Political Notes.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5631, 16 September 1889, Page 2

Political Notes.

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I_BY TELEGRAPH.]

Wellington, Last night.

GOLDFIELDS COMJUTTiSE'S EEPOET

The Goldfields and Mines Committee report inter alia that a subsidy of £ be given by the Government in aid of prospecting for gold on meneys expended by County Councils, prospecting associations, or private parties, provided that all suck parties shall first be approved by tho local authorities, and than Ministers be requested to provide for the same in the supplementary estimates ; that, iv the opinion ef the Committee, the granting of more than one offer in. any one district to any company for special mineral licenses is JhVrt* - t0 m ° minh, S and llUßte S ofMineßbe pasted to instinct the wardens accordingly; that the Government BU b 9 idis 9 fodi bodies w M' a S a / e P res entative from Otago, Westland, and the Thnmee roldfielde to take charge of the mineral exhibits at Dunedm Exhibition ; and that the representatives send a report to the l oca i bod f es on fte himtios , that a worir dealing with elementary questions in geology, fining, &c issued for use in public schools in mining districts; that m order to encourage thf introduction of foreign capital, the Govern! ment should offer special facilities by Avay of ireedom from rent and taxation for a limited period of time, or in such other wav as they may deem desirable. The Committee are of opinion that the Government should undertake the smelting and assaying of gold, purchasing when required at their standard value all ingots so smelted and assayed. . They • recommend that the time for managers to obtain certificates of competency be extended for for twelve months, and in the interim the Government should alter and simplify the eysteui of examination in order that managers may be classified in accordance with their proficiency. They recommend the offering of a limited number of Bcholarships for competition among students at the Snhool of Minea as an incentive to youths in mining districts to qualify for mine managers, and think that the" evidence given before them by Mr Witheford respecting the development of goldfields and by Mr Luks respecting the treatment of refractory ores, should receive the serious attention of the Government without delay. In their opinion the system adopted by some companies in demanding exorbitant per centages from tribntera in lieu of fttlly manning holdings, which can be worked without pumpiug machinery, is detrimental to the mining interest, and should be discouraged by. the Government. The Committee further recommend that the Government be requested to prepare regidations for mining under foreshores, and make them as liberal as possible, as a large amount of capital is required to develope this class of mining.

TUB NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION,

Tho amendment to going into Supply, of which the Opposition leader gave notice in the early part of the week, having for its object an immediate dissolution of Parliament, was debated on Saturday evening. The Hon. Mr Ballance, in moving " That* in the opion of this House, it is expedient that there should be a dissolution of Parliament after the duo time has elapsed to arrange districts, and that the new Parliament should meet for the despatch of business as soon as possible after the expiration of the present financial year," explained that he did not bring the proposal forward as one of confidence, but the present Parliament had had three sessions, and it was evident that no useful work could be done till a change was effected by a fresh election. There had been complete failure to carry any complete measure of policy, and in his opinion the country had lost confidence in not only tho House but also tha Government. Public opinion had undergone a reaction against the reduction of the number of members, which had been the result of a political combination to place the power in the hands of tho wealthier classes; still, they were bound to accept that verdiot', and he wanted the country to say whether tho reduction should or should not be reversed.

