POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9065, 28 May 1888, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Saturday. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. There was a long Cabinet sitting this afternoon, the