POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 11659, 20 September 1901, Page 7

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

JTftok Gun pA»LiAJtftK¥A«T RnPf)»t«B,] WELLINGTON. September 20. • PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS. Several petitions were .recently received waklhg that the positions in the public schools of the colony may be open to the most suitable candidate,'regardless of sex, and that- in all instances etpifrl remuneration may be given for equal work. Evidence having been given on the subject before the Public Petitions Committee, they yesterday repotted (1) that the principle of equal pay for equal wdrk is more nearly attained by the proposed colonial scale of salaries than under existing circumstances, but at the same time the Committee are of opinion that, without increasing the cost of primary education, the proposed scale of teachers’ salaries for assistants should bo sq adjusted as to bring about a nearer approximation, of equal par for equal work; (2) that the separate schools for girls at present established be retained, and the principle extended at the discretion of education boards, a minimum average attendance for separate schools to bo fixed by regulation or otherwise; (3) that the system of classification for the issue of teachers’ certificates so long in operation, and which has Worked so satiafactoriuly, be retained ; (4) that the minimum salary of .certificated teachers in charge of aided schools bo fixed at a cost of not less than £7O, ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Ministers, in answer to questions, stated inter alia : That, a, vote, would be placed on the Supplementary Estimates for acquiring relics and mementoes of the Maori race. The (’rovernmsnt. also considered that legislation should ho passed giving the Government pre-emptive right over those relics.—Mr Monk. That the amended railway classification scheme was in hand, but it -was Impossible to say when it would be brought down to the House.—Mr Bollard. That the Government could not see their way to grant subsidies to assist athletic bod’es —Mr Barclay. That the Government had no power to order an inquiry into the charges which led to the retirement of Mr Lee, inspector of schools at Wellington.—Mr Fisher. That the Government were awaiting communications from the Agent-General before deciding as to whether the colony shall co-operate with the Australian .States in the formation of an Australasian Chamber .of Commerce.—Mr Field. That there was no present intention of gazetting December 1, tire birthday of Queen Alexandra, as a public holiday.— Mr Lang. That there was no foundation for the renort that an intimation had been conveyed to the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce that if the district would select a- man the Government would appoint him to tho Upper .House.—Mr Ell. That the departmental estimate of straightening and duplicating the Hutt Railway was £250,000; that the work was not a matter of urgency; and that there w6re many other places which had a prior claim, having no railway communication.— Mr Field. MR J. ALLEN’S CHARGES RE THE TAGUS MEN. WLen the House met last evening the Allen episode was revived on a motion of which notice had been given by the Prc’mier*. It will be remembered that on Friday ■ night, during a somewhat heated debate, the member for Bruce charged the Premier with having caused the death of * certain returned members of the contingents by the Tagus by compelling them, against the recommendation of the medical officer, to. land at the Bluff instead of at, a warmer part of the colony, out of a desire to please the people of Invercargill. This statement was subsequently withdrawn, and the discussion terminated on notice of motion being given by the Premier that the words used by Mr Allen be not reported ‘in ‘Hansard,’ or that the Deputy-Speaker and the Acting-Chairman of Committees (Major Steward) go through the reports of the speeches of Mr Allen and those of other hon. members as prepared for ‘ Hansard,’ and delete from them any repetitions of'the statement objected.to, and all references to the words used by the hon. member for Bruce. It being now proposed that the authority of the House be given to the DeputySpeaker and the Chairman of Committees to revise the report of the discussion and delete all references to Mr Allen’s words, Mr Massey moved as an amendment—- “ That the authority of the House be given to the Deputy-Speaker and the ActingChairman of Committees, together with the particular member concerned, to revise the speeches of members delivered in Committee of Supply on the evening of tho 15th September, and to delete from such speeches all repetitions, either in effect or otherwise. of the words used by the member for Bruoe, which said words were afterwards withdrawn,” It was resolved on a division by 30 votes to 26 that the present ‘debate be not reported in ‘Hansard.’ Mr Berries protested against the liberties of members being taken away -by the suppression of the reports in ‘Hansard.’ Mr Allen was referring again to the words he had used, when The Premier challenged him to repeat outside the House what he had staled in the House on Friday night. Mr Allen expressed bis willingness to repeat the words if the Premier wished. •' The Premier warned the hon; member that if he did so he would not escape again with a mere withdrawal of the words. Mr Allen; I would prefer that the whole debate should appear in ‘ Hansard.’ My conscience is perfectly dear on what I said on Friday night. After further discussion the debate was adjourned. . Mr Allen, in the course of a personal explanation, stated that he had made his withdrawal on Friday night for two reasons firstly, because it was the expressed wish of members on both sides of the (House that he should withdraw the words; and secondly, ho withdrew the words in a fit of generosity, and for no other reason. The Premier said he regretted that Mr Allen had not made that statement at the time, because he (Mr Scddon) would not have accepted the position. EXPORT OF ARMS. The Export of Arms Bill, which prohibits the export to any country of war materials, unless approved by the Governor, was passed through committee in the House last evening without amendment, and subsequently read a third time. NATIVE LANDS ACQUIRED. The area of native lands finally acquired By the Government up to the 3.lst March, 1900, was 7,532,705 acres, and the amount finally acquired from that date to 31st March last was 206.954 acres, making a total area of 7,789,659 acres. Thu uncompleted purchases on 51st March last represented a total of 542,454 acres passed through tao Native Land Court, and 78,776 not passed through the Court. The total net expenditure from Ist April, 1900, to 31st March, 1901, was £28,687, and the expenditure to 31st March,- 1900, was £1,936,281, making a total expenditure to 31st March, 1901, of £1,965,969. ARREARS OP TROOPERS’ PAY. Further reference was made in tho House yesterday afternoon to the vexed question of the delays that have taken place in paving’ returned troopers from South Africa the money due to them for their services.— Mr Allen, in questioning the Premier 1 on the subject, said one man who had returned helpless had £SO to come to him, and could get nothing; and when passing through Oamaru the other day five men of the Fourth and Fifth Contingents informed him, that thev had not yet received the pay due to them.—The Premier said no one regretted more than he that there should bo any delay at all, but he could not accomplish impossibilities. They had to have the paysheets of the men made up before they could p»y them, The trouble seemed to have arisen through the men not having been paid in South Africa, and the result was that tho Defence Department here had to make out the accounts for months back. Ho told iho Under-Secretary Hfr Defence that where the men had money owipg to them advances