The Premier treated Mr. BaUance's motion in a bantering tone, characterising it as an electioneering movement, and remarking that he had felt half inclined to second tho amendment as being a huge joke. Mr. Ballance knew that tho Government stood very well with the country, only he would not admit it. There was no doubt at all that it was the Opposition that was out of touch with the country. The Government had been blamed for not passing more legislation, but tbeStatuteßooks were already far too cumbersome, and the Government should get credit for the way its executive functions had been carried out. They had been taunted with having no policy, but no Government had ever come into office with a clearer i>oli(.y, for they had undertaken to reduce expenditure, to reduce the number of members, to limit the loan expenditure, and to restrict borrowing for public works. That tho Empire as well as the colony recognised their merits was instanced by tho present price of our bonds. What the country wanted was not fresh legislation, but careful administration, and political rest. Nowiser thing could be done by Parliament than to say "we will not meet for two years." (Laughter). Ho said that in all seriousness not a single reason for a dissolution had been advanced. It was certainly not the Government that was answerable for tho disorganisation of the House. It was the duty of tho Government to advise His Excellency on the question of a dissolution, and if they had thought only of themselves they might have tondered it several times this session, but a dissolution would not benefit the country in the slightest degree at tLe present time, and he hoped the House would not seriously entertain the proposal. Mr. Walker thought a dissolution should naturally follow an alteration in the adjustment of representation, and therefore he heartily supported Mr. Ballance's amendment. SELECTOBS LAJTD EE-VALUATION. BECIi. The free Conference on the Selectors Land Re-valuation Bill agreed to retain the amendment made by the House in Clause 1, making the measure applicable to village homestead and special settlements. PEOPEBTY TAX. ; The property tax for the ensuing year has again been fixed at one penny. ■ When the Property Tax Bill was in Committee on Saturday afternoon Mr Barron moved to reduce the tax to three farthings. The Premier pointed out that if the proposal were agreed to there would be a deficiency of £90,000 at the end of the year. It was unfair to bring forward such a motion so late in tho session, especially as a similar proposal had been rejected in the full House by a large majority. Sir George Grey supported the reduction of the tax, but Mr liallauce said he could not agree to the amendment, as a deficiency of £90,000 was too serious a question to force; still, he thought the tax should be reduced, as fbould also the taxation upon the necessaries of lif-3; as, for instance, the tea duty. The motion for tho reduction of the tax was negatived by 3G to IS. Just two to ono. LATE Jilt JIACANDIiEW'S DAUGIITKBS. On Saturday afternoon I advised you that the Hon. Air Larnach intended intercepting Supply by proposing a gratuity to thi> daughters of the late member for Port Chalmers. His motion "That, in the opinion of this House, £2000 should be granted to tho daughters of the late Mr Jas. Macandrew, £500 for the benefit of each daughter, by way of recognition of his long, faithful, and valuable public services to tho colony," was assented to on the voices. A GOVEENMEKT 00MPBI81SG ONE MAN. It has often been asserted that Sir H. Atkinson constitutes tho wholo of the Government, but such statements have generally como from the mouths of the enemy, and few people would have expected to hear it from the hon. gentleman's own lips. On Saturday night tho Premier was speaking , of the disorganisation of the House to which Mr Balliuiee had alluded, and ho plaintively added that no ono could feel that disorganisation more than he did, for the whole weight of it fell upon him. "On the Government," interrupted Mr Hutchison. "Upon me," eaid the Premier in correction; "aud when I epeuk of myself I peak not of an individual but of the Government." To say that tho whole House exploded with laughter is to mildly describe what followed. Sir Harry got out of the aitneulty by stating that he was pleased to sco las ban. friends amused, but anybody who know anything about Constitutional law must bo aware that whatever the Premier spoko of ho spoke for the Government. "WASTING TlltK. An attempt was made by Mr Hamlin on Saturday to intercept Supply with an amendment declaring " That, in tho opinion of this House, the next meeting of Parliament should be held in Dunedin. It should be held early in tho year to admit of members having an ample opportunity of visiting the Exhibition." Failing to catch tho Speaker's eye, and having to give way to Mr Ballance, the member for Franklyn South subsequently gave notice of motion amidst loud laughter.

This day. ME DISSOLUTION. Th nigh Mr Ballanoo's amendment for an immediate dissolution was negatived byh've votes, there tiro many members who still think tho Premier will ask for a dissolution during tho recess, and that a general election will be held about April or May. Messrs Goldie and Saunders, who have voted consistently with tho Government during , the session on policy questions, supported the amendment, and" it is understood that hail Messrs Ncvmtiu, Withy, and Menteatb. been present they would also have voted for tkc dissolution.