POLITICAL NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 13, 15 July 1905, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

AN INTERESTING MOTION. Yesterday Sir Maurice O'Rorke gave notice to move a motion in 'the Legislative Council in the direction of a return to the provincial iystem of government. His motion is, "That in the opinion of the Council the concentration of all Parliamentary business and Governmental work id one central pßtee in the colony is detrimental to other parts of the colony, and to the training of colonial youth generally to public life ; that in order to provide a greater diffusion of Parliamentary life and Government •work throughout New Zealand, a return should be made to the system of provincial government that was abolished in 1876." His motion is a long one, and gives details of his scheme, which is that the Governor should on Ist January, 1906, issue writs for the election of a Superintendent and Provincial Council for the nine provinces (the Provincial Council of Wellington to meet in alternate years in Wanganui and Masterton), the number of members for thB nine provinces to be the same as in the old time (women, however, to be eligible); Superintendents and Councillors to* be eligible for seats in the General Assembly. Amongst new powers proposed to be conferred on Councils is the right to elect six members each of the Legislative Council, one-third to retire sach year. He proposes 'that each of the provinces should become possessed of all Crown lands in such provinces, ttud that half the Customs revenue in a province should be retained by it. The public services generally (Education, Justice, Public Works, except Railways), he proposes, should be under provincial control. STATE COAL-MINE. - Several questions relating to the State Coal-mine have been given notice of. In particular there was one by Mr. R. M'Kenzie, who asked the Minister for Mines if he would appoint a Commission to investigate a number of grievances in connection with the management of the colliery. Among other subjects suggested for investigation were : — The reason why the coal from this mine is not being put upon the market, when the whole colony is clamouring for coal, and enormous quantities are imported, while the mine is only working one cr two days a week ; the reason why the mine, which is now capable of producing 400 tons of coal per day, is supposed not to be paying ; and the advisability of separating the management of the Seddonville and Point Elizabeth State coal mines. In a note attached to his question Mr. M'Kenzie remarks: — "The exceedingly unsatisfactory management of the Seddonville State Colliery from its inception has been notorious and a source of serious loss to the locality and the colony. Its latest phase has found expression in the foregoing series of question forwarded to me recently by the Miners' "Union at Seddonville, together with a letter in which they state that the mine is now capable of producing 400 tons of firstclass marketable coal (second to nono on the West coast) daily; and that whilst the mine is only working ab6ut two days a week they axe brought to the verge of want through this lack of employment. They very reasonably contend that this coal should be placed on the market for the people of the colony to judge it on its merits, instead of its exploitation being left in the hands of a few indifferent officials." Other members have given notice of questions on the same lines, and the answers are being looked forward to with much interest. .THE POLICE SCANDAL. In connection with the recent Dunedin police scandal, Mr. Fisher has given notice to ask the Minister for Justice — (1) Is he aware, or is the Commissioner of Police aware, that Inspector O'Brien, of Dunedin, was the officer who arrested Thomas Moses for shopbreaking at Oamaru on the 12th March, 1895, and that Moses afterwards served under him as a. police constable until the date of his arresb for theft, for which offence he has been sentenced to five years' imprisonment ; (2) is the Minister aware, or is the Commifisioner of Police aware, that Detective Livingstone, late of Dunedin, but now of Gisborne, was the officer who arrested Moses for theft at Timaru on the 20th December, 1890, for which offence he (Moses) was convicted ; and, (3) taking these circumstances into consideration, will the Minister causa enquiries to be made as to whether, either of these two officers has ever reported the above-mentioned facts to headquarters ; and if not, why not?? WHAT DID HE MEAN? Members generally are wondering what is the meaning of a mysterious remark made by the Premier last night. The question under discussion was as to the law-breaking propensities of the Government in regard to the production of returns and annual reports, and the Premier w.as endeavouring to defend himself. Incidentally he remarked that "within the precincts of this House an observant member could see where the laws are not observed by members of the House." "What do you mean?" he was asked. Those who were so particular, he added, would not have io go very far before they found that there was not due observance of the law. No further explanation was asked for, and none was given. SrATE COAL-MINES. A curious point is involved in a question given notice of by Mr. Millar on behalf of Mr. Speaker. He is asking the Minister for Mines : (1) If the lands upon which the Slate coal mine at Port Elizabeth was opened were neither purchased, acquired, nor taken under the powers conferred by section of the State Coal-mines Act 1901, as stated by the Minister of Mines in answer to a question put to him by Mr. Millar, for Mr. Speaker, on the sth July instant? (2) If he will state under what authority, right, or title the Crown has "taken possession of the lands upon which the State coal mine at Port Elizabeth has been opened, seeing that the lands so taken possession of are portion of the Nelson Grey Coal Reserve, and the rents, royalties, and other moneys derivable from such reserve are held by the Greymouth Harbour Board as an endowment? LAND COMMISSION REPORT. The report of the Land Commission made its appearance yesterday, but the Premier had some little difficulty in presenting it. Before the time came for the presentatioii of papers, Mr. Hogg started a debate on the question of tne duty on flour, which, led to some criticism of the Government's action— or, rather, inaction — in regard to that subject. When the debate had been going on for some time the Premier moved to adjourn it in order to allow him to lay the report on the table. Member*, however, professed to "smell a rat," believing that ho was actuited more by a desire .to stifle criticism, as Mr. Hogg alleged, than to carry out his promise in connection with the report. The Houso therefore refused to adjourn the debate, and the Premier had to seek other means to bring the report into the light of day. Some hour or so later Mr. Speaker interrupted the debate by a "Message from His Excellency the Governor," winch proved to be the report itself, Mi". Seddon having adopted that \ery effective- means of achieving hw object.

The passengers for Lytlelton by the Rotomahana last night included Messrs. Lewis, Witty, and Davey, M.H.R.'g.