POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 7361, 5 November 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Our Parliamentary Reporter. 1

t WELLINGTON, November 4. Grain Tariff.

..A deputation of Pkmt'i Island members waited on the "Works this afternoon, and brought under his notice the vexed question of grajn rates on-the railway lint*. Ihe deputation was farmed at> ; the instance of Mr Samuel Orr, carried, of Duneciin, and consisted of Messrs Ward, Eitchett, Fish, Cowan, Feldwiok, O'Callaghan, and Valentine. It was pointed out that .the tariff as regards oats operated unsatisfactorily, inasmuch as it provided for 2,4001b of wheat being carried to the ton, while only 2,2401b of oats were allowed. It was further pointed out that if oats or wheat were carried in five - bushel bags a rate and a - quarter was charged undei the tariff, and it was remarked thSt this extra impusition was made before weighbridges were provided by the Government; but now that weigh-bridges were generally used throughout the Colony the system was found at times to be simply iniquitous. The deputation therefoie asked that the quantity of oats be assimilated to wheat-viz., 2,4001b to the top. or, if bag weight were preferred, they should be entitled to tarry fifteen bags of oats instead of fourteen, as at present. Mr Mitchelson said, iu reply, that the Government intended if possible to establish a non-political railway - board aud to import from Home a thoroughly qualified man to act as chairman and manager. In the meantime he was lather averse to altering the railway and terminal railway rates. On the matter being pressed by the deputation, the Minister promised to look into it. He admitted the unfairness of a differential rate in the charge for conveyance of oats as against wheat, and thought that there was a good deal of reason for assimilating the charges for railway sidings. The deputation also brought under the Ministers' notice the excessive charges on private railway sidings, pointing out that the same rate was charged for costly sidings to large business establishments as to persons in a small way of business. Mr Mitchelson admitted that the charge for railway sidings was too high, and said that he intended to reduce it. The Midland Railway. Four hours were 'spent to-night over the Premier's motion for going into Committee of the whole House foi the purpose of considering draft resolutions in reference to the Midland Railway contract. The leaders of the Opposition supported the proposal, but several members expressed surprise at the alterations suggested, and wanted the whole question referred to a Select Committee. This course was objeoted to by the supporters of the railwavi and eventually, on the Premier's motion, the debate waß further adjourned .till Tuesday. Messrs C. 0. Bowen and Alan Scott, directors of the Midland Company, were present throughout the proceedings. Jottings. It is proposed to import from England a thoroughly qualified man. to act as manager of the railways and chairman of the new Railway Board. Sir G. Grey made an able speech on the Midland Railway question, displaying much of his old fire. It is the intention of the Government to immediately reduce the charge for railway sidings. In the absence of the Premier, Mr Fisher acts as Leader of the House. The Munioipal Conference olosed their sittings to-day. Legislation is not likely to be introduced this session for the purpose of giving effect to their recommendations. Major Atkinson denies that the delivery of the Financial Statement was postponed from Friday till Tuesday in order that Sir J. Hall might revise it. !• ir George Grey fears that his Land for Settlement Bill will be emasculated by the Waste Lands Committee. It is claimed that the Aid to Catholic Schools party have a strength of thirty votes. Major Atkinson spoke in the House this afternoon of Mr Seddonasthe deputy-leader of the Opposition. Mr Mitchelson's Bill to make better, provision for the construction, maintenance,' and management of the Government ra'lways was read a first time this afternoon.

The Maod members held a meeting to-day, and prevailed on Ti'hangato address the House'in Maori for the benefit of his countrymen in the gallery. : The Government say that if they can see their way to reduce the stamp rate on the registration of small joint stock companies, they will be glad to do so. ' The Premier to-day denied the statement by Mr Seddon that the Hon. E. J. Stevens was merely keeping a seat in' the Cabinet warm for Sir John Hall till the close of the session. The ' Post' says the publication of LieutenantColonel Noake s pamphlet is an offence subversive of all discipline in the Volunteer force of the Colony. There is no intcption on the part of the Government to have the House adjourned on the Prince of Wales' Birthday. Mr Pyke gave notice this afternoon of the Catholic Schools Bill.

Mr Peacock is asking the Government to reinstate the vote of £ for £ subsidy for deep level prospecting. The codlin moth question will be brought up again nejt webk through the medium of several questions. Mr Kelly is urging the Government to reinstate the roads destroyed by the Tarawera eruption^ The ' Tost' Bays that the raii-ing of the school age to six years is one of those half measures not likely to satitfy anybody, and that the age should have been reven.

' Mr Fish' is anxious that the Houso should meet on Mondays during the rest of the session. MrR. Reeves is asking the Government if they intend to abolish all country Volunteer corps by withdrawing the capitation allowance. Mr\yYD. Stewart'has given notice of an Employees Liability Act Amendment Bill. Mr Kelly is urging the Government to acquire the fee simple of the Rotorua township in order to encourage settlement in that district. Several petitions from Otago in favor of Bible-reading in schools were presented to the House to-Jay. Mr Hobbs asked the Government whether they will, when introducing the Bill for settling the old soldiers' and volunteers' laud claims, introduce a clause enabjng the Commissioners to entertajn claims they consider equitable, though not perhaps strictly legal or within, their instructions. The Premier said that the Government had the matter under their consideration, and they would endeavor to introduce some BUPb provision, The Surprise Debate.

The feeling of many Government supporters is that Major Atkinson showed a want of taot In' connection with the surprise debate last night. He might truthfully have said that no details had been deoided on, but in his refusal to supply details either now or at a subsequent period of the session he displeased many of those who are supporting him only in preference to Sir Julius Yogel. The Premier eonsiders that it is sufficient that the House should be reduced, and the Government should be left to effeot these savings in detail as appears to them best. This view is not concurred in by the whole of the party, and unless some concession is made by the Premier I fanoy that there will be trouble before the Financial debate has coneluded. ; The Waitotara Petition.

