Political Notes.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5928, 5 September 1890, Page 2

Political Notes.

[FEOM OOTS PABIiIAHENTABY EEPOETKB.]

[by tklegbaph.]

Wellington, Last night.

THBEAT3 AND MOLESTATION BIMi,

The threatened conflict between the union and free labor hands accounts for the introduction of the Threats and Molestation Bill in the Legislative Council at the present crisis. In moving its first reading to-day tho Hon. Dr. Pollen explained that he had uot introduced the Bill for the purpose of haying it passed this session, but with the object of having it circulated throughout the country in order to affosd the people- a chance of coming to a decision on the question. It was the same measure aa introduced by the Hon. P. "A. Buckley in 18S5, which passed through the Upper House but was dropped in the other Chamber by the Premier. The Hon. Mr Buckley said ho was glad to have tho opportunity of freeing his esteemed friend Sir R. Stont of the odium which had been east on him in connection with the measure. The Bill, when introduced in.1885, was not a Govern--ment one, nor was it introduced at the instance of the Government of the day, hut ou account of certain members of Parliament who had thought it of such a character that it ought to be passed. He took upon himself the whole responsibility of that Bill, and wished to free his then colleagues of any odium which might have- .%, attached to them in connection with it. Sir R. Stout had nothing to do with the measure, and knewnothing about it till heft ho speaker) went down to the Lower House. Tho present Bill having reached the initial stage, will not bo further proceeded with this season. TUB END OF TIIE SKSSION. Permission to sit on Saturday looks liketbo beginning of the near end. Monday will bo probably devoted to the ocean mail resolutions, and Tuesday to the consideration of the Federation proposals. The prevailing impression now is that another week will sco the prorogation, and the close of the tenth Parliament.

The decision como to by the managers to a freo conference on the Coroners' Inquest thUhas not met with the approval of the members of the Legislative Council, and a further conference is likolv to be asked The proposal was to reduce payment to five shillings per day and three shillings where I KthT 3Uriorawasonly re l uiredfor

HON. DE. V OLLEN'S CLAIM. A specially summoned meeting of the I übhc Accounts Committee is to be held tomorrow to consider claims to arrears of pension made by the Hon. Dr. Pollen This member of tho Legislative Council'was a Minister whon tho Disqualification Act of A T5 8 ,? as !! ed \ , Findi «S that he could not hold his Auckland Government Ajjencv and be at the same time a Minister, be re' signed his former position, and claimed his pension. The pension was granted from the date of his resignation, but ho has since claimed that he had a pension in 1875 when he could have resigned, hut refrained from delicacy in his position iv, Premier He could, however, if defeated aa Minister during this period, have gone backtohig agency The Public Accounts Committee rojeotcdthuckm iv ISSI, and again in 1636. It is now referred to them by the Colonial Treasurer, but some of tho members object stvoiißly to being a.am troubled with tho matter, and think the petitioner like any other claimant, ihjuld petition the House direct.

HON. G. JfCXKAN ASH IHE IABOB DISPOTa,

Brief reference to tho labor disputes was again made in tho Legislative Council by the Hon. G. McLean this afternoon. _j Q ferring to the Threats and Molestation Bill" which was being read a first time, he said the same measure was introduced in 1885 at his instance, an/1 on that occasion, when wings wero quiet, every member of t\Y Council and about four-fifths of tho m hers of tho Houso of Representativns J7?~ in favor of it. Tho Bill was __?"• r ° •-, j i-t i , uot a onesided one. Employers and cmploves alike amenable to its provisions -m,i Wefo at the ptesait time he thought nn iT"*' would be done by passing C_£^

