omsby to remove all restrictions from the King Country lands, and allow them to be passed through the Native Land Courb. He also spoke of the desirability of simplifying the native land laws, and reduction iiT stamp duties on native land transactions. He pointed oub the necessity for unanimity in their demands for roads and bridges, and said, with reference to legislation, that if the Maoris would carefully decide what was suitable and with unanimity, the Government would be bound to entertain their proposals, subject to a minute investigation, when, in all probability, suitable legislation would result. Under the present land laws their lands were squandered in disputation, and they were largely to blame for their own disagreements. The natives should settle their own disputes, and appeal to the Court only to ratify their bargain. He could nob see any reason why the Government should pay Maori surveyors, being of opinion thab every man should pay the cost of his own surveys. As to the acquirement of land for settlement, Mr Cadman explained thab the natives were on exactly the same footing as Europeans. They had asked for a doctor, and he informed them that they must find their own medical adviser, as Europeans did. Hβ also indicated the legislation proposed by the Government affecting native land matters, and expressed himself confident thab a better state of things would be brought aboub by the adoption of his proposals. GOVERNMENT POLICY BILLS. The following are bheprincipal Bills which the Government propose to introduce next seasien :— Legislative Council Reform, Consolidation and Amendment of *he Electoral Laws, 'Boards of Conciliation, Native Lands and Wesb Coasb Settlement Reserves, Public Trust Office Bill (to be founded on the report of the Commission), Labour Bills (Truck Employers Liability, Factory and Shops). The Cabinet will be engaged on the con-sideration-of these measures next- week. The Electoral Bill is intended to complete the " one man one vote" system, by applying ib to bye-elections, and requiring a voter to register in one district only. A public holiday is to be declared on the day of the general election to give every man a chance of voting. After the election the roll is to be purged' by taking off the jnaues of every man who did nob vote. This step, it is anticipated, will induce every man who can to vote. Every facility will be given for the registration of electors, A Bankruptcy Bill will also be introduced. An advisory council is now engaged drawing up a scheme of classification of the Civil Service.

It haa been thought advisable to bring in a iresh Bill on the subject, though the power already exists under old Acts.