PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 214, 9 September 1891, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN REPORTER.)

Wellington, this day. AGENT-GENERALSHIP.

bie understood that no announcement in Jprd to the appointment of Mr as Ajrent-Qoneral will be made unti 1 aftei She end of the present session, the lection will nevertheless pract«celly be Secided upon. Mr Perceval's «PP™™£ will create a vacancy in W hich will be contested by Montgomery fbrmerlT member for Akaroe, #ho wi» * candidate ia the Governmen rmter he will be opposed by Mi U. v." > , . ter. in the Opposition interos.l-h- ;- ---mentioned as the mostP Probe'"a °' c '" ifcteea Mr .Perceval as Chairman of ComanMee.. FOOTBALL ACCIDENTS. Senfc to bring in a Bill this session with a Tiew to minimise these accidents The Colonial Secretary replied that at this late neriocl of the session the Government would not bring in a measure as indicated by the Hon. E. Shrisnski. ELECTORAL BILL. Tbe Legislative Council was furnished with an interesting subject* of debate yesterday afternoon, on the motion for second reading of the Electoral Bill. Attention was mainly directed to the abolition of the nroperby qualification, and exception was nretty generally taken to manhood suffrage pure and simple being made the 8010 qualification. The second reading of the Bill was finally agreed to, and its committal fixed for this afternoon. PENNY POSTAGE CARRIED. The Post Office Amendment Bill, which •provides for penny postage within the colony, and a halt-penny newspaper postage to Australia, and a more liberal proTision than exists at present for the issue of postal notes, passed through its final itages in the House last evening, the only dissentient voice raised being that of the member for Dunedin. The Bill passed through "Committee without amendments, end the final stage on the voices. The reduction of the postage will come into eperation on March 31st. NEAT INTERCHANGE OF COMPLIMENTS. Tbe Premier, last evening, complimented the Hon. Mr Rolleston on his appointment to the leadership of the Opposition. Mr Rolleston, in reply, thanked the Premier for the kindly expression of goodwill to which he had just given utterance, end assured him that it was accepted ir« the same epirib in which it was offered. He assured the Premier and Government that no effort would be wanting on his part and on the part of those with whom he (Mr Rolleston) was associated to exercise that feeling of fair criticism and healthy censorship of all acts of administration, which was a necessary lafegnard of all administration under the system of party government.

INSPECTOR OF PRISONS. There was a rather sharp attack on the salary of Colonel Hume, Inspector of Prisons, which stood at £700. Mr Fish moved to reduce it by £200, as an expreseion of opinion that a change was required, and that the duties should be, entrusted to a police officer. Inspector Broham he thought would be "a very suitable man. The Detence Minister pointed out but Hume heia other offices, and had •voluntarily surrendered £100 a year, while he was now saving £425 a year through his having taken the duties of Under-Secretary for Defence. Several members, amongst "xhem Captain Ptussell, late Minister of Justice, considered Colonel Hume had had too many offices thrust upon him. The motion was lost by 24 to 10, whereupon Mr Fish declared that as it was evident that no was to be made this session, lie would not try to make any more reductions. He roundly reproached members for being false to the pledges of economy to, their constituents. Though several hours were spent over it, the Justice Department vote of £102,396 was passed unreduced. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM. The amendments made by the House in the Legislative Council Reform Bill were considered by the Upper House last evening , . The amendment fixing the minimum age of members at 21 was disagreed with, and a -proposal to reduce the term of office from 10 to 7 years was rejected by 13 to 10. The other amendments made by the House, including the amendment making the Bill retrospective, to make the Speaker elective, and leave of absence amendments, were also agreed to, and a new clause providing for tho retention by ex-members of certain privileges wae agreed to. Hone. Pollen, Miller, Whitinore and Stevens were appointed the managers to draw up reasons for disagreeing to the amendments made by the House of Representatives on the questions remaining in dispute. OCEAN MAIL SERVICE. The consideration of the estimates was commenced ajt 10 o'clock last riighfc, and the tote under the head of postal and telegraph department) passed without debate until the vote of £29,491 for conveyance of mails 'by sea was reached. In answer to a question asked, the Postmaster-General stated that from information the Government had at present, he thought it was uofc likely that any arrangement could be made for the Vancouver mail service. Proposals were, however, under consideration for the establishment of a fortnightly service with San Francisco, making Auckland and Wellington the alternate ports of call. Instead of being paid by subsidy, the J contractors were now to be paid by weight of letters carried. Last year this service resulted in a profit to the colony of £7,466, and this year there would also be a great! profit. The Government intended to ask the United States Government to allow New Zealand to utilise British steamers in convoying our mails .so that they should "not pay a subsidy to foreign steamers. In the debate that followed exception was taken to secondclass steamers being employed between Manukau and West Coast ports. The Postmaster-General said inquiry would be made and if necessary he would see tbat a better class of steamers was employed. Mr Jas. Mills further explained thab the class of steamers employed had to depend to some extent on the New Plymouth harbour. Mr Buchanan urged that cool chambers should be insisted upon in the 'Frisco mail steamer?, but it was pointed out that such provision would be made by the contractor directly they were assured thab a sufficient quantity would be exported to justify the outlay involved. A proposal Was made by Mr Rhodes to reduce the total Vote by £5 as an indication that the San service should nob be continued, »nfc this proposal waa pretty generally con- • valuable testimony being borne to the usefulness of the San Francisco lervice on both sides of the House. The fcotion was lost on the voices, and the vote Passed as printed, and the whole vote of Postal and Telegraphic Department, €255,000, passed without reduction.

