POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 8553, 27 June 1891, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Oub Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, Jr/ms 26. •tiht New Licensing" Bill, which has been introduced by Mr George Hutchison, and not by Captain Russell, contains some important changes from the present licensing laws. Eleven o'clock licenses are proposed to be made uniform throughout the colony. If committees take notice of their own motion of any action which would be an objection to the renewal of a license, they shall be free to do bo ; but if they recognise suoh objection they shall give specifio notice of the same in writing, and adjourn the consideration of the application for seven days. By section 85 of the present Aot the granting of all licenses was discretionary. It is now proposed that the discretion is to apply to new licenses only; that an applicant fa to be entitled to a renewal as a matter of right, provided that there ia no endorsement on his license and that the licensee is of good character ; and if the renewal be refused, he shall have the right of appeal to the Supreme Court, suoh appeal to be heard within seven days, as if an ordinary case were stated from the Resident Magistrate's Court. Committees are to keep minute books of all their proceedings, and their clerks are enjoined to supply applicants with copies of such minutes at 4d per folio, jottings. The lawyers, according to Mr T. Mackenzie, were the real agitators in the last electionsMr Rees in Auckland, Mr Jellicoe in Wellington, Messrs Reeves and Perceval in Christohurch, and Sir Robert Stont at Dunedin. Several times within the laet day or two the Minister of Education has been twitted with having denounced the large landowners as "social peats." Last night Mr Hogg quoted from the hon. gentleman's uncorrected ' Hansard' proof to show that the words were used ia reference not to the landowners, but to the estates themselves, which were described as "a social pest, an obstacle to industry, and a bar to progress." It is generally understood that Mr Rees sounded Sir G. Grey's battle cry to-night—-viz., taxing all who derive incomes in any way from the colony, including the English bondholders.

Auditor-General Fitzgerald is understood to be preparing a memorandum in reply to the report of the Royal Commission on the Public Trust Office so far as it concerns the relations between the Audit and Control and the Public Trust Departments. The more loquacious members of the House will not be delighted to hear that the Reporting Debates Committee are considering whether they cannot devise some means for regulating the leDgth of time of the 'Hansard' reports of members' speeches, and also arrange for the revision of reports in typoscript " copy," instead of In proof. In consequence of the interest displayed in the evidence taken by the Public Trust Commissioners the Government are only supplying the parliamentary paper containing it to the outside publio on payment of a fee.

At the olose of a speech condemnatory of the Atkinson Government, Mr Mackintosh (Wallace) said : " I maintain that we have a great deal to expect from the present Ministry," a remark that was received with a salvo'of " Hear, hears " from the leading Opposition benches. The Partnership Bill, which assimilates the law of the colony with that of the Imperial Statutes, has been read in the Legislative Council a second time, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

A great laugh was raised by Mr Rees to-night proposing to set up an epitaph to the Atkinson Government beginning with the words "Sacred to the memory of the Continuous Conservative party, which, under various names and aspects, has ruled New Zealand from the time of the Constitution Act," and ending " Died from a mortal wound received in the ballot box, December 5, 1890; buried on the 24th of January, 1891. Let it rip." Mr Rees charges the Atkinson Government with having polluted the fount of justice in their last appointments to the Commission of the Peace, and says that one or two of their appointees ought, to his knowledge, to be more properly in prison than on the bench. The small birds nuisance is to be provided againßt by a measure introduced by the Minister of Agriculture. An instance was mentioned by Mr Palmer this afternoon, in which L2 Os 7d costs were saddled upon a Northern property owner in connection with a suit for the recovery of Is lOd rates. The Minister of Justice agreed that the case seemed to be one of hardship, and undertook to look into it. The Premier says that all vouchers coming into the Treasury are paid within seven days. Any delays in payment of the census enumerators' charges are therefore due to the enumerators' own fault in not complying with the law.

judge Mackay, of the Native Land Court, has possession of the late Mr Thomas Maokay's memoranda upon the Native land lawß inquiry, and is putting them into shape for presentation to Parliament. The hollowness of the retrenchments made by the present Government will be the keystone of the speech of the Hon. 6. F. Richardson on Tuesday. He is expected to make a fierce onslaught, particularly on the Land Department. Collect telegrams from members to Ministers during the recess are to be discontinued in future.

the Minister of Mines has promised to place a special vote on the Supplementary Estimates to provide for aid to prospecting ongoldfields. The second reading of the Companies' Memorandum of Association Bill has been assented to by the Council. It provides that the articles of association of a company oannot be altered unless by consent of the whole of the shareholders. The Select Committee of the House which is to inquire into the claims of old soldiers and volunteers was duly set up to-day. Some members are urging the claims of Sir George Grey to the Agent-Generalship. I have authority for saying that the question Ims not been considered by the Cabinet,

became no word has been received from Bir Dillon Bell, Afeelingvts growing among members in favor of taxing absentees, and more than one Minister favors snob, a tax.

