POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 11666, 28 September 1901, Page 3

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[Faox Oto Parliamentary Reporter.] v WELLINGTON, September 28. THE LATE HON. MATHEW HOLMES. The House adjourned yesterday afternoon till the evening as a mark of respect to the late Hon. Mathew Holmes. In proposing the resolution to that effect, the Premier described the deceased as a sturdy pioneer—one who had shown a noble example, who had proved himself a worthy colonist, and had lived to see progress mado. Personally he was most affable, and commanded the highest eßteem and respect of those with whom he hod been associated. He had imported and reared stud stock in Otago.— r **• Thomson spoke of his association with the late Mr Holmes in the Provincial Council, and the Minister of Lands referred to him as the pioneer introducer of tho best Lincoln and Leicester sheep to Otago. For years his stock had occupied a foremost ploce in tho show ring in various parts of the colony. RAILWAY DEPARTMENTAL LIABILITY.

The liability of the Railway Department in connection with the destruction of some sheep at a level crossing near Waikouaiti was raised in the House yesterday afternoon. The Railways Committee, repotting on the petition of William Diack, of Waikouaiti, who asked compensation for sheep killed by a train at Diack Crossing, near Tumai, on October 17, reported that they had no recommendation to make.—Mr T. Mackenzie moved that the petition be referred back to the Committee for further consideration. He alleged that the sheep had been killed by a ballast train, owing to tho negligence of the driver, and humorously observed that now a Farmers' Union had been formed the farmers would make the Government sit up.—Mr It. M'Kenzie, chairman of the Railways Committee, said it would be useless to refer the report hack, as there was absolutely no evidence in support of the petitioner's claim. It seemed to_ him that the object of the member for Waihemo was to curry favor with the Farmers' Union, and to do a bit of cheap electioneering.—Other members of the Committee expressed the opinion that the carelessness was on the part of those driving the sheep, and not with those in charge of the train.—After further discussion, Mr Mackenzie, expressed himself satisfied with the Minister's assurauce that the Railway Department would look into the matter,.and he withdrew his proposal that tho petition be referred back to tho Committee. PARLIAMENTARV AMENITIES. Speaking on the superannuation scheme for railway servants, Mr Hutcheson said that the member for Wellington Suburbs only made a habit of being in his place on such evenings as there was a late train to the Hutt, when his constituents could be present, or when he could spare time from court work or Dix's show. Mr Wilford admitted that he was a frequent visitor to Dix's Company, and ho honestly recommended Mr Hutcheson to go there, believing that he would make an excellent corner man, without even going to the trouble of blacking his face. The latter remark had to be withdrawn as being personal. TROOPERS' GRIEVANCES.