NATIVE LEGISLATION". There was a lively meeting of the Native ft-ffairs Joinb Committee to-day, when, Seepite Minister's protest, it was deiided, on Mr Taiaroa's motion, by "to 3, not to proceed with any dative legislation this session. Mr Rees .* rampant at the decision come to, and SXomisea to make things warm in the

House when the Committee's report is presented. VAILE'S RAILWAY SCHEME. In the House yesterday afternoon as an amendment to going into Committee of Supply Mr Rees moved : 1. Thab seeing ib is a matter of paramount importance to secure the most efficient method of administering the public railways of the colony, this House is of opinion that the Vaile system should be fairly tried prior to the expiration of the Government Railways Act, 1887. (2) Thab the said system should be tried upon the Auckland railways under the- direct supervision of Mr Vaile. Speaking at great length, Mr Reea said Mr Vaile'a system as applied to the New Zealand railways had been worked oufc by the Government railway accountant, Mr Fife, and showed good financial results by adopting the stage system as against mileage, within ten milue of centres of population. Mr E. M. Smith seconded the amendment. He had promised tho electors of his district to give his voice and support to a trial of Vaile's system. Sir George Grey aaid thab Mr Vaile was possessed of great ability, and had devoted time and labour to this question. Oursystem wasaslavish adoptionof thoEnglish system, but it should be borne in mind that in England railways were in tho handa of private companies, and not of Government. The freer railways were made to the public the better. The amendment was lost by 30 to 21. AUCKLAND WORKS PROPOSALS. There is general dissatisfaction on the part of the Auckland members with the Works Statement, and Mr Palmer is endeavouring to arrange a meeting to 1 protest; against the general allocation of funds. Mr Houston, Mr R. Thompson and Mr Palmer this morning waited as a deputation on Mr Seddon to complain of taking away tho vote for the Helenaville extension, and applying it to works on the West Coasfc. These members charge the Minister with a breach of faith in j having broken a promise to bring in an enabling Bill to enable moneys already allocated to be speub in the North Auckland railway. JOTTINGS. Tbe Legislative Council has struck out of the Mines Bill the clause which provided for eight hours being a day's labour. The Council has passed the second reading of the Dentists Act Amendment Bill and the Selectors' Land Revaluation Bill. Additional petitions setting out claims to receive land for military services have been presented on behalf of John Hill and E. Clark, of Auckland. A sum of £33,000 estimated for payment of pensions, etc., under the Civil Service Act, 1866, for the past financial year, is made up as follows :—Pensions, £23,000 ; compensation for loss of office, £6,000; gratuities to widows, £4,000. Replying to a question yesterday, the Minister of Lands said he proposed to goon with tho Land for Settlement Bill this session. The Government will nob have time to deal with the question of licensing tobacconists this session, bub will consider tbe matter in the recess, and legislate on the subject next year if it ahouid be found advisable, The Premier has informed Captain Russell that no good could be accomplished at this late stage of the session by the sotting up of the Committee to inquire into Edwards' petition, and as the case is pending in the Law Courts, ib would be irregular to appoint a Committee to look into it.