There was another breeze in the House this afternoon upon a question asked by Sir John Hall-whether it is not practicable to provide for the hearing of the petition against the return of Mr Hutchison as member for Waitotara before the latter part of December? TheP&EMIEB said it was plaoed out of the power of the Government to interfere, and it was not wise to inquire. He thought, however, that it was desirable to have these election petitions dealt with at osoe.

Mr Seddon moved the adjournment of tho House, and expressed the opinion that such a question was a breach of privilege, and.inter : , ferlng with'the Judges; ; , Mr Fish, Sir J; Hall, Sir J. yogel, the* Hon. Mr Hislop, Mr Taiwhanga, MrTurnbull, Mr Jonpa, ana others took part in the disoussiop whioh followed. It was asserted by the exTreaßurer that the Government had gone to some expense in making an inquiry into the evidence on behalf of Mr Bryce; and reference was made to the fact that the question Was an invidious one when thereiwero .other Selection petitions awaiting consideration, The matter eventually dropped. • ■• Protection of Sailors. Mr Moss'tells me that he finds from the Law Officers of tho Crown that (he loaAn'ot proceed with,his proposed amendment of the Shjppingt Apt to cause inquiry to be held in all cases of the death of sailors by accident < when at'sea, as in the pase of.,thp sugar ship Yolande, which reported on her arrival at Auckland the loss of three men, who were washed off the jibboom while saving the rags of the sail in a gale of wind. His intention was that an inquest should be held) as in'the case, of death ashore, and the report forwarded to the Board of Trade in England when English ships are concerned, ■$&&& the,Cplonfej Seprej^rjrwhen.they are polqnial yessejs. This report,would bp a check, and ifte inquests a reminder, to paptajns of vessels to use with care tpp great powers necessarily given iothero, and whipMherpiatQo;much reason to boiieve are now often abused with impunity. The matjser appears,tq .be que "which the Imperial Parliament only can lake in hand. MrMoss'Vill try' to induce the Government to communjoate with the Agent-General $n the subject. < Imprest Supply.

«-»An. Bill for-->L250,000 was passed through all its stages at this afternoon's sitting.' The sum-in .'question represent? 1*175.000 for the Consolidated Fund, and L?s;ppVfor the" Public W° rk 's Fand. This is rather less than "the amount'' necessary for one month's services. There was no discussion on theßill. •' ■■■' J

Reciprocal Treaties for the Colonies. Major Atkiasqn agrees with Mr Joybe that it is very desirable to initiate reciprocal treaties affecting the natural produota of the colonies,

and also to hare more attention paid to British and Australian shipping and the men employed thereon. He, however, does not think that the time is ripe yet for a mission tor that purpose. When he was in Australia two or three yearß ago he had a good deal of conversation on the question with other colonial Ministers, and there was an opinion prevalent that it was not impossible that most of the Governments would like to rnova in it. The suggestion would not be let siffhfof. Authorising Cemeteries for Boronshs.

Respecting the amendment of the Cemeteries Act, ISB2, of which Mr Moss had given notice, I learn from him that he has taker, up the Bill in accordance with the resolution of the Borough Council of Parnel), and that it has his hearty support, provided proper safeguards are added to the draft sent to him, so that cemeteries provided by public companies are properly situated, and that the consent of the local governing body of the district in which they are to be established be first obtained. Hurrying on Business. Now that it is understood the Opposition do not intend to move a hostile vote, the Government will push on the business as expeditiously as possible, and will ask private members to allow Wednesdays to be devoted to Government business. It is not improbable that they will also ask the House to sit on the Prince of Wales' Birthday. The Midland Railway. The Government will probably consent to the reference of the Midland Railway question to a Select Committee. This was the course the Cabinet at first thought of proposing, but by i moving direct amendments in Committee of the whole House they recognised that they were distinctly leading on the question, instead of catting the responsibility on private members, who might be selected to report. Ministers say that members have not carefully studied the amendments suggested, which place the matter on a footing more satisfactory to both the Colony and the Company than the contract of 1884. Tlte Pinch of Retrenchment Is already being felt in Bellamy's, the House Committee having decided to charge 3d extra on soda-water. Members now requiring sodas-and-b's after a late sitting have to pay Del for the luxury. ' Hansard' in future is likely to contain reports offwhat members actually said, and not of what they intended to say. Several members of the Reporting Committee have admitted the folly of employing the 'Hansard' reporter if members are to be allowed to correct the transcribed notes, as they have been iu the habit of doing. The Otago Central. The wrongs which the Otago Central Railway has suffered at the hands of past Governments were brought under the Premier's notice this forenoon by Mr Fyke, who wanted to know what attitude the Government proposed to take towards his Bill providing for the construction of the line by land grants. He also wanted to know whether the Government's attitude would be that of neutrality, active opposition, or active assistance. Major Atkinson replied that he would give an answer on Tuesday. The other members of the deputation present were Dr Fitchett, Mr Scobie Mackenzie, Mr Ross, Mr Barron, Mr Fish, and Mr Stewart. The Education Commission Will, on Tuesday, take the evidence of the Rev. Mr Habens (Secretary of Education) and Dr IB islop (the late Secretary). The Railway Board.

The Government are desirous of making their Railway Board essentially of a non-poli-tical character, and in inviting applications for experts to take charge of the railways will not restrict the choice to England, but will include America. Their idea is to get a man like Mr Speight, of Victoria, who will act as chairman and railway manager, and will completely reorganise the whole railway system.