POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1898, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES.

+ THE SESSIONAL COMMITTEES TROUBLE. As was expected, when the Government moved to set up the Native Affairs and Public Acccounts Committees jyesterday the Opposition rose to protest. The Premier graciously accepted the addition of Messrs. M'Guire and Brown to the former Committee, thus making the representation fair to both sides of the House. But when Captain ltussell moved to add the name of Mr. G. Hutchison to the Public Accounts Committee Mr. Seddon's willingness to oblige departed. Captain Russell pointed out that of this Committee of 14 members only five belonged to the Opposition. Five out of 14 was a disproportionate number. (Mr. Seddon — " Five is a fraction under and six would be a fraction over the number.") Captain Russell said he had hoped that the Premier would have been Liberal with a minority instead of extracting the last drop of their blood. (Mr. Seddon — " I'ou have Mr. Montgomery.") Captain Russell pointed out that on the last no-con-fidence motion Mr. Montgomery had voted j with the Government. (Mr. Seddon — " You ' have a part of him.") Captain RussellYes, we have the best part — the heart and the brain. The bod}', unfortunately, voted over there (pointing to the Ministerial side of the House). Continuing, he stated that one of the Opposition members (Mr. J. Allen) would not be here for some time, and possibly not at all this session, thus reducing the representation of the Opposition on the Committee to four. The Public Accounts Committee was set up especially for the purpose of allowing the whole of the public accounts of the colony to be discussed with the utmost freedom,aud the Committee was supposed to be constituted of men capableof taking au intelligent view of the finances of the colouy, and representing fairly both sides of the House. The Opposition should be made a liberal allowance in regard to representation, so that it could go forth that the Colonial Treasurer had" shown the true financial position. They maintained that the Government had never given a proper insight into the finances of the colony, and had so held back all information that it was utterly impossible for members to grasp what the true position of the finances was. The Premier ought to welcome on the Committee men who, like the member for Patea, would exhaustively investigate the affairs of the colon}'. It was, he thought, for this very reason — namely, that Mr. Hutchison had proved on former occasions that his services were of extreme value to the House— that the Premier refused to accept lain. There was a growing distrust among the people of the state of the finances of the colony, and this was added to by such actions as refusing the Opposition fair representation on the Public Accounts Committee. The Premier said he would have been willing to have substituted another member for Mr. Allen. He had yet to learn that the only member of the House who could give a true exposition of the finances of the colony was Mr. G. Hutchison. Had the Opposition forgotten that Mr. Hutchison had defied the House and refused to be bound as to secret matters coming before the Committee ? As Leader of the House", on public grounds he could not bring private and secret information ' before a Committee upon which was a member who refused to be bound to secrecy concerning such information. There was no necessity for setting up a Committee to enquire into the finances of the colony. The very fact of setting up such a Committee would create distrust regarding the reference of the Leader of the Opposition to Mr. Montgomery. He considered these entirely uncalled for, unwarranted, and unmerited. Mr. Montgomery was a member who went to no Committee as a Government supporter. (Mr. Montgomery — Hear, hear.) In the course of the debate which followed, Mr. Buchanan pointed out that it was peculiar that it was only on the Public Accounts Committee that the Government wanted overwhelming representation. This the Minister for Lands denied, claiming the representation as fair, and stating that the Government welcomed the fullest investigation. Mr. Massey said the proportion of Opposition members in the House was 2-sths, and to give them 6 out of 15 members on the Committee was fair representation. On division Captain Russell's amendment to add Mr. Hutchison's name was lost by 40 to 26, Mr. Montgomery on this occasion voting against the Government. COST OF COMPLETING OUR UNFINISHED RAILWAYS. To an order of the House on the motion of Mr. Guinness a return has been prepared showing the several lines of railway in the colouy authorised to be constructed and not yet completed ; the length of each line of railway not yet completed, and the cost of completing each such line. This return shows that in the North Island there are eight uncompleted lines, of a total length of 201 miles 70 chains, and the cost of completing these would be £1,721,000. The principal expenditure would be on the North Island Main Trunk Line, from Marton to Te Awamntu, 143 miles 40 chains, at a cost of £1,446,000. In the South Island the authorised but uncompleted lines number 17, totalling 319 miles 58 chains, and would cost tJ complete £1,965,000. Of this, 116 miles 36 chains of the Otago Central would absorb £800,000. The total expenditure required to complete the whole of these lines in both islands would be £3,686,000. CHARITABLE AID. " Ratepayers, municipal councillors, and legislators have denounced it," said Mr. Hogg j'esterday when asking Ministers if they would take some steps this session to reform the existing syetern of charitable aid. During the five years from 1891 to 1896, Mr. Hogg added, the amount annually collected from the ratepayers of the colony for the purposes of charitable aid had increased by £24,577, or over 50 per cent. This merely represented the amount that had been withdrawn from the local bodies. A larger amount had been paid by the general Government \\\a the way of subsidy, so that within the brief period of five years the amouut of money spent in charitable aid had increased to the . extent of, in rouud numbers, over £50,000. The Premier said he must admit that the question of charitable aid was at the present moment in a most unsatisfactory position. (Hear, hear.) He had on the Order Paper a Local Government Bill, and local government reform embraced the question of charitable aid. Until this Bill was disposed of the present state of affairs would have to continue. Since the compulsory coutributiou to charitable aidj had been insisted on private benevolence had almost'ceased, while there had been an increased expenditure for public charity. The Government was most anxious to deal with the matter, and would do so in the Local Government Bill. In the centres of population a system of imposition had grown up. They had men doling out the money upon whom rested no responsibility. It was not a case of those having to pay the money controlling the expenditure. The Government was aware of this most uneatiefaotory Position, and with