The Kaihu Railway does not fall into the hands of the Government until after the sale, whioh is conducted by the registrar, and this the Minister of Works has ordered to take place within a week. The Legislative Council have remitted their Reform Bill to a select committee. In view of the threatened action by Mr Fish to get legislative sanction towards the balance of the Kaitangata .fund being applied to the purposes of a renewal of a mining accident fund, Mr J. W. Thomson to-day presented a petition from the widows and ohildren of miners who were killed by the Kaitangata coal mine explosion nine years ago, complaining that they nave not been bo liberally dealt with as they ought to have been, and objecting to the money collected for them being spent in any other way. The Disputed Boundary «* St. Clair. Mr W. Hutchison is introducing a Bill to repeal the Valpy Crown Grant Boundary Definition Aot of last session. The operative clause is in the following words:— "After due inquiry by the Government, and correction of errors in the Otago Land Transfer Office affecting the boundaries of the land originally granted to one William Henry Valpy, fresh certificates of title shall be issued to the parties having juet claim to the same." The Financial Debate. Four of the smaller fry from the Ministerial side of the House spoke on the financial proposals of the Government this afternoon, but little interest attached to the progress of the debate. Mr Pinkertoa led off, entirely agreeing with the Government proposals, and assuring the Premier of his support and vote. Mr Kelly (Invercargill), who followed, dealt to a large extent with personal matters, but expressed himself strongly in favor of a graduated tax, with heavier impositions on estates of over LIOO.OOO. Mr Macintosh confined his attentions to fulaome adulation of the Government proposals; and Mr Taylor delivered one of his characteristic addresses. In the evening Mr Rees took up the running, and promulgated his scheme for taxing landholders and absentees. From the general tenor of his remarks one was led to infer that a compact had been made with the Government, who would satisfy the hon. gentleman and "his guide, philosopher, and friend," Sir George Grey. After the supper adjournment Mr Thomas Mackenzie made a practical, argumentative speech, in the course of which be had a serious altercation with the Minister of Lands regarding the failure of Ministers to comply with their hustings promises to recognise the claims of the Roman Catholics. Mr Hogg was the last speaker, and he was listened to by a bare quorum. His address was confined almost entirely to the land question and its administration by the Wellington Land Board. The debate will be resumed by Mr Hall-Jones on Tuesday. A Mild Scene. Something closely approaching a "scene " was witnessed in the House shortly after eleven o'clock to-night. Touching the education question, Mr T. Mackenzie said that the present Ministry—at least a clear majority of them—were returned pledged to give State aid to the Roman Catholics. " Who are the five ?" inquired the Minister of Education. "You know the five," retorted the member for the Clutba. "I challenge you to deny the statement." "It is not correct," came from the Hon. Mr Reeves. " Then I will state the names of the five who are in favor of providing a grant," said Mr Mackenzie. " They are the Hon. the Premier, the Hon. Mr Buckley, Hon. Mr Ward, and Hon. Mr Seddon ; and the Hon. John M'Kenzie says he is in favor of a grant to Roman Catholics in the large cities." The Minister of Lands (warmly): "It is a falsehood." Here one or two of the Opposition members rose to their feet, and the call of "Order" resounded through the Chamber. The Hon. Mr Bryce (to the Speaker): " That, sir, is not right." The Speaker called upon the Hon. Mr M'Kenzie to withdraw the statement. The Minister of Lands: Well, I withdraw. The hon. gentleman should not make charges against me and against the Ministry which are not true. I have never made such a statement in my life. Mr T. Mackenzie repeated that five members of the Ministry were in favor cf giving justice to Roman Catholics, and only two were opposed to that couree. The Minister of Landß: The hon. gentleman should not make oharges that are not true.

The Speaker: No member of the House, and particularly no Minister, should use suoh an expression, and I must aek the hon, gentleman to express regret in the usual way. The Minister of Linds: I always bow to your decision, sir, and I do so now. I retract the words I have stated, both to the hon. gentleman and to the Hou3e ; at the earoe time I must say this: that members of the Ministry should bs protected from attacks made on them.

Mr Speaker: I will always protect not only the Ministry but every member of this House from every improper attack so far as as it is in the power of the chair to do eo.— (Hear.) The hon. member for Clutha m*de a statement which he was perfectly entitled to do, from bia point of view, if he thought fit. Another hon. member ejaculated an expression {which was in contravention of the rules of this House. If the statement that was made was not entirely correct that hon. gentleman was perfectly entitled to object, but it must be said and done in a gentlemanly manner and in accordance with the forms of this House.—(Hear, hear.) I must now call on the hon. gentleman to express his regret for the statement he has made.

The Minister of Lands said that he with diew his remark.

