POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 18, 21 July 1898, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES.

«, POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS. The question of political appointments to the Government service was again brought up in the House yesterday b} r Mr. Taylor, who wanted to know, " What is the position in the Government service occupied by Mr. James Izett ; whether there is a schedule of duiies and oliice hours attached to the position, and what qualifications he possesses for the position he occupies?" Mr. Taylor explained that his object iv asking this qucislum was to draw attention lo the fact thai appointments were made in all Departments of the State service — he thought there was scarcely a Department exempt — (Here Air. Taylor was interrupted with the point ot order that he was introducing debatable matter). He explained that he was about to illustrate this particular case by quoting other Departments. At any rate, there were 500 boys and girls who qualified themselves for positions in the Public ! Service by passing the necessary examinations this year. Irregular appointments in any Department meant that there were so many the less chances for those youths entering the Service. He was not going to say that a lad could occupy the position filled by Mr. Izett, but there were some who could be promoted, and so room would be left for the boys to get a position at the bottom of the ladder. He wanted to find out what Mr. Izett was doing. His experience was that the gentleman was to be found in one or another of the galleries of the House at all hours. There was no spying needed to soe this, for it could be seen from his phce in the House. The Premier, replying, said he had wondered what Mr. Izett had done to offend the member for Chrisicimrch, and he now found that it was because he had entered into competition with him in the spying business. No boy or youth was qualified to do the work Mr. Izett was doing. It required special knowledge, and was work of national importance. Some time ago the attention of the Government was called to the fact that the colony had been neglecting the records of the past history of the colony, and on looking into the matter he had found that these valuable papers had been stored away in the cellars of the Government Buildings. There the} r had beeu twice inundated, aud they were in a disgraceful condition. They were rescued, and Mr. Izett — who held unquestionable t estimouials from Australian and New Zealand exPremiers, and who was admirably fitted for the work — was appointed to go through the records and schedule them, bring them up to date, and leave them for whoever was to write the history of the colony. During the recess Mr. lzetc was engaged ou this work at a remuneration of 15s a day ; during the session he was Clerk of the Goldfields Committee, and his business of course kept him about the House. He (the Premier) would lay the testimonials on the table of the Hou^e, and he challenged Mr. Taylor to say that they did not show that Mr. Izett was fitted to do the work that had been given him. Mr. Taylor, in answer to an insinuation by the Premier, said that Mr. Izett had never crossed his track in politics. His reason for bringing forward the question was that he found a man in an extraordinary position in the Civil Service aud his .wife one of the political tools of the Government outside. The Premier said this was trying to punish the husband because the wife did all she could to try and stop Mr. Taylor from getting into Parliament. THE PAT OF SCHOOL TEACHERS. The Minister of Education, or rather his representative in the Lower House, was 3resterday asked by Mr. Bollard if he would take steps to cause the teachers in the .1 [strict schools who are the same grade, same length of service, and have the same average attendance at their schools to be paid equal salaries throughout the colony. The Minister, in replying, pointed out that this was a very large question, and was asking the Government to interfere with the affairs of the Education Boards. He did not see how this could be done at the present time. THE WOODVILLE-DANNEVIRKE. EAILWAT SERVICE. Under the existing time-table residents between AVoodville and Dannevirke cannot travel by train from Woodville to Dannevirke and return the same day. Mr. Hunter brought the matter under the notice of the Minister of Kail ways yesterday, and asked that the time-table should be so altered as to remedy this. The Minister, in replying, said that so far as he could see the business would not warrant running the service right through from Palmerston to Dannevirke and from Daunevirke to Palmerbton as asked. CONCERNING WILLS. The object of the Testator's Family Provision out of Estate Bill, introduced by Mr. M'Nab, is to reduce and simplify the form of Sir It. Stout's Limitation of Disposition Bill. On a testator neglecting his wife and family, it is proposed to allow the wife or iamily to apply to a Judge to set aside a' portion of the estate to make provision for them before the trusts of the will operate. The Bill contains but one clause. SUPERINTENDENTS OF MERCANTILE MARINE. Following up a matter in which he has always interested himself, Mr. J. Uutcheson yesterday asked the Minister for Marino whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a Superintendent of Mercantile Marine at each of the four principal ports of the colony, and provide on tho Estimates for