might be wise to defer it. He thought he had tho confidence of the people of the country in tho present difficulty, and be believed that those who had caused this commotion, when they came fully to realise the position they were taking up, would be very much ashamed of themselves. THK OBSTRUCTING FISH. What was regarded by members on both sides of tho House as a " stonewall" address was made by the representative of Dunedin South on tho Gisborne Harbor Board Bill this evening. Tho hon. member for Dunedin South objected to itscommittal being pressed on before tho Houso had time to study its provisions, and said that if the Gisborne Harbor Board bad not the moral courage to levy the extra rate required, they must, liko other insolvent bodies, make default or seek tbe protection of tho Bankruptcy Court. Twice ho was called to account by the Speaker for the line of action he was adopting, aud thou he appealed to the Government, who had taKen up tho measure, to postpone its consideration for a day or two; but they were deaf to Mr "Fish's entreaty, and the Minister for Lands, with cutting irony, reminded the hon. gontleman that he was not tbe whole House, though ho appeared to think ho was. Despite his threat of what he would do if his wishes were not complied with, he must recollect that ho did not represent everybody in Parliament. " Quite right," replied MiFish, m his characteristic style, " If 1 represented the whole Houso I know what I would do with this Bill, and with the Government; they would not stay on those benches two minutes." An all night sitting which was threatened was averted by Mr Bryceconveving to the member for Duuedin South, the intelligence that an arrangement had been come to that as soon as the Bill was permitted to get into Committee progress should bo reported, and the committal stage deferred till next day. With this assurance Mr Fish resumed his seat, and as soon as the Bill got into Committee amotion to report progress was agreed to. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. The discussion of the Public Works Estimates raised afresh the old question of the promised extinction of the Public Works Department. Tn answer to questions on the subject, the Minister for Public Works said the Government had been too sanguine in .apposing that tbey would be able to aoohsli the Department altogether There would always be works going on that necessitated the employment of an engineering staff under whatever name it existed. Ihe present Midland railway contract was au example. It involved work and correspondence' t'» perform which it was necessary to have officers to protect the interests. Mr R Thompson admitted it would be necesiarv to keep an engineering st-ift', but did not see why there need bo one which cost £11 000 a year. The Minister assured tho House that the Government would reduce the staff as the public works fell off. JIiOQUABIE ISLANDS. The Tasmanian Government are quite willing that tbe Macquarie Islands should be vested in New Zealand, and our Government will present a resolution to bo.,h Houses of Patliament early next in that direction. Immediately the resolution i 8 forwarded to the Imperial Government. the islands will be handed over to this colony. SEALS AND SEAllttim PROTECTION. The Government were strongly urged a couple of weeks ago by the PubUcP-ntions Committee to tPke »t*i« tor the belle »iotection offals and seabinis on the islands against marauder*. Ihey now „,d that legislation is not needed, but a large protection c.n be given by means of regulations, ana action will be taltLii accordingly. THK H3TIMATK3. 411 Hie .'imeril estiumt.es for the current vearhave r m»w been de.lt with. ineffective atl.cks were made by M. 1: i-h upon those.'t the Cu-toms and Mmnel eplrtment.but all hi* proposals tor redu - timv were neg.U ved by largo majorities. Another day should .suffice for dealing with the Supplementary Estimates.

ASSISTED IMMIUUATION

Some discussion took place when con,u erinir the Public Works 12-timates upon the vote of £2000 .etduwn for asMstcd imm.graturn. This, it was explained, was omv to be used for re-unimig separated families. Mr Goldie endeavored lo get ttio House to make a nominal deduction as an indication that the Government .hould not enter into fresh arrangements for imnugrat.on beyond the immigrants already arranged tor. 1 heHouse refused, however, by -So to 14, to give such direction. Poor Wellington : It* only public works vote for this year of £o,ouo which was to have brought its railway into the centre of the city at Te Aro, was s,,cr.heed by the House by _o to 18.

TIIE " SKINFLINTS" REDUCTIONS

When the "skinflints" and the member* Of the Opposition entered upon consideration of tbe Estimates they talked confidently of being able to make reductions to the tune of £70,000. Leaving out the Customs aud Public Works Estimates, the reduct.ons only total £44,019. This amount includes the'£34s ou the Government Insurance lie-ffitAoYCUrV-tfertoknockioOOOO ofi the total appropriations will be exceeded. SUTPLKirFHTABY ESTIMATES. The Supplementary Estimates will not be brought down to-day. The postal asked for will reach about .140000. Uu. principal item will be in ,:o.>nectio.i with a §_i.n by the Lyttelton Harbor Board for the goods Shed taken by the R.u way Commissioners. An attempt wulals-.be made to reinstr-te the sum of £50 docked from the heads of Departments when the Estimates were first under considsration.

CIVIL SEBVICK AND PUBLIC TUU3T OFFICK,

It is intended that the Royal Commission to be appointed to enquire into the Civil Service reorganisations and the Public Irust Department shall make exhaustive enquiries and it is hoped that as the outcome 0 t their Tabors the new Parliament will be able to effect very considerable savings. It is intended that three months shall be occupied u\ their investigations, and that besides the four centres, Invercarg. 1, Oamaru, lunar t Nelson, Napier, and New Plymouth shall be visited.