POLITICAL NEWS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7777, 3 February 1891, Page 6

POLITICAL NEWS.

[FBOlf OUB CORRESPONDENT.]

. - [By Telbobapb.] [fb6m otjr cobbbSponjxent]. WELLINGTON Febrnaiy 2. Ministers met in Cabinet early this afternoon, but adjourned to bid goodbye tomanyniembers of Parliament who left by steamer. Cabinet then resumed, and sat until nearly 6 p.m. The business dealt with related chiefly to matters of a departmental nature, excepting that a tender at £17,000 was accepted for the Porirua Lunatic Asylum on the urgent representation of the Inspector (Dr. McGregor) that the work was absolutely necessary, and wouldoiot admit of delay. A report found currency to-day that an opinion of the Chief Juetice, dated seventeen years back, had been unearthed to the effect that unless one Act should have passed through all stages in both Houses no honorarium could legally be paid to members, and that the sums paid for the late session would have to be refunded by the recipients. On enquiry, however, I am informed that this report is based on a misconception, tne mere introduction of a Bill ODly being required, which it will be remembered was done. The Controller-General saw no reasou for declining to pass the vouchers so loug as these bore the signature of the Speaker, and they were passed accordingly. Mr Ward, who is at present acting as Postmaster-General, will have to go South earlier than he anticipated, probably on Wednesday, and Mr Ueeves goes to Wanaranui for a day or two to open the Girls' High School, as Minister of Education. . .

I understand that, a Boyal Commission will bb aDpointed very shortly to enquire into the administration of the Public Trust Office, to report on the department generally. Although the question of further appointments to the Legislative Council has not yet {been formally discussed in Cabinet, it is understood that Ministers are practically determined not to make any fresh appointments until a measure shall have beeu carried for the reform of the Council, unless by any systematically Obstructive attitude the Council should render strong measures inevitable, which is not anticipated. I don't know whether it is generally understood that the Government have supplies until 30th June as usual instead of their being limited to 31st March, as in the case of their prt decessors. The intervention of the session has rendered the restrictive clause in last year's Appropriation Act inoperative, and so the usual extension of supplies for three months beyond the financial year takes its regular effect. Hence, so far as supply is concerned, Parliament need not meet until June.

It will be remembered that the late Government intended to appoint a Royal Commission on the Civil Service direcdy after the general election if this proved favorable. I understand it is improbable that any Commission will be appointed by the new Government. The matter has not yet been considered, but Ministers individually do not see any necessity for another Civil Service Commission or any wurrant for incurring so heavy an expense in view of what has already been done. It is not yet decided whether the Bill introduced last year by the lato Government will be taken up, or whether it will be brought in in a modified form, or whether an entirely new measure will be drafted. This will be considered when the more pressing matters have been dealt with.

The Premier has written to Sir George Grey asking him whether he will be able to attend the Federation Conference next month, but has not yet received any reply. No decision will be come to as to, the representation of New Zealand on that occasion, until it shall have been ascertained whether or not Sir George Grey can go. One representative will, of course, be a member of the Legislative Council, and ie is virtually certain that Sir Harry Atkinson, as Speaker of that body, will in the first place be asked to go. Should he not feel equal co the exertion, another Legislative Councillor will be chosen. This will not id any case be the AttorneyGeneral. Mr Buckley, as Minister, cannot possibly leave the colouy before next session. ' . ■. '

WELLINGTON, February 2. A deputation, consisting of Messrs Perceval, Fish, Dawson and PiakerCoa, waited on the Premier on Saturday to ascertain the intention of the Government regarding the Labor Bills of last session. These are the Employers' Liability, Factories and Shop Hours, Truck and Mechanics Lien Bills. The Hon. Mr JBallance said he intended to introduce all these measures in the early part of next session, so chat they might be referred to a Select Coinmitcee. He also stated that he hoped to introduce a Strikes and Conciliation Bill, which he expected to have ready in a month or six weeks' time, when he would forward a copy to all the members of the House, as well as to all the Unions. The deputation suggested that it might be well for one delegate from each of the Trades tTnious to meet in conference in Wellington to discuss the provinious of this measure, and that the Government might fairly provide a passage for the members of the Conference, to which the Premier replied that if the Unions made such application he would favorably consider it. Mr Perceval drew the attention of the Premier to the necessity of a clause being introduced into the Factories Bill providing for the inspection of accommodation upon stations for station hands, which he had been informed was very inadequate. The Premier promised to consider the matter.

The vexed question of the disputed titles to, and the future dealing with, Native lands, now gives promise of some settlement. A Commission, consisting of Messrs Bees, member for Auckland, and Carroll, member for the Eastern Maori District, has been appointed by Government to visit the whole of the Native tribes in the North Island and report on the exact state of the law in all cases. It is hoped that the result of their investigations will be the passing of a law which will in future avoid all such complications as have occurred in the past and and will enable the whole of the Maori lands to be thrown open for settlement. Some' two months of the present recess will be occupied, with, their mission. The Commissioners start from Wairoa, then go to the East Coast, and next proceed to Auckland from Gisborne back to Taufanga, and then through the King Country to Taranaki, Wanganui, Wellington and Wairarapa.

(PBESS ASSOCIATION TKLEGBAM.)

WELLINGTON, February 2. The Minister for Education intends to inquire into the relations of industrial schools to Charitable Aid Boards, and into the present position of Native schools, and complaints have also reached him regarding the inconvenience and expense of: the arbitrary charges in school books, which will engage his attention along with the question of a uniform system of books for the whole colony..