were Ed be made to the full amount, and that they could make out the accounts afterwards, nut there was ohe case in which a man had actually drawn more than was owing to him. ■ He had given Instructions that the staff should be kept working overtime until the accounts had all been made out. THE ALLENDALE COAL MINE. There was a conflict of opinion between the Premier and Mr James Allen on Saturday morning with respect to the precautions taken at the AUehdale coal mine. As an outcome Of tire dispute the Premier yesterday gave notice to (hove for a return giving the evidence of Inspector Green before the Goal Mines Commission with respect to the Kaitangata and Allendale mines. Thereupon the member for Bruce gave notice of his intention to ask for a return of all the evidence given Concerning these two mines. A PERTINENT QUESTION. I Mr Barclay wants to know whether there is any foundation for the statement that the accounts in connection with the Royal visit to Dunedin, more particularly in regard to supplies for the veterans’ luncheon, are still unpaid. ENGINEER’S REPORT ON COAL j MINES. j From tiie annual report of the Inspecting ' Engineer of the Mines Department it appears that during the year ended 51st December, 1900, there were 167 mines in operation, employing 2,460 persons. The ave- ! rage output per person was 44,471 tons. There were four fatal accidents during the year, and very few of the non-fatal accidents ate likely to bo attended with disablement of a permanent character. A new coal mining area has been opened, up at Pnponga, near Collingwood, where coal of excellent qualitv. especially for household purposes, has been discovered. He adds ■there is a possibility that the coal from the main seam may be of considerable value in connection with the future working of the iron deposits at Parapara, in the event of the process of smelting with “ producer gas” being adopted. The coal has also the appearance of being good steam coal. PROMISSORY OATHS. At midnight the Promissory Oaths Bill was taken in committee. The object of the measure is to relieve justices of the necessity of taking the oaths when reappointed, and also declares that when the Sovereign dies members of tho Assembly need not take the oath to his successor till Parliament meets. Messrs Herrics, Massey, and G. J. Smith urged that if there was a necessity for the measure a clause ought to be inserted validating the acts of any justices who had not taken the oath, ond tho Alin is ter of Justice said ho had no objection to such a provision. Mr Napier said that for sanitary reasons members of the medical profession and other witnesses often refused to take tho oath in court. ; Ho moved that it be competent for any witness to bo sworn by affirmation instead of kissing the Bible where they objected to do so on sanitary grounds.-—The Hon. Mr M’Gowan objected that this was not the place to iusert such a proposal, and tho clause was negatived on the voices. Mr Barclay moved a new clause, as follows:—“ All the official acts of any justice of tho peace who has not heretofore taken the necessary oath shall be as valid as if the said justice had taken the oath.”—The Premier said that if his colleague had made a promise to insert such a clause he did nob like to vote against him, but ho protested most vigorously against the suggestion that the Government found it necessary to validate their acts.—The proposed clause was negatived by 23 to 12, the Minister of Justice being the only member of the Government Voting in its favor. The Bill was reported without amendment, and after debate read a third time and passed. MORTGAGES OF LAND BILL. In committee the schedule was slightly altered, and at a late stage the Bill passed its finalffetages. CHARITABLE GIFTS BILL. This measure, of which the Native Minister has charge, and which provides that all gifts by will or deed for the benefit of the public or of any public institution shall be free of nil duties, was pub through committee. i Clause 2 (interpretation) gave rise to much | debate.—Mr J. Allen moved to include “ religious institutions ” within the definition of public institutions, but the Premier objected, and explained that tho Bill was specially designed to meet the gift of Cornwall Park by Dr Logan Campbell to tho people of Auckland.—Eventually the member for Bruce withdrew his amendment, and the interpretation danse was struck out on the Premier’s motion. Several Auckland members urged that provision should be made specifically excluding Dr Campbell’s gift from dutv, but the Premier objected, on the ground that this was a general measure amending the Stamp Duty Act. Sooner than adopt the suggestion, he would support a separate measure of one clause known ns the Cornwall Park Bill, and thus perpetuate the name of the venerable ex-Mayor of Auckland.

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