THE HON. E. MITCHELSON

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9016, 31 March 1888, Page 5

THE HON. E. MITCHELSON

ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND.

AN INTERVIEW.

The Hon. E. Mitchelson, Minister of Public Works and Native Minister, arrived from tho East Coast at an early hour yesterday morning, in the Government steamer Stella, after a somewhat prolonged and rough passage. A reporter from the Herald office waited on the Minister at his residence, Remuera, yesterday evening, and was received in Mr. Mitchelson's usual frank and courteous manner.

HIS STAY IN AUCKLAND. In reply to the first inquiry as to the probable duration of his stay in Auckland, Mr. Mitchelson said ho would be in Auck-/ land till Wednesday, when he would go to the Thames, returning on Thursday, and proceed on Friday to Waikato, m route for Wellington." " You will have a very short time in Auckland ?" ,

" Oh, I shall be in town until Wednesday. Of course, Monday and Tuesday are holidays, but I shall be in town during the forenoons, and I will have to-morrow (Saturday), when I will be git the offices in the Railway Department. I will also have part of Thursday ; for I shall return to Auckland on Wednesday night from the Thames if there is a Into boat." OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. "When is it proposed to open Parliament ?" " Either at the end of April or the first days of May. The date has not yet been definitely fixed, but if not in April, it will be very early in May." NATIVE LAND POLICY. . " In regard to the native land policy of the Government, is it proposed that there should be any changes?" "Yes, there will be very important changes indeed. The Native Lands Administration Act will be repealed, and a new Bill introduced.for dealing with native lands, introducing practically what will amount to giving the Maoris power to deal with their own lands, to shut them up or sell them as they please." MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY. " Has any decision been arrived at regarding the Main Trunk railway ?" " Not. yet. Nothing definite is decided, but I think it will be stopped temporarily." RETRENCHMENT POLICY. " How are the Government progressing with their retrenchment policy ?" " We hope to bo able to fulfil our promises. In fact, lam sure we will, but we have found it a very hard task indeed. It is sometimes hnrd on individuals, but we have tried to temper it so as to bear as lightly as possible on individuals. Our largest saving will be effected by re-classify-ing the Civil Service and amalgamating offices. We are going to introduce a Bill placing civil servants in classes, and paying them accordingly. Owing to the growth of the Civil Service, and the increases in salaries which have taken place on account of length-of-service men were drawing large salaries for the performance of unimportant duties, and others who did a much larger amount of work were not well paid. We propose now that every man entering the service shall enter at a certain grade, and while he remains in this grade he can only receive a fixed salary ; there can be no increase. The only increase in his salary must arise from his passing to another grade." WEST COAST lIARF.OCR BOARDS. " I notice there has been a good deal sAid recently about the West Coast Harbour Boards. Is there anything in it ?" " I expect there will be a great row over these harbours on the West Coast. I have been down there and found that there was a great deal of corruption in the expenditure of the public money, and I recommended the Government to take over tho harbours. Tho work done is well done, but tho money was extravagantly expended. We called on the Harbour Board to resign, but they refused to do so, and now we shall gazette them out of office, and put in officers, of the Government instead. These harbours are not in the same position as Taranaki, where the people are themselves liable for the interest. The West Coast harbours have: not only the coal reserves but the re venue from our railway lines, and the Government is responsible for the interest and sinking fund. I therefore think it best, that the whole works should be taken over by the Government." RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS. "What is being done in regard to the appointment'of Railway Commissioners "The Agent-General is instructed to make the strictest inquiries into the capabilities and status of the applicants for the office of Chief Commissioner; to boil the number down to four, anil to remit their names with a recommendation. It is a most important appointment, and it is necessary we should have the best man available."

"Since Mr. Maxwell's return from England, there has been a pood deal of correspondence here objecting to his appointment on the railway commission." "Of th.-\t I have taken no notice, nor do I mean to, but although I do not say so officially, I do not think Mr. Maxwell will bo, one of the Commissioners. The telegrams to the Auckland papers are frequently misleading. For instance, the other day there was a communication with regard to the grain rates. The charge formerly was by the ton of 22401b, but as there were not weighbridges always available, wo agreed to allow 10 bags of 2-101 b each to count as a ton, thus allowing 24001b. This, however, was taken advantage of by procuring larger bags, which grew to such a size that our men could hardly move them, and, of course, as this was carried on to defraud the revenue, we had to interfere. I may tell you that in Canterbury we had no trouble whatever. There lie farmers have weighing machines with •ach threshing machine, and weigh the ,rain into the sacks 2401bs to each, but in Uago they increased the size of the sacks, a d defrauded the revenue. In future, irefore, the grain will be carried by the to, passed over the weighbridge, and the ho est farmers who hitherto have been alleged 24001bs to the ton will only be alloyed 22401bs in consequence of the dishomst practices carried on by others." THE GISBORNE BREAKWATER. " lsee you have received a deputation in regar to the Gisborne harbour works." " Irs ; when I reached Gisborne I found that faero wa3 great excitement and dissatisfaction in regard to the breakwater, and its site and construction. The recommendation of Sir John Coode Had been do par toe from, and I did not see that the people w-mld be able to pay the interest, seeing thit they asked Government to guarantee. £5000 a-year interest. I telegraphed to the Premier, who has appointed Mr. Higginson a commissioner to make strict inquiries regarding the site, and a! S o in regard to tiio ability of the district o pay the interest. I fear that they will get into the same position as Taranaki, but in regard to the latter I am determined that tie Government shall not take it over."

The following cxtract from the Poverty Bay Herald contains the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson's reply to tie deputation ?—" The Hon. Mr. Mitchelson said with regard to the money grant, ht would tell them at once that the Government would not agree to any such proposal. It weald be a very bad precedent to establish, but even if the Government consented to th» course suggested, Parliament would certainly refuse to give its assent. The burden had been undertaken by the ratepayers with their eyes open, and they Vould have to bear the liability. The district had not got a fair share of tho public expenditure. It was placed in the unfoitunate position that it could not be connected by rail with other places, and it was necessary that harbour works should be undertaken. Although the Government couH not undertake to piy interest on the . nan, he thought the district was fairly entitled to a grant of land, and ho would b> prepared to make a recommendation that a land endowment be granted. He admitted that the place had been neglected in the way . of roadmaldng, and it was Only right that the Government should contribute something to mike roads to open up the lands or settlement would not follow. He was not an expert; who could speak w;th any authority as to the site of the breakwater. He had been over the works witn the Harbour Engineer, who had most courteously afforded him every information. He (Mr. Mitchelson) rather inclined to the views expressei by Mr. Dickson, and that it

would have been better to make the harbour on tho site suggested by Sir Johu Coode. Ho should, in respect to the wish of the deputation, telegraph to the Premier to have the inquiry held as soon as possible, so that full information will be before Parliament when it meets."

Our reporter thanked the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson for his courtesy, and retired.