POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 8554, 29 June 1891, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Ocb Parliameniaby Reeqetei:.] WELLINGTON. June 27. The New Libel Bill. The new law of libel, as propounded In the Criminal Code Bill, seems to be made specially for the incarceration of editors, publishers, newsboys, and the public generally. Under its provisions every newsboy and person Belling a publication containing the alleged libel is made criniimilly responsible if the same ia considered to be obscene. This clause might be excaEi.be, perhaps, though it did punish an unfortunate newsboy ; but no excuse can be offered to the clause which allows a publisher to be simply charged with libel without lettir.g him know what the libel is with which he is actually charged, and which he has to answer from the criminal dock. Bis first intimation of what the libel is that he is oharged with will be when Bomeone in the witness-box gives evidence ; and I believe it will then be too late to make any defence. An indictment for libel may also simply assert that the matter published would make the publication criminal, without any preparatory averment showing how the matter written was in the tense alleged, and at the trial it will be sufficient; to prove that the matter published was criminal, either with or without any s&eii averment. Defamatory libel is defined as " Matter published without legal excuse or justification, either designed to insult the party against whom it is published, cr to injure the reputation of any person by exposing him to hatred, contempt, or ridicule"; fair reports of proceedings of Parliament and of courts of justice are protected, as also are fairdLscussicni and comments upon the conduct of any pertot.B who take part in public affairs ; and also fair comments and criticisms on all books and publications. The punishment for a libel known to be false is a term not exceeding two years' hard labor. Tuese matters hava been biought under my notice by Mr Jackson Palmer, who is a solicitor, and they certainly deserve attention from journalists. The Coat of tbe Trust Office Commission. It is stated that Messrs Larnach and Loughrey, before undertaking their duties as Trust Office Commissioners, claimed ten guineas per day for their services. There will be a pretty row in the House over the matter ere long, and an attempt will be made in the direction of what is known as " taxing their bill of costs/' Educational Retrenchment. Regarding ■ the Financial debate, the 'Post' expresses surprise that no member has urged the raising of the school age, rearranging the standards, charging fees for the higher standards, and abolishing education boards. From these sources it declares that a quarter of a million or more could be saved, on the education vote, and the money applied to the relief of Customs taxation on the necessaries > of life. Thie would be a practical policy, and one, it adds, that would commend itself to the general pablio for approval. Whatever portion of the Government's financial proposals pass into law unscathed, it is absolutely eertain that the basis of the income tax will be materially changed in the direction of relieving commercial people. Railway Matters. Two matters of importance to th* railway servants were brought under tW notice of Chief Commissioner M'Kerrow to-day by Messrs Kelly (Invercargill) and Newman (flott). The first question was that of

crintirg additional holidays to surface-men, who only enjoy three holidays per year: at presaat. Mr M'Kerrow promised to take the matter into serious oonaideration, and tbe deputation, while expecting thta answer, m? it only means keeping the request " Readily in view." The other matter was in reeard to the fund that has accumulated in the shape of fines from railway employe*. The deputation pointed out that when an employ* was injured in the discharge of his duty he was merely put on half-pay lor three months, and thereafter on quarter-pay. They bnggested that this accumulated fund might be so applied that the men would, in the cise of accident, have full pay. Mr .M'Kerrow replied that the fund was in to hands of the Public Trustee, and the ORimissionen had no authority to deal with it. Either air Kelly or Dr Newman v,V\ pat a question in the House to the M i lister of Works with respect to the allocation of the fund in the manner de f The " Man In the Street" Haw Mr Plnkerton. I. the conrae of Friday's debate Mr P ■ kerton stated that he had been informed ?• ..- Mr Duthie (who is one of Wellingtons 1 - ,t iron merchants) had asserted that he « :-.H not keep any man in his employment ••«.■■■ did not see eye to eye with himself r i.icallv. Mr Dnthie was not present v•:■-, the"statement was made, but he took , , ion to rise this evening and deny that b- i-'-i ever made any such statement or iv-.vrt.iug that by implication could be so e tiued. Mr Pinkerton gracefully exp. .a his readiness to accept the hon. ' , .aau's assurance, though he had been : -at Mr Duthie had said so—certainly r. ti« the House.—Mr Duthie: I have i, •> vr said so, either in the House or out of ir, o" upon any occasion.

Ex-Inspector Goodall. \ - iucident in the Te Kooti episode of l-> u called to mind by the petition of cvl Goodall for reinstatement in ten lice service. Mr Goodall says that he his b\a informed by the Defence Minister t'•■.:.:• when the choice of inspector for reup it lay between himself aii-1 Inspector M'Govern, and the reason why iie was selected was that it was alleged } " nd done something cowardly in regard t.. I K( oti's arrest. Mr Goodall strongly ti : Ls that there was any ground for the ci..r: , and says he can only Buppose tho Government have been misled by some ( • y-:;r'- statements. As a matter of fact, he v. i-ir ti.dt he did arrest Te Kooti, but Major P --;-, who was sent with a military force to t him, did all he could to prevent the ar. :, even going so far as to threaten to " .-.- to pieces "Mr Goodall and the cou- ?!.;.: j who were with him. Subsequently, o ; .ring that Major Porter and Captain WL cc had charged him with cowardice, he r- > .-tt.d all the circumstances to the Com■ n\ ■■■■'•-wr of Police, and asked for an inq'!:•'.•, vhich had not yet been granted to hi; .'' fie therefore claims that he has been c: •'■•-lied behind his back and without b: - iveo a trial. As he is still both able r... ; ling to continue in the force, he asks t. t{'use to inquire into the matter, and f; • his reinstatement in office, or such other le-'Vi 3he may be entitled to. Junk 29. Our Coal measures. Several important amending provisions h:'.-,\ Iren made in the Coal Mines Bill. The j, --\-g 0 f leases will now vest in the Slir-.ii-er of Mines in lieu of the land boards I-•; h.-herto. In mining districts the warden n: r : first recommend the granting ; in other c: is the Commissioner of Waste Lands. .-s ;. '• of transfers are not to be cr- jid till ten days after the end of the u- .v 'lowing session, and must be laid on t-v >. re of the House. In case of flooding ti-'.- J> neglect, ten days' notice can be £ v Mid the mine be taken over and v u '-. Returns must be made monthly to

