POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 8266, 11 July 1890, Page 1

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Oor Parliamentary Reporteb.] WELLING I ON, July 10. . Ministers and the Bank of Xew Kcaiand. In moving for the appointment of a committee to inveptigato Mr Hutchison's allegations re the Bank of Now Zealand, the Postmaster-General intends to intorm the House that i: id misters sro s»niit:y of thn charges iuid at their doors un-y are unfit to occupy the Treasury heuchc'j. and should be immediately bulled from oilier ; hut if, on the eontrary, the charges are u:d.jiuideu, he will demand that the Uoiki: should place on record the fact that they an: rci-cvc-l from the imputations east on thcai. TIiC Cals of (.lie Council to-day had tho effect of ensuring a full House. The present roll of members numbers thirty-nine, and of these only seven were absent —viz., the lions. Messrs Bonar, Captain Fraser, Scotland, Major Ropata, Williams, Oliver, and Wigley. It was explained that of the absentees the Hone. Captain Fraser and Oliver were absent with the leave of the Governor; the Hon. Mr Scotland was believed to be in England, and no summons had reached him. A telegram had been received from the Hon. Mr Williams, stating that owing to a serious illness in his family he had been unable to leave home. As to the other absentee, Major Ropata was too ill to leave his lodgings. The Hon. Mr Wigley had sent word that ho was too ill to attend, and the Hon. Mr Bouar had reached Christchurch on his way from Westland. All the members were thus satisfactorily accounted for, and no lines will consequently be levied. Tlte Federation Convention. It had been the intention of the Government to propose that New Zealand should, be represented at the Federation Convention by four members of the elective House and by three Legislative Councillor;!, but the lead of the Tasmania!] Parliament is now likely to be followed, and our delegates will therefore consist of five members of the House of Representatives and two Councillors. Exception has been taken to the representation of thi3 colony on the ground that New Zealand is not prepared at present to join in an Australasian dominion. But the Premier points out that, as we may wish to join later on, it is only right end proper that wc should have a voice in framing of the Constitution. The names of proposed delegates are not absolutely decided yet, l*rlvatc Nchnol'i. It will surprise most people to learn that there were last year as many as 2,Sf! private schools in the colony (including tho Anglican and Boman Catholic denominational establishments), with <;! Hi teacher--! and KVI.V.I scholars, the average daily attendance b;ing ]J,3!)K. There was a 'leJlhig oil' of six school:; and .'i!);j scholars a" compared with the ISSS totah,. The attendance at the Roman Catholic schools in December hint was 0,02-1 scholars in ninety-live schools, being a decrease of one school and 32scholars during the year. Cieffislative Council Cleloam. A Bill providing for alteration in tiie constitution of the Legislative Council was before that body to-day. In moving the second reading of his Bill, Sir George Whituiorc said that he had introduced the Bill on the eve of a general election, because he desired to show that the Council were not averse to an alteration in their constitution if fjuch were generally desired. Speaking of the Council electing George. poinjcij, nnj- u l-.U lD t haYe"such " impartial and admirable a Speaker an they at present possessed, and therefore they should have the power of electing one of '.heir own number to the honou. '. ever there was to be a reform in the Upper House it must come from themselves, and if the Bill he was moving lor the second time was passed, lie hoped it would be affirmed by a large majority or else, rejected speedily. Tho Attorney-Central said that as the Bill contained some small me-dieum ol concession, he should support it quite irrespective of the position he held in the Government. Hon. Mr Ph;.:, *,... opposed the Bill, inasmuch as the ..junfry had not displayed any aversion to hou. members retaining their seats for life. The proposal that the appointees should retain their stats for ten years was, ae a matter, of fact, practically a continuance of the present system, because members, by reason of death or resignation, were constantly being removed. Ten years hence the Legislative Council would really be a new Chamber.

Au adjournment of the debate till Wednesday next took place at thia stage. .f(ltijllf:;s. Mr Buxton says that the Financial Statement reminds one of a dish of iisli very nicely prepared. It locked t;:riip"ing to the eye, but was full of bcue.% and war; calculated to choke there who attempted to swallow it. A week's leave of absence is being applied for ou behalf of Mr Rhodes (Gladstone) on account of family distress. Owing to the financial debate taking precedence of all other business, the Order Paper is assuming alurmirg dimensions, and now contains over 100 fjuc-fctior'S, besides thirty notices of motion, The Ministerial tiupporLera spy ihat the Government prefer that the present session shall last till October 5, when the- Parliament expires by ellluxion of time, rather than that they should bow to the mandate of the Opposition by recommending an early dissolution without transacting any business. With a view to rendering the magnificent natural scenery of the South Island better known and more accessible to tourists, Mr T. M'lvenx.ie is urging the Government to immediately obtain a report as to the most practicable and interesting route between Milford Sound and Lake i'e Anau ; thence on to Lake Wakatipu, and through to Mount Cook via Lakes Wauaka and Kawea. Sir J. Hal! says that the Opposition show an utter want of unity of action, excepting only iu their desire to oust the Government. The Government are moving for the appointment of a special committee to deal with tho Vaile railway proposals, Mr Hutchison is calling for a return of moneys remitted through the post o/licos of the colony for racing "consultations" in Australia during the year ended March 31 last.

An Important Kill. I have been favored by Mr Downic Stewart with an advance copy of his Strikes and Board of Conciliation Bill, a, jirich of which has already appeared in your columns. Its preamble recites its object—viz., "That whereas disputes have arisen and are likely to arise between workmen and their employers resulting in strikes, which may occasion great hardship on the workmen and their families and loss to the employers, and may operate otherwise prejudicially againtt the producing power of the colony, it is desirable that provision should be made for adjusting such disputes so as to prevent hardship and loss." It is, therefore, provided that all disputes or differences arising between a trade union or any member of a union and the employers of members are to be referred to a board of conciliation consisting of four arbitrators, appointed by the disputants, and an umpire appointed by the arbitrators, or failing their agreement by the local Resident Magistrate, is expressly decided that once the disputants have expressed their consent in writing to a settlement by the board of conciliation, neither party shall have power to revoke or withdraw from such reference. The board's award is to be binding for a period of at least one year, and power is given to it to mulct thn unsuccessful party in the costs and expenses of the inquiry. The Skinflints In Session. | An incident, which is probably charaui i leristic of the skinflint agitation, was related i>y Mr Buxton in hia speech during i the financial debate to-day. The hon. j gentleman said he was iuvited to attend the

•early meetings of the party, and he did so. JVt one of them, a, proposal wan made to reduce a particular salary by L2OO. Thereupon ho (Mr Buxton) inquired what the •duties of the officer were, but nobody in the coom was able do tell him. It was th« ftme with other propositions that wero made at the meeting, ho that he was compelled to sever hia connect! jn with the party. His •opinion was that tire members of the party could not possibly understand the reductions they spoke of. Ho would bo very careful as to how he voted with them, much as he respected (ftom. The Devil's Brigade at Work. It is asserted that one object aimed at by the wearisome extension tho financial dobate is to effectually sheWe the Law Practitoners Bill, which was set down for committal today. The legal element, which is very strong in the House, is almost unanimous in opposition to this measure. Having felt the nXuse of the Legislative Council, and finding little hope of Sir G. Grey's pet Bill being killed Shere.thoyaroforcedtoadoptotherexpedionts to prevent its reaching the other Chamber. The Bill was the first Order for to-day, but »8 no private members' business was transacted, it will now be transposed to the hottom of tho Order Paper.