During the discussion last evening on the Imprest Supply Bill, Mr Massey complained of the fact that troopers of the Fourth Contingent who had supplied their own horses were not made an allowance for the cost of their mounts, as promised. He also drew attention to the way in which returning troopers of the First and Second Contingents bid been kept an unduly long period in Australia on their way home, and that those who asked for leave to come home immediately after the Harlech Castle reached Sydney had their fares deducted from their pay.—The Premier said that one of the conditions under which the men were enrolled was that their equipment was to be the property of the Crown. Many of the men supplied their own horses, some of which were afterwards bought from t them by the Imperial Government. The New Zealand Government were not being paid for horses handed over by troopers to the Imperial Government, but where those horses had belonged to troopers personally in the first instance' ho should not object to the men being paid for them by the Imperial authorities. The troopers by the Harlech Castle wanted to remain in Australia for the Commonwealth inaugural celebrations, and he (Mr Seddon) eventually gave way, although some of the men bad simply taken French leave. Those men who wanted to come back to New Zealand, and not wait for the others, were allowed to do so on signing an agreement to pay their own fares, which were to be deducted from their pay; but he (Mr Seddon) would see that these men were now refunded the amounts that had been so deducted. It was pointed out that many troopers provided their own horses in order to get into the contingents. RAILWAY CLASSIFICATION AND SUPERANNUATION. The rumor circulated yesterday that further consideration of tho Estimates was to bo intercepted by an amendment proved to be correct. As soon as Supply was reached Mr Bollard moved—"That it is desirable that the Government should formulate this session proposals for the further classification and superannuation of railway servants, in order that the necessary provision be made on this year's Estimates." He declared that a superannuation scheme was necessary, and that the Tailway servants clamored for it. Many station-masters were bemg paid a smaller salary than men in linear capacities in other branches of the pnuJc service.—Mr Monk seconded tho amendment.—Mr Wflford said he was vitally interested in a superannuation scheme for railway servants, in that the Pctone workshops were in his electorate. For two years he had been urging on the Minister of Railways the need of introducing a Bill dealing with the superannuation of railway servants, and it was within his own knowledge that such a measure had been drafted, and was at the present time under consideration of the Cabinet. When bringing down kx amended classification scheme the Minister should also consider the claims of " permanent casuals."—Mr G. W. Russell said that, like other members who had been receiving telegrams from railway hands in various parts of the colony, he had urged cm the Minister of Railways the necessity for pushing on a classification and superannuation scheme. A deputation of members had been arranged to wait on the Minister in the matter.—The Premier raised » point of order. The resolution stated that provision must be made in this year's Estimates for a superannuation scheme, and as that meant increasing the cost of the service it must be brought down by Governor's Message. The Government approved of the first part of the resolution.—The Deputy-Speaker ruled thafc the latter part of the amendment was not in order, and that it could not be put.—Mr Bollard said he bad no desire to hamper the GovernHe had only proposed the resolution because he was dissatisfied •with an answer that he had received from the Minister of Railways a few days ago. He asked leave to withdraw the words " in order that the necessary provision be made wi this year's Estimates."—The Minister of itaflways regretted, that the resolution had been proposed. There was no necessity to attempt to force the hand of the Government on the question. A superannuation scheme was a most difficult and intricate subject to deal with, and he had been workDig very steadily at it for a long time. It was a matter that must be made a« perfect M possible before it was submitted to the House. A Bill had been prepared, and had been under consideration for months, but it •was the difficulties surrounding such a scheme that had prevented its being brought before the House at an earlier date The great difficulty was to have a scheme which would be lasting in its effects, and which would be unassailable in years to come. Members all over the House had been •noons to have the question pushed forward, and, as Mr Russell had said, he had been asked to receive a deputation on the subject. Personally he had had the matter under his consideration ever since he had beta Minister of Railways. The scheme had been examined actuarially both last year and this, so it was evident that the Government required no stirring up to introduce a Bill dealing with the matter.—Mr Pirani tmed that the BHI should be passed as a

measure of justice to those Tailway servants who were not fairly dealt with in comparison to members of equal rank in other branches of the' Civil Service. He objected to being told that tho scheme must be " swallowed as introduced, otherwise it would be withdrawn. However much the Minister of Railways might desire to do justice to a certain section of the railway employes, it was impossible for him to do that unless the Treasurer was equally anxious. Therefore it was the proper thing that the matter should be. brought before the House, so that members should show tho Government that they were as fully prepared to r support such a scheme as was the Minister of Railways.—Mr Lang said there was a demand throughout the railway service for a superannuation scheme.—The motion as amended was carried on the voices. i '.'. ' JOTTINGS. An Imprest Supply Bill (No. 4) for £570,000 was put through all its stages by both branches of the Legislature last evening. "The cry is still they come." The Minister of Marine yesterday gave uotice of tho introduction of the Inspection of Machinery Act Amendment Bill. " f must say that if we wauted to know what the hon. gentleman meant, it must Ims before he started, because when he had finished he did not himself know what he meant."—Mr Lawry on Mr T. Mackenzie. " I went along by the Premier's residence the other day, and what do you think I saw?—a flagstaff, with'a pilot Jack flying from it. Now, we all know that this is a signal intimating that a pilot is required on board; so the Premier is obliged to confess at last that he requires a pol-'tical pilot to guide his way."—Mr J. Hutcheson,