Political Notes.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5568, 4 July 1889, Page 2

Political Notes.

(FBOX OVa PAHIiUKKNTAEr BEFOBTKB.]

[BY TBLKOBATU.I

Wehimotos, Last night.

KKPHESENTA.TION BIU.

The new Representation Bill, which has jnst been circulated, repeals all existing statutes on tho subject, and re-enacts the provision in tho Act of 1887 that the next Parliament will comprise seventy members (besides the four nativo legislators) representing four electorates as follows :—The Northern District—Comprising the Auckland provincial district and returning 16 members; Central District—Wellington, Hawko'eßay, and Taranaki, 15 ; Midland District—Nelson, Marlborough, Westland, and Canterbury, 21; and Southern District —Otogo and Southland, 18. The Districts are to be cast after every census. Each candidate must be nominated in writing by not less than ton electors. There is to be an election officer for each electorate, and a returning officer for each subdivision, besides which two persons are to be appointed in caoh electoral district to act with the returning officer, as an election committee, to ascertain the result of the poll. Tho ballot papers nro to have a number on the back corresponding with the n timber on the counter foil, aud tho voter is to placo opposite tho candidates , names the cumbers 1, 2, 3, etc., in the order of his preference. A claimant, to vote must produce his elector's right before he can receive a ballot paper, and if it is defaced, tbo paper may bo withheld. The scrutineers may require the voter to sigu his namo in a book kept for the purpose for comparison witb the signature on tho elector's right. Each voter will havo only ono vote, which will be deemed given for the candidate opposite whoso namo the figure 1 appears, but it shall bo deemed transferable to the other candidates in tho order of'urlorlty'iliSlcateu"" by ths figures. The ballot papers are to be opened iv the presence of the election committee, or iv that of one or more Justices of the Poaoe. Havirr I ■:•■■! all mixed together, they are io uo drawn out of the box in succession and unfolded, numbered in arithmetical series, and placed face downwards. All those present are to sign, a form stating tho entire number of ballot papers received. The election officer is then to take charge of the operations. He is to reject all informal papers, and placo them in a separate parcel. The aggregate number of all unrejected papers is then to bo divided by the number of members to be- elected plus one, and to the quotient 1 is to be added, this result being the " quota." The papers are next to be sorted according to the names having priority in them, and every candidate who has a number of. first votes equal to the " qinta "is to be declared elected. The names of elected candidates are then to bo cancelled, and the papers to be transferred to tho candidates whoso names stand next in tho voters' preference. This process must be repeated until no candidate has inoro than a quota of first votes, or votes deemed first. If a sufficient number do not receive the quota iv this way, the candidate who receives tho smallest number of first votes is to bo declared not elected, and the votes indicated on his papers to bo given to those named nnxt in order. Each member is to be allocated to a particular division of the district in which bo is returned. Most of the other provisions in the bill are similar to the system now in force.

OUR BKPENCES.

A personal explanation was made by the Defence Minister this after ioon in regard to tho statement raado by Mr Hutchison on Tuesday night that Major-General Stowart had written a report condemning the defences of our chief ports. Ho found that no such report existed, but there was a memorandum from General Stewart which he proposed should bo read to tho House. This was objeoted to by tho Hon. Mr Bnllance, on the ground that it was a confidential matter which should not be generally known. Thie was denied by the Hon. Mr Fergus, who said that the whole tenor of the report was that General Stewart showed that tho colony should expend money in more largo guns to supplement our present armament, which, howover, he did not condemn. It was then proposed that the reading of the paper should not bo proceeded with, as it would bo unwise to proclaim to the whole world the incomplete state of our defences. This proposition was subsequently withdrawn, as the Minister for Defence assured the House that there was nothing of a confidential nature in the despatch. Hβ mentioned that MajorGeneral Stewart had never been in the colony, but he had acted for many years in tho selection of our military material. In this way he had rendered great service, for which he had been thanked through Sir William Jervois. The despatch in question said nothing at all about the four ports of the colony. General Stewart recommended tho purchase of guns of high velocity, bored out from others which had been returned to the ar.senal, so that they would take eightinch projectiles, and tho placing of two at Dunodin, two at Lyttelton, and two in ■Wellington and Auckland was not mentioned at all. The report was wholly in praise of our fortifications, and not nt all condemnatory ; . but General Stewart recommended Homeimprovementswhich would cost about £12,000, a sum ho was euro tho House would not vote.

