POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2087, 23 July 1901, Page 6

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From the Evening Star's Correspondent

WELLINGTON, July 16.

THE FISH INDUSTRY

The Premier, replying this afternoon to a deputation of Auckland members, who urged the continuance of the bonus on canned fish, said he would recommend the Cabinet to continue the bonus of a halfpenny per lb. He would also propose the appointment of a Select Committee to in-" quire into and report upon the fish industry in the colony generally, and upon the report of the' Committee would depend the question of prolonging the bonus beyond the current year

TEACHERS' SALARIES

With a view to bringing up their report this week, dailv sittings of the Conference of the Teachers' Salaries Commission are being held. It is believed that the report will be both comprehensive and valuable. On dit that the recommendations will be in the following directions : The staffing of schools throughout, the colony is to be generally increased, and the disparity between the salaries paid to men and women is to be greatly reduced. The scale will be so elastic that the Boards will be allowed great latitude in the selection and arrangement of the teachers on the staff. Probably the most important recommendation will go in the direction of increasing the capitation grant to £4 2s 6d, and a. suggestion will be thrown out that schools in outlying districts, with attendances from one "to twenty, should be granted capitation up to £5. It will be recollected that Mr Prvde. secretary of the Otago Education Board, expressed the opinion that, a £5 grant would meet the case of the most scattered schools. As to teachers of small schools, salaries up to about £l4O will probably be equalised, so far as sexes are concerned. OUR RELATIONS WITH FIJI.

Mr W. J. Napier asked the Government if they were aware of an ordinance that had lately been passed in Fiji imposing hj penalty on anyone who caused any Fijian to be "disaffected towards the Government there. The Premier replied that he was surprised to receive a copy of the ordinance in question. The Secretary of State for the Colonies, in a communication, had stated that no change in the Constitution of Fiji should take place without the Fijians being consulted, and yet this ordinance had been passed at a few hours' notice. New Zealand was, he contended, greatly interested in affairs in Fiji, and such a state of things now prevailed that the onlv way was for the Parliament of New Zealand to at once ask the Imperial Government for an inquiry, and he would probably submit proposals to that effect to the "House.

THE WOODVILLE AFFAIR

The subject of the alleged disgraceful behaviour of volunteers at the Woodville refreshment rooms in February was again brought before the House this morning bv Mr Svmes, the member for Egmont, who urged the Premier to set up a pro-perlv-constituted commission to make inquiry before, he laid any ex parte papers regarding the affair before Parliament, Any examination such as had been made -by the police was, he said, not British. The Premier, in reply, said he thought that Mr Symes's suggestion was one way of staving off the evil day. The fact was that the charges laid were not breaches of the military regulations at all. If goods were taken "from a public bar and 'a girl assaulted, that was not a matter for a military inqujrv. but was rather a question for the' police." The Mayor of Woodville had made a complaint, the member for the district supported it. and the matter was handed over to the police. After the police had done their duty it would be for the Defence Department to deal with any officers or men who were found guilty of misconduct bv dismissing them from the volunteer forces. The evidence was quite complete as to the assault and the taking away of the goods, but there was not sufficient evidence as to identification. Captain Russell testified as to the excellent way in which the Woodville refreshment rooms weru conducted. THE LICENSING LAWS.

The Government were urged by Mr Carncross this morning to so amend the licensing laws as to provide a penalty for persons found on licensed premises after hours, as was the case under the English Act. The Premier remarked that everyone must admit that the licensing laws of this colony were not perfect—(hear, hear)—and it was evident, that theie had been <.'n evasion of the law in allowing a drop in one part of a district and getting a license for another house in a different part of the district. The licensing laws did. doubtless, require material , amendment, but whether the House would be able to come to a conclusion on such matters time alone would tell. The Prohibitionists, the people in the trade, and the public generally all acknowledged that the lav.- in this respect required amendment and extension.

THE DUNEDIN RAILWAY STATION.

Replying to Mr Arnold as to the position of the *new railway station at Dunedin, the Minister of Railways said that the department had taken the land necessary for this work, and had arranged with the Otago Harbor Board for its reclamation. As soon as this was completed a new road would be formed giving access to a level crossing in line of St. Andrew street. Immediately thereafter the department would be instructed to close Stuart street and proceed with the erection of the main building, which it was proposed to let by contract.

HOSPITALS FOR CONSUMPTIVES. The Government recognise (Sir J. 6. Ward informed Mr Graham) the need of a home for consumptives in the colony. The idea was to establish a hospital at Naseby in the first instance, and to give it a full and fair trial. If found to work satisfactorily, a second sanatorium would be established in the North Island, climatic conditions being the first consideration in the selection of a site. The Government were now ascertaining the number of consumptives for whom it would be required to make provision.

CIVIL SERVICE APPOINTMENTS. In the course of to-day's business Sir J. G. Ward took the opportunity of saying that, as Minister of Railways, he makes no recommendations for appointments to the railway service. Nominations are invited from members of Parliament in turn as to the filling up of vacancies in the railway service. No two members of one family were appointed to the service. He intended to make a similar recommendation to the Cabinet so far as the other branches of the Civil Service were concerned.

OLD AGE PENSIONS. The report of the registrar upon old asje pensions for the year ended 31st March last was laid before 'Parliament this morning. The number of pensions in force, inclusive of 1.098 granted .to Maoris, was 12,405, representing a yearly payment of £211,965. During the past year 2.227 pensions were granted, 815 pensioners had died. 227 pension certificates had been cancelled (inclusive of 202 renewal claims rejected), and 65 pensions had lapsed through non-application for renewed. The total amount of pension monev paid during the year was £197.292. and the cost of administration was £2,415.

JOTTINGS

On the House meeting this forenoon; Mr T. Mackenzie presented a petition from Miss Annett praying for compensation for the annoyance caused her while teaching at Rongahere: The Premier, in moving a fortnight's leave of absence for Mr J. Bennett, expressed the sympathy of the House with the member for Tuapeka in the loss of his A petition was presented on behalf of Mr Samuel Vaile. praying for a trial of the zone system on the New Zealand railways. Sir J. G. Ward said that some months ago he intimated to Mr Vaile that the Government would be willing to allow a trial of the zone system on the Auckland lines on certain conditions. He would lay the correspondence on the table. The Premier announced that the Government had appointed Mr W. C. F. Carncross Government whip, amid cheers. He regretted that Mr A. Morrison's health precluded him again acting, but they were all pleased to. learn that the member for Caversham was on the road to recovery. Mr Carncross, on taking his place alongside Mr John Stevens, the other whip, received quite an ovation. In reply it was stated, inter alia, that fiftv rounds of additional ball cartridge had been distributed free to each volunteer, making 200 rounds in all.—That where possible, preference for employment would be given to members of returned contingents.—That the Premier looked forward with hope in the direction of using State paper for paying State claims with.— That the management of Lincoln College required altering, so that the institution would be open to farmers' sons throughout the colonv.—The Government intended to reintroduce the Bill prohibiting the importation of opium. A new clause- was added, to the Police Offences Amendment Bill at the instance of Mr Carncross. giving the Bench in cases where persons are charged with using obscene language in a public place power to inflict a fine up to £2O in place of the present law, which makes imprisonment compulsory.