t;., i.:uter, and it is made compulsory to £ , on reasonable terms, coal to t'■:/ s-.vernment railways or those run 1),- c i'paaiea, and to ships, British avl ij:eign, but not of course in ca vo tion of international law. The ce ii '->sof managers are of two kinds—- " 1 :;..,y," by examination, and 4, Bervicß." S- v e certificates are to be given for ten y-Mi•-' txperienue underground. They will qa-i fy where no machinery is used. Eight hoiiiha legal day's work, and forty-eight hj •:•. ? tj count for one week. _ The provh 0-1 recommended by the Miners' Conf.; cr at Westport two years ago are inc'.a ■.'.]. The Crown baa power to resume Hi':, j ;nd work them. Compensation in sii.i c :<ea is to be awarded under the Pd i: • ; .Vorks Act, 1882, a soal mine being re.. .;'.-I as a public work. Forthepurp '-.. 1 farming a relief fund in aid of the 1; • :■•, of coal miners killed or injured, ev iv-see or owner haa to pay one halfP- ' :.r each ton of coal raised into a {; ' iiich will he controlled by the M, . and the Public Trustee.

; he Hospital Deputation. j: i;,:chelor and Mr Miller left by the JV ,:"■• yesterday, and will inspect the C• i'■:; ucch and Timaru Hospitals en r i aching Dunedin on Tuesday night. VV:. ; i Wellington they made a complete in- ■-•:! n of the Wal hospital and lunatic ssO. n. With the interpal arrangements of tb' W Jiogfon Hospital (which ha 9 cost the col' :; L") 0"000, while up to the present the G<'■ ■'■■- • ; Government have not spent a shilling orvv Liuuedininstitutionjthey express them telvrs .. irticularly pleased, especially with th- :;.I contrivance for carrying hot water a".-l i>nr\ from the kitchen to the wards. im , . *tely on viewing the place Mr Miller or v ;il one of these contrivances for the l).i i.< Hosji'-al, but Dr Batchelor has requ . a that he should be allowed to make a prci.-ut of it to the institution, and his wish has b.en complied with. The Totaltsator Tax. A (iTort will be made by the Hon. G. ML V, Captain Russell, and others, to get th- > isator tax reduced to 1£ per cent. Tr > i'.-tourer said he anticipated raising Ll'(U-(.0 a year from this source, but the p-o -J tax of 5 per cent., calculated on li--.' (isen's investments, would realise LIS OCO. The supporters of the machine arc ' • with the taxing proposal, as it the continuance of the totalisator for s'vi.f years. Legislative Council Reform. Ti-.-> Select Committee of the Upper C!r m •'•■••■ to whom the Council Reform Bill h^" ; -"'i referred had a lively meeting on S-*i..". v The majority of the Committee ifVi.'- - ou the Council having the right to elc :r<-i'Own Speaker in future, but the At-. -e> General will not agree to that being taken out of the hands of the Govtr°ii.ent of the day, and he threatens to abaul ,n the measure rather than give way. A- to -day's committee meeting it was deciied to remit the Legislative Council Brf r ai Kill to the Upper House, leaving m -■iiiij- -"? of that Chamber to deal with the Q ,i ' .- of the tenare of appointments and the -mo i tment of future Speakers. The At-- -■ v-General distinctly stoted that if thK ' ci-n of the Speaker were persisted in the Bli wi.uld be lost. The Criminal Code Bill is t n be reported on on Tuesday by the Statue s Revision Committee without amendThe Taxation Proposals. Up to the present the Taxation Bills have no- h-;tu drafted, but I hear that somereadju -fneat of the proposals is probable with a vie v to meeting the criticisms of their own ■uc-'iTr."ra as to the burdens imposed by the incom-- tax on small traders and people with Mmi'-d incomes from property such as The extreme Radicals are eviden'y not satisfied with the Budget, and I shall n.t be surprised to find Sir George G»>v moving in the direction of taxing both boadi.ohleri and absentees. Such a tax would undoubtedly find favor with a large section of the House. Mr Fish feels very steely on the proposed reduction of the fehnA nostageand on the wide distinotion mane between the incomes derivable from comiasreiai people as opposed to professional men, aud when he speaks tomorrow he will certaia'y deal soma hard knocks to the fiovcrfftnent. House Arrangements. C--**M«rable alterations in the arrangement <-■* :he strangers' accommodation in the -] u-e are now being carried oat. Henceforth no tickets will be issued for be» Wod'the Chair, that jportion of the Chamber bein« , ,s med for distinguished visitors and the pnv*te secretaries of Ministers. To .prov'e far those who desire to ws*cb thp iraceed ing», thetVgislative Councillors' .**•> fcry ia to be by taking in a portiqn

of the upper Press room. The M l*»*» are to be provided with a platform atthe far end of toe Cbamber,>oing the Speaker s chair. ____—■—