LATE POLITICAL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5227, 23 May 1888, Page 3

LATE POLITICAL.

[PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER.]

i Wellington, This day. [ FINANCIAL STATEMENT. i Tho Premier was absent from the House ■ last night putting final touchos to his ! Financial Statement, preparatory to submitting it to the Cabinet. It is highly ■ probable that the Budget proposals will be submitted on Friday night, and in tho meantime matters political are in a state of stagnation. 'FRISCO MAIL SERVICE. The Government will submit proposals for a new 'Frisco mail service, to take effeot after tho conclusion of the extended period of the present contract, before the close of the session. The Premier informs Mr Peacock that arrangements for an extension of the present contract for twelve months are practically concluded. EDUCATION. The question of the abolition of Education Boards has engaged tho attention of the Minister for Education, who, is convinced that in tho interests of tho system it is desirable that the boards should be dono away with, and that tho Department should take over the entire funotions of administration and inspection. It ia considered that thus tho disadvantages of the permaucnt residence of inspectors iv ono particular district will be removed, and the whole system of inspection will bo placed on a moro satifaotory footing. DEFRAUDING THE CUSTOMS. It appears that about 270,0001bs of tobacco is grown within the colony annually. Of this yiold only about G7,0001b is accounted for at the Customs Department, so that it is evident tho difference escaping the excise duty must be something considerable. The authorities suspect that some of the tobacco may be purchased by tobacconists in large towns, and mixed up with the imported weed in their cutting machines. In order to prevent the evasion of tho payment of the duty in future, tho Commissioner of Customs is drafting a bill to amend the Tobacco Act of 1879 in the directiou of giving the Customs officers bettor means of ascertaining what has becomo of the tobacco _jrown iv the colony. JOTTINGS. Mr Perceval is asking for a committee of tho House to report on tho best form of local self-government. Native policy bills will bo introduced by tho Government to-day. Mr Monk wants tho Government to suspend the works scheduled in the Loan Act till tho financial condition of tho colony is more elastic, and invest the borrowed monies for twelve months. Steps are being taken by Ministers for establishing a police superannuation fund, and'a goneral sehemo will be submitted this session. Mr Turnbull says tho colony i 3 blooding to death owing to the weekly departure of a largo number of its people/ Mr O'Cullaghan is urging for penalties on so-called faith healers. Mr Wilson intends asking leave of absence for Captain Russell for six weeks on uceount of ill health. A petition was presented from the Grey Valley Miners' Association, asking for duty oti importations of coal. On the Premier's motion, it was resolved that the House, on its rising to-day, do adjourn till Friday. The Government havo decided they cannot send a Minister to tho Chincso Conference, but will send a delegate.