POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10384, 29 June 1899, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

3_---fXmA-?H.] ■-■■•'■ '.""S (_*»om b*<ra si-sbui* W-__-_sspo_*i>knt.K '.;'' WEUINGTON, -oirt 28. ';' '• . GOyEBNMENT CAUCUS.. The caucus of the Government party, held . this morning was attended by thirty mem- • •-'-_ bers, the balance of the party being.accounted for. Mr J. Hutcheson was invited, but did not attend. An official report of tne proceedings was supplied to th« Press representatives by, the Government whip, and from this it appeared that the Premier delivered a lengthy oration complimenting the parly on its strength in the country. *. As to the motion, he saad ne had fully expected it, but any of them could see how frail it was, and that it was only done to either compromise a member who might have been rasher outspoken without wxe full particulars of tha marine scandal before him, or to catch his vote in a division. If the Government had supported a Parliamentary Committee of enquiry, then; tho Opposition would iiava ridiculed any other tribunal than a Royal Commission. Now it served their purpose to take the opposite , view. The Government had nothing to fear, and would be only too willing to widen the scope of the Committee Bet up. All tney wanted was a thorough investigation into the matter, and those who denied it must take the responsibility. Tbe report of the Commission would, no ■ doubt, be in the hands of members within five weeks. The .party, according to tbe waicaal report, waa unauimous in its dear© to got on" with the political work of tho session, but was quite prepared to answer and refute any charges which might'be brought forward by the Opposition. THE WANT OF CONFIDENCE MOTION. The general ouuiion seems to be that the Goveant-me-rt wilt have a majority -of about four on the present nb-oontidence motion. It is doubtful if the Opposition desire more ' than this. Such a vote is sufficient to.show tho strength of tho case the Opposition.have . 1 made out- against the-administration of.'tUa Government, and tho gradual breaking up oi , the Mii-isteriai party.- Sev_ral Mim*'- , terialists will probably decline to vote,- which ' is morally as direct a condemnation of the ' Government as mi adverse vote. - It is * ' change to find the ."Times" speaking of "the . thoroughly organised and fit condition of the Opposition forces, contrasted with tbe unprepared stateof'the AJ_inißtcria_st*~'' MR JOHN HUTCHESON. . • Members have been wondering-how M* John Hutcheson, the senior member for Wellington, will vote on Rueseil's amendment. Mr Hutcheson, however, says he is in no dilemma, and he entertains no doubt as to tlie course he should pursue. He has throughout urged that the fullest and most exhaustive enquiry should be held into the oircumstonces of tlie Marine Scandal, and he will therefore have no hesitatdoh in recording his vote for the Opposition amendment. SIR JAMES PRENDERGAST. Mr George Hutchison, while commending the appointment of Sir Robert Stout to the position of Chief Justice, expi-essed regret that when tlie Government were making appointments to the Legislative Council, Sir James Prendergasfc had been overlooked. Mr.Hutch.son mentioned that Sir James had proved himself to be a distinguished jurist, and had retired from the Bench with, his mental powers still unimpaired.' Mr Hutchison thought it was a pity that the assistance of such an able and, distinguished gentleman v should be lost ' to the colony. It" may bo that the Government will not forget tlie suggestion later on in the year. CONCILIATION BOARDS. Judging from the expressions of opinion voiced by members of the Legislature identified with the Labour movement, both inside and outside the House, it is not improbable that the amendment to the Industrial and Conciliation Act promised by the Premier will include 1 a provision for doing away with the Boards of Conciliation. These bodies are viewed with disfavour by" all sections of the community, more particularly by Trade Unionists, for the work accompiished by them in the past has been infinitesimal, and besides has involved the country in considerable expenditure. In the Council to-day Mr Rigg suggested in their place a general "Conciliator" (at a regular salary, of course) who would travel round the poun- ' try mediating between employers and employed, and who, in event of settlement being impossible, would sit to adjudicate on the points in dispute, with locally selected assessors. THE CO-OPERATIVE SYSTEM. Mr Gilfedder, a> strong supporter of.j-ie Government, is opposed .to the co-operative system. Public works should, he says, be tendered for. At present • co-operative labourers had got an idea that they were Civil servants. Mr Gilfedder added, that he was in favour of borrowing h_df-a*_-_il-lion a year for the next ten" years.- ' ' Mr Taylor is enquiring whether the abecadonment of the co-operative system in connection with the construction of the- Parliamentary Library is an indication that the | Government is abandoning the principle generally .so far as public works are concerned. THE POLICE.COMMISSION. ' I Mr Taylor has given notice to ask the ■ I Premier whether Messrs Wardell, Pitt, and > Poynton, members of the Police Cbrnmission, were paid fees for every Sunday during the period covered by the investigation, - ahd 1 why Colonel Pitt was permitted to draw > payment at the rate of £3 3s a day for the time he was absent from the Commission - attending to private business in Nelson? : Also, why Messrs Wardell and Poynton : were not treated alike in regard to payment > for their services, and what reasons there j were for paying Mr Wardell £3 3s & day in addition to his pension of. £171- 7i» 7d for - the period he was connected with the Com- , mission, whilst Mr Poynton was paid only £1 Is a day during the sittingsof the Com- ; mision in addition to his salary as Stipen- : diary Magistrate. J PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE. The Public Trustee, in his report to the j Colonial Treasurer concerning the affairs of the office under his charge, states that the x position of the institution is in every way e satisfactory. It is stated that, not--3 withstanding' the fall in interest, the , general complaints as to the diffig culty of finding satisfactory investments, and 2 the fact that many of the old securities a which were bearing a higher rate of interest g than that ruling have now fallen in, tabus earnings of the Office have been such as , enabled it to maintain the rate of interest i hitherto paid to clients in respect of moneys I in the common fund. The Public Trustee e staites that the present offices are inconvenient, expensive and unsatisfactory in every •; way. ■ That- the public confidence in" the „ office is inclosing is said to bo shown by the e increased number of -estates that are voluntarily placed'under it-".ea_-» for 742 persons now living have appointed the Public Trustee j executor of their wills. ' A statement of the ~ revenue for the year ending March 3ist shows that this reached' £19,137 8s lOd, the balance, over expenditure being £4014 17s 7d. The I salaries, commissions and payment for audifc- ~ ing during the year'amounted to £9264 14s e 4eu