Mr Mackenzie: I hope the Minister will accept my statement. I understand he has been falsely reported, but that does not alter the case that a majority of the Cabinet are in favor of the Private Schools Bill. The Minister of Education: I do not think that that is the case. Mr Mackenzie would be glad to be en lightened if he were wrong. Hon. Mr Fergus was certain that ths Hon. Mr Seddon was in favor of the Bill. The Minister of Education did not know on what authority Mr Fergus made suoh a statement.

Mr Mackenzie said he had to express his regret if the Minister of Lands had been misreported in the «Otago Daily Times.' The Minister of Lands: The • Otago D>ily Times'! ("Oh, oh!") Mr Mackenzie: I quite acsept the hon. gentleman's denial, and I am most happy to accept it. In the ' Otago Daily Times' he is reported to have said that he believed the Roman Catholics ware entitled to receive aid for their schools in the large centres. Mr Scobie Mackenzie: Hear, hear.

The Minister of Lands: I do not bold myself responsible for anything th&t the * Otago Daily Times' eays. (Cries of "Oh!") Mr Mackenzie said that the Government had the power to give the Catholics that justice which on the hustings the majority of them had promised, and he challenged them to give effect to their pledges. There were five members against two, and was the tail going to wag the body ?—(Laughter.) At this stage there was a personal altercation between the Minister of Lands and the member for Clutha as to whether the latter had kept his election pledges. When Mr *

Mackenzie sat down, The Minister of Works rose to contradict the statement that he was pledged to support the Private Schools Bill. Mr Mackenzie accepted the contradiction, but said that he had been so informed. The Minister of Works said that neither publicly nor privately was he ever pledged to mpport the Bill. * Hansard' would show thct on the last opportunity he voted against it.

Mr T. Mackenzie: On the last osoasion the Minister of Works did not vote at all. The Minister of Works: The last time I voted on the subject I voted against it, The Hon. Mr Fergus said that on the very last occasion Mr Seddon did not vote at all. It was understood that he was hedging for the Roman Catholic vote at the time,

Iffl-.i I—l,l ——— I The Hon. Mr Seddon said he was not in the vicinity of Parliament Buildings when the division in question took place. The incident then ended. Juse 2/. Regulating the Liquor Traffic A deputation from the New Zealand Alliance, including Messrs Glover, Meredith, and Joyce, waited on the Premier to-day for the purpose of laying jbefore the Government the views of the Alliance on yariouß matters now engaguiß the'»««»*»?. ™ Parliament in connection with the liquor truffij. They approved of the proposed cloiiuq of public-houses on poling day, the prevention of the sale of liquor to children, and of the Bill for placing restrictions on "tied houses, but they strongly objected to the measure promoted by the Hem,ed victuallers. The Premier u-plieiat length, stating that the Government could not always be united on great social questions like the administration of the liquor laws, and he thought it best that eich should be left to vote according to hi, own views. Personally be agreed with manv oi their points, but he was averse to existins licenses being taken away without compensation. He, however, approved of lic--n«cs being granted in future on the u-d--'standing that when the ratepayers deciied in favor of Prohibition no compensation should be given. Taxing Bondholders. Mr Rees'a proposals regarding the land t.-x and a tax on bondholders appear to I'jvo been favorably received, and it b stated that a majority of the House are in Livor of them. Sir George Grey will reserve h ; = oddrcss till the second reading of the Lma lax Bill, unless provoked into a speech dining the present debate in consequence of criticisms of Mr Rees's speech. The Dunedln Hospital. Parliament is to be asked to grant LB.GOO for the Danedin Hospital—L4.ooo to be voted thi3 year and the balance next year. The Te Aroua Seat. The nominations for the Te Aroha seat are due on June 30, and the election take 3 place ua July 9. The School of Mines. Tae vote already placed on the Estimates for the schools of mines will only permit of V2 lO !>eing granted to the Otago University. J'.:e tloa. Mr Seddon is desirous of making the 0.v.g0 school of more practical benefit, an 1 intends communicating with the Univorfcity Caui-oil on the subject. I further i'!idsrs:.ind that the Minister is prepared to eive a subsidy of £ for £ if a shed is built alongside the school of mines for purposes of crushing. Captain Fraser's Funeral. All the members of the Ministry attended detain Fraser's military funeral, and there v.-is besides a large following of members of bjth Houses. The body was carri.d on a gun cirruge. The Governor sent his carriage. A Curious Case. The Executive are considering the defi- ib!?nei3 of pardoning Walter Tricker, of Rirgitiliei, whose cace is a rather curious <i;k'. He was condemned to death in 1863 for ir.'.uJer, but upon evidence so slender that the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. It was afterwards proved that his al'll wis complete, and that it was a phv-ic.il impossibility for him to have been r> •.he seeao of the murder at the time it took place. Tricker wa3 accordingly re-lci-;d in IS7O, but had never been fully pirdoned. He ha 3 binced lived a reputable life, and accumulated considerable property, which he u anxious to dispose of by will. This he cannot do while sentence still hangs over him, eo tho residents of Ringitikei h:-.ve petitioned the Government to complete an act cf justice.