the help of Parliament and members hoped to rectify it. NEW SILLS. The following new Bills were given notice of yesterday : — Wellington Harbour Board and Corporation Empowering Bill, Mr. J. Hutcbeson ; Port Chalmers Mechanics Institute Reserves Vesting Bill and Public Bodies Powers Act 1887 Amendment Bill, Mr. E. G. Allen ; Removal of Women's Disabilities Bill, Mr. Taylor ; Hannaton Churchsite Bill, Hon. Major Steward ; Shorthand Reporters Bill, Uon. T. Thompson; The Government Life Insurance Acts Amendment Bill, Right Hon. R. J. Seddon : Stock Act Amendment Bill and the Dairy Industry Bill, Hon. J. M'Kenzie ; Native Interpreters Classification Bill, Hon. J. Carroll. PENNY POSTAGE. The Hon. J. G. Ward yesterday gave notice to ask the Postmaster-General — (1) Whether he does not think, considering the buoyancy of the revenue and the splendid financial position of the colony, the time has arrived for the Governor-in-Council to |put the provisions of the Post Office Act into operation by which the power is conferred upon the Governor-in-Council of granting the inestimable boon of a universal penny postage to the people of New Zealand, both inland and oversea ? (2) If he cannot see his way to make it general, will he have the concession applied to letters carried by direct mail to Great Britain ? ' jl tribute to the late captain faiechild. When the House met at 7.30 last evening the Premier said he desired to move that the House on rising adjourn until 3 o'clock this afternoon, instead of the usual hour, 2.30. A large number of members, he said, desired to attend the' funeral of the late Captain Fairchild. Captain Eairchild had been a faithful public servantf and one it would be j very hard to replace. Captain Russell' seconded the motion, which was carried without dissent. POLICE COMMISSION QUERIES. A slight slir was caused in the House yesterday afternoon when Mr. Taylor asked tbe Speaker, without notice, whether the privileges of the House entitled members to decline to answer questions before a Royal Commission. The question, of course, referred to the refusals of the Premier and Minister of Justice to give evidence before the Police Commission of Enquiry. • Mr. Speaker said he could give no opinion regarding the powers of a Royal Commission. The question submitted to him was one of law, but if Mr. Taylor would see him tomorrow morning he would look into the matter. The Premier said that Mr. Speaker would be able to deal with another question. It was a constitutional question, as it was dealing with the interests and affected a member of the House. The question was — When His Excellency' set up a Royal Commission, could the Commissioners give a member of Parliament copies of evidence taken before it for him to use for the purpose of compiling a book for private purposes, or to use for his personal ends, whilst other members were debarred from this. Mr. Speaker was understood to say that notice would require to be given of this question. REMOVAL OF WOMEN'S DISABILITIES. The Removal of Women's Disabilities Bill, introduced by Mr. T. E. Taylor, is practically the same measure as was brought before the last Parliament by Mr. G. W. Russell. It provides that from and after the passing of this Act a woman may be nominated, appointed, or elected to any public office or position to which a man may be appointed or elected, any statute or law to tbe contrary notwithstanding. A PECULIAE CASE. Among the petition's presented to the House for compensation for loss of office is that of ex-Sergeant Scully. This officer joiued the Police Force in 1877, and in April last was transferred from Christchurch to Clyde, where, it will be recollected, he was convicted of stealing a bottle of gin from a hotel and admitted to probation, which of course brought about his dismissal. The petitioner alleges that for some time after his removal to Clyde he was suffering from influenza, which produced frequent relapses of memory, and he puts forth the plea that it was during one of these lapses of memory that the gin was stolen. THE MANAWATU EAILWAY AND THE GOVERNMENT. It is said that considerable pressure is t° be brought to bear on Ministers during thb session with a view to inducing them va take over the Manawatu Railway. Those who favour a loan are likely to throw in their lot with members who wish to see the Manawatu Railway acquired thej by Crown. JOTTINGS. The expenses of the Valuation Department for the year ended 3Jst March last were £39,461, and the fees received amounted to £255 ss. A woman-trap exists in the ladies' gallery of tbe House, and sonic nasty falls have been occasioned. It is time the danger was removed. During the year ended 31st March, 1897, there were 1483 applications received for positions in the Railway Department, and 248 appointments made ; 907 applicants in the Post and Telegraph Department, and 179 appointments ; 244 in the Defence Department, aud 59 appointments. Regarding the petition of James Johnston, of Wellington, the Public Petitions Committee reports that it has no recommendation to make. Last sessiou complaint was made as to a private telephone to " The Camp," the Hon. Mr. Larnach's residence. A return laid on the table of the House shows that the capital cost of constructing this line was £121, and that a revenue of £13 Is per annum was guaranteed. " I would block every BUI on the Order Paper sooner than be browbeaten by the Premier or any other Minister." — Indignant protest by Mr. Taylor. The Stratford Electric Lighting Bill was introduced in the House yesterday and read a first time. The Legislative Council has granted leave of absence for six days to the Hon. Mr, Twomey on urgent private affairs.