the salaries of such oflicers. The Minister said that if this meant that the Government was asked to appoint special officers to be called Superintendents of Mercantile Marine at salaries which such oflicers would require, his answer would be no. At the same time he had been communicated with on the subject, and had promised to take action in the direction desired. This could be done without the expense entailed by Mr. ilufcoheson's suggestion, and the interests of Ihe seafaring community would be well looked after. His first action would be in Wellington, and then he would next make a change at Dunedin. FOG SIGNALLING. The experiments in Tog signalling by means of detonators are still being continued at Pencarrow Lighthouse. Yesterday Mr. Ward asked the Minister of Marine if he would, in the interest of life and shipping, extend the system to suitable points where dangers from fogs are experienced. There were practically only three places. The Minister pointed out that the system was now only at an experimental stage, and when it was fully ascertained whether or not it would prove successful they could consider the question of extending it to ether parts of the coloivy. MORE HOROWHENUA.. Kipa te Whatanui has again petitioned the House for a re-hearing in connection with the Horowhenua Block, iv order that the descendants of Te Whatanui may obtain their rights therein. The Native Affairs Committee reported j'esterday pointing out that the petitioner's case was fully gono into iv 1892, 1894, aud 1896, and as a result the recommendations of the Committees of the years mentioned were strongly in favour of petitioner's claims. The Committee having again heard the petitioner in reference to his application, now recommended his case to the urgent and favourable consideration of the Government. AN EFFECT OF THE ANNEXATION OF IL4.WAII. I Enquiry was made yesterday by Mr. Ward as to what effect the annexing of the Hawaii group by America will have upon mail steamers not owned by America that are or may be engaged under the San Francisco mail contract. Under the American law, he poiuted out, no vessel owned by persons outside of America could carrypassengers or cargo from American ports to any American possession, which would of course affect the steamer belonging to the Union Steam Shipping Company, aud engaged in carrying the "Frisco mail. The Premier stated that shortly after seeing in the press that the annexation of Hawaii by the United States was an accomplished fact, knowing that the embargo mentioned would apply to the New Zealand owned steamer, he had made enquiries from the proper quarters to ascertain the position. So far he had not reueived an}' information on the subject, but special exemption might be made in the case of the steamer in question, more especially as the United States itself was paying the largest portion of the subsidy for this mail service. THE ACCOMMODATION FOR WOMEN AT THE HOUSE. The Premier scored a little joke at the expense of Mr. Duthie yesterday afternoon. The member for Wellington had put the question, " Why, in these days of electoral equality, women are denied equal rights of access to the galleries of the House ? " and had supported his question with an eloquent speech, urging, in effect, tbat the ladies should have the same privileges as the sterner sex in regard to the use of the public galleries of the House. The Premier, in replying, said the matter had received the fullest attention from a gentleman who had expressed the opinion that " Parliament should not be made a show place ; there was too much speaking to the galleries now ; he did not wish lo see the size of the ladies' galleryincreased ; that for old men like himself it didn't matter so much, because they didn't want to look at the girls, but some of the younger members were tempted when the ladies' gallery was full to show their paces instead of going on with the business of the Ilou*e. This led to great waste of time." When the Premier after a well-timed pause announced that the author of these opinions was the present advocate for greater facilities being given to the ladies to attend the sittings of the House, the Chamber rang with the laughter of members, Mr. Duthie joining heartily in the laugh against himself. When the merriment had somewhat subsided Mr. Duthie laughingly explained that the opinions quoted were.given by him upon the subject of enlarging the galleries, not as to giving women equal rights with men to use the existing space. The Premier pointed out the apace could not be increased, but if members so desired it he would be willing to consider the question of throwing open the ladies' gallery for admission without tickets. THE TELEPHONE SEKVICE. According to a return laid on the table of the House yesterday, the gross earnings of the Telephone Department since it was first instituted total £296,847 15s Id. The cost of construction was £142,218 11s Bd, and the cost oi' maintenance, including charges for depreciation and debenture capital, £2G0,481 10s sd, a total expenditure of £402,700 2s Id. THE LICENSING BILL,. It is understood that the deputation o£ brewers who saw the Premier yesterday were well satisfied with the interview. "Sit tight " is to be the advice given by Mr. Seddon to those who wish to see Mr. Millar's Bill pass into law to-night. THE BEAUMONT ESTATE. On the motion of Mr. Kelly, a return was laid before members showing the transactions in connection with the Beaumont Estate 'since its purchase by the Laud Purchase Board. This shows that the estate was purchased on the 6th of December, 1897, and it was throwu open for selection in 14 sections on 26th January, 1898. It comprised 4825 acres, and its total cost was £10,542 8s 6d. Up to Ist July only four sections, comprising 1532 acres, had been taken up, and the rental received totalled £164 8s Id. JOTTINGS. A petition from some 50 School Committees was preseuted to the House yesterday, urging that the School Inspectors of the colony should be placed under the control of the Education Department at Wellington. The Department of Agriculture has obtained a quantity of different kinds of sugar beet seed, which it will distribute to those who wish to experiment in beet growing. The Minister of Lands thinks there is not room for more than one Agricultural College in New Zealand at the present time. On the motion of the Hon. E. C. J. Steveus, the Legislative Council yesterdayresolved to request the Government to introduce this session a Bill to relieve estates, the care of which has been entrusted by the Supreme Court to Committees, from supervision by the Public Trustee. The Hon. W. l>. Stewart intends moving in the Legislative Council that consideration of the Juries Act Amendment Bill be deferred peudiug advice from the Supreme Court Judges, Chambers of Commerce, and Law Societies as to the desirability of abolishing Grand Juries. The Hon. U. Scotland has given notice of a motion that the Legislative Couucil Reform Bill be proceeded with without delay. The Public Petitions Committee of the House has no recommendation to make regarding tho petition of M. Hyaim, of this city, who claims that a sum of money is due to him from the Land and lueome Tax Department. The Committee points out that the petitioner has not exhausted all the legal remedies.

The legal position of the (lovornment in relation to tho Midland Railway Company is being fully ascertained.