WELLINGTON NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8988, 28 February 1888, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] Wellington, Monday. MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS. j The Hon. Mr. Mitchelson was to go to Auckland by the Takaptina, to-morrow, but the pressure of business in his office will delay his departure for a few days. For the same reason the departure of the Hon. Mr. Fergus and the Hon. Mr. Fisher is also postponed. school buildings I'U.N D. Having observed in the newspapers, complaints as to the smallness of the shares of this fund, I took the liberty of asking the Minister of Education, to-day, for some information on the subject. A good deal of interest,. I understand, attaches just now to the allocation of this fund in the several educational districts. The Minister of Education, in reply to my question, regretted that there should be any complaints on the subject which the Government was unable to remedy. Ho could only say that all the Boards throughout the colony would be treated exactly alike ; but the expectations of some Boards wore far beyond the moans of the Government to satisfy. He had received applications for money on the basis of so-called requirements which could not be granted. Some of these, ho thought, were very handsomo requirements indeed, far beyond the need of the present time, when the Government was trying every possible expedient to save expense. One Board asked for a sum nearly equal to the whole amount. A Board in another place asked a larger sum for no better reason than that a neighbouring Board got a large sum last year. To comply with such demands would prevent any equitable division of the fund among all the Boards. I gathered from the Minister that tho professed needs of any Board would absorb nearly tho whole of the fund if it were distributed as they wished; moreover, tho Government had a very much less sum available for distribution than the Boards of Education throughout the colony appeared to think. To obviate any possible complaint on tho ground of unfairness, it has boon resolved to distribute the fund to the Boards according to the population of their districts, at the rate of a shilling per head. This distribution will at once absorb £29,000 of tho whole fund, leaving only one or two thousand pounds. The reason that this small remainder is not divided is simply because it would yield only a minute fraction,which would hardly be worth distributing. It may bo mentioned as exhibiting the difference between asking and getting that one Board which asked for £25,000 will have to put up with less than £3000, and others will have to build their schools according to the length of their plank. There is a question that some members of Boards will be inclined to ask, viz., "How do you reckon that £29,000 will absorb the whole fund, seeing that £40,000 was voted for this purpose I could not understand tho matter myself, and was obliged to ask the Minister of Education for a little further enlightonment. Here is the answer: "This year's vote was anticipated to the extent of £10,000 by the late Government, which leaves for distribution only £30,000." This is the net result. The late Government spent £10,000 by anticipation in that way, purchasing credit for generosity and liberality— to put it in the laconic way it was given to me by tho Minister of Education, "They spent our money while hey could do so, and they will probably denounce their successors as cheeseparers, using possibly even less elegant terms of reproach." They gave an example in this particular as in others of their readiness to draw upon tho future. There is, therefore, £10,000 less for school buildings this year than would have been the case had not this year's vote been anticipated. They take credit for being nice generous people, having the interests of education at heart, while they have taken the money that should pay for school buildings this year. Tho Government will be obliged to endure their reproaches, but ib is fair that the Boards should know in what way their income has been forestalled. Whatever happens, the Government and this department are resolved to keep the account straight, and to leave it straight when they leave office. They will put the financial part of their administration upon an honest footing. public WORKS. Tho Hon. Mr. Mitchelson transacted business in his office to-day. He was unusually busy, so that there was little time to ascertain from him any account of his visit to the West Coast. I have, however, gleaned a few particulars from a source which may be relied upon for accuracy. Tho Hon. Minister of Public Works found party feeling running very high on the West Coast, both at Westport and Greymouth, but a wrong impression prevails as to the extent and character of tho harbour work dono at both places. Tho malcontents who clamoured against the engineer are, I understand, a small bub very noisy body. The local authorities, aa responsible political bodies, expressed themselves satisfied with tho work that was done before its progress was arrested in the manner which the Tate Parliamentary inquiry has rendered notorious. They are content that the work shall be done, whoever does it. Tho malcontents rage because their notions are not carried out; besides there is the personal element in the contest, which throws dust into the eyes of patient inquiry. I cannot speculate as to what tho Hon. Minister for Public Works may recommend when this matter will be discussed in Cabinet, but thore appears to me to bo very little doubt that he will recommend the work in both harbours to be taken over by the Government. CROWN AND NATIVE LAND RATING ACT. I understand that the progress of the Minister of Public Works while on the West Coast was met witli remonstrance against the abolition of this Act. The rates under tho Act, it was represented, were the only means available for repairing and maintaining local roads. Most of the territory on the West Coast is Crown land, and if the rates be abolished the Government will have to be applied to for assistance to keep the roads. The subject, I presume, will be referred to the Cabinet. AUCKLAND UAREOUR HOARD. The Post this evening, referring to the financial position of the Board, performs the role, of "Job's comforter," in the following fashion : — This is, indeed, a very grave position, and threatens, wo fear, a further trespass on the credit of the colony. The more Harbour Boards there are in financial difficulties the stronger will be the political combination in Parliament to lcob the colony, by transferring to it the liabilities so recklessly incurred by the local bodies. Taranaki, Auckland, Ofcago, and a host of smaller places may do a little logrolling, to relieve themselves at the expense of the rest of the colony." The Wellington harbour, in conclusion, is congratulated on the soundness of its financial position.