UNFINANCIAI, FEIENDL"V SOCIETIES.

Somo stops are to be taken by Parliament to remedy the unsound state of those friendly societies whoso condition was adversely criticised by tho Registrar last week in a report which has caused a good deal of consternation amongst thoso concorned. Mr Qoldio broached the subject in the Houeo to-day, and was informed by tho Premier that tho Government are having a Bill prepared dealing with the subject. The question was, however, one of such difficulty that he intended to more for a select committeo to advise the Government in reference to it.

THE FISIHSR COEEESTONDENCIS.

Quito a warm quarter of nn hour was passed after the laying on the table of the Fisher correspondence. The Preraiorin bringing , it forward, said there were sonic matters which, he thought, should not form purt of the permanent record of the oolony, until, at any rate, it had gono bofore the Printing Committee. He, therefore! moved simply that it should bo laid on the table. At this stage Mr. Fisher entered the chamber from tho lobbies and asked whether it was permissible for tho Premier to send him a letter two hours ago and now lay the -whole correspondence on the table ? It would be most decorous for the hon. gentleman withdraw the correspondence till 2.30 next day, by which time he would undertake to reply. Mr. Turnbull thought the time of the country should not he taken up with a, squabble between the Premier and one of his late colleagues. If every communication called for further reply the correspondence promised to bo interminable, and he would

strongly object to its publication. Mr Bisher promised that his reply should be an exceedingly ehort one. There was a proper ' ." constitutional course in such cases, that the Premier ehould simply announce on Parlia- ' ment meeting that one of the Ministry had resigned .'or been dismissed, but instead of , *■ that he, began a correspondence, in which / he made charges of a most serious nature, especially when it was recollected that they '•■ were directed against an ex-Minieter It was shameful that the Premier should be permitted to slandsr him in a letter, and that these elanders should be merely given out for private circulation. The Speaker, Sir G. M. O'Rorke, eaid he could not allow slander to bo imputed. Mr Fisher proceeded to say that ho exceedingly regretted that the comspondenoe should have takm place, or that he had been a party to it. Hβ charged the Premier with having trifled with his feelings, and with not showing consideration for him or his family. The hon. gentleman must understand once for all that ie was not a man to be trifled with. . In refusing to allow the matter, to be put on record, he was taking a serious step, and it would take him many years to obliterate actions, The Premier said he and Mr. isher had written letter for letter, and any further ono would bfl beginning. , again of a correspondence. Mr. Fisher had ■ begun the series, and a letter which mis. represented facts, as he understood them, which were soattered broadcast all over the • °? y i • T^J^ 1 sttbstanee of it was printed in the Evening Post the same day as he the (Premier) received it, though represented to be a State document, and it appeared m full in a West Coast paper. Tho correspondence had not been oi his own ■< eeeking, for he had offered to withdraw his \ first letter, but Mr. Fisher refused The * correspondence should not be bound up with tho public records, not on his own aocount, though it was a disgrace to New Zealand, but because gross charges were made against public officers who had noopportunity of answering because secrets of the Cabinet were dealt with and lawrelv mjswpresented. Nothing would ever have been known of the correspondence if the hon. gentleman had not spread it about the colony. Everything he (the Premier) hid written could be substantiated, and it-was written in a oalm and judicial spirit, and with great pam. The motion thaifcthe cor. respondenee should be laid on the table was carried on the voices. The Premier having refused to allow the correspondence to be referred to the Printing Committee, Mr. Fisher moved in that direotion, and the ■ motion was Carried by 39 to 36. "■ ' J CONTBAOTOBS' GRIEVANCES. •!-:.;■ Contractors in various parts of the colony havo repeatedly had reason to complain of an unconscionable wrong. Deposits for Government tenders are retained owintr *- -- their being sent to Wellington, and beimflP delayed by red tapeism. With a view altering this state of things, Mr Goldie is ' to ask the Minister for Publib Works whether he will give instructions to local agents receiving tenders for works in the various provincial districts to open the same, and only retain the deposits of the two lowest tenderers, returning the deposits of the others at once, instead of sending tho whole to Wellington as at present done, thus preventing men of small means from competing for other works where a deposit is required. c VOIiTJKTEEH IBEHOTJIiABITT. The Defence Miuister denies that, there was any irregular Volunteer demonstration on the occasion of his recent visit to Queens- v town. It was reported, he says, that no parade took place, and therefore no feu de joie was fired, though he did hear the firing of some guns on the beach as tho steamer was approaching the Queenatown wharf. THK FBEMIEB FOBGETS HISBEXf.' For using an unparliamentary term respecting the member for Waitotara, the Premier was peremptorily called on to tender an apology this afternoon. The matter under discussion was a memorandum by MajorGeneral Stewart which had boon shown to Mr. Hutchison while he was on a visit to England during the rocess, and the con touts of winch he had disclosed to tho House on the previous ovening. Referring to his action in so doimr, Sir Harry Atkinson said that if tho hou. gentleman again went to London he would not be likely to got such information as ho had disclosed, and he had decided that no hon. jrentlcmon would act as Mr. Hutchison had. There were immediate cries of dissent, and demands from the Opposition benches for S> aii apology, and tbo Speaker at once ruled ' ' v the language unparliamentary, and demanded itci withdrawal. The Premier re- V plied that ho would make a most ample and unreserved apology to the Honse, and toMr-w-,. * Hutchison. That hon. gentleman's conduct, however, showed that he could not be trusted in public offices. He had no right to use a public document of whioh ,he ;£ad obtained possession to damage the colony Mr Turnbull denied that there was anything dishonorable in Mr Hutchison's action, while Mr Seddon deprecated tho personal tone the discussion had taken, and resented the Premior's remarks. : MISISTBBS' ALLOWAKCKS. In a debate on tho estimates the tone of tho House was clearly expressed as to the unwisdom of allowing: Ministers residing out of Wellington to draw house altowanoe. The discussion had boen promoted by Sir Goorge Grey, who objected to the AttorneyGeneral living in Auckland during the recess, and the principle he advocated found very general support. The member for * Auckland Central then gave notice tomovo.l •' That in the opinion of this House,! it is not desirable that house should bo paid to any Minister whodocs not reside at tho scat of Government." , This resolution came on to-night, but pro- [ yoked little discussion. The Premier de- , fended tho action of tho Government, but 3 the leader of tho Opposition warmly replied ' v° otion waa carried on .the voices, and 3 the Cabinet will now prepare a Bill to 3 amend tho Civil List Act, so as to comply I with the terms of the motion. j JOTTDfQS. , The Premier having given notice of > — , motion to appoint a committee to enquire t into the workuig of our Harbor Boards, at t tho suggestion of Mr Ross, Dock Trusts , will also be included wittin theaoopeof I their enquiries. ;_ 3 The Government do not intend to propose j any amendment to the Gaming and Lotteries , Act this session. Mr Richard Beeves ie [ however, taking action in the matter. : wl Bi .?? rd , Thoin Psont wants to know s whether it is the intention of the Govern, ment to introduce this session a measure i j fu w A* h * he Jaymeat of rates due under the District Railway Purohaeiiig Act , While recognising that in some oases . grent hardships may b.j entailed in beinjr : summoned to attend coroners' inries, tho , government do not propose providing for , the payment of fees to jurymen Mr Hutchison cays that a « comer " in coal has been formed on the West Coast to tho detriment of tho whole colony. Sydney Taiwlmnga is moWnir that the Omahu title dispute bo referred to a Maori Court of Arbitration. The Government have not yet determined whether to appoint an Engineer-in-Chief in succession to Mr Blackett. In the meantoe the work ie being done by the Assistant Engineer-m-Chief. A Bill will shortly be introduced by the Government to authorise the extenaion of themain lino of railway north of Auokland There is a strong opposition in the Legial fctive Council to the Medical PractitioHera Bill, and it will probably be thrown out Tho Hon. Mr Fergus says the Nelson encampment was the best oondubted, and /■ ita officers the most efficient in the colony H. Mr Samuel's Divorce Extension Bill ,/* passed its second reading to-night without > much opposition. There was a bare quorum during tho discussion, nnd little interest was seemingly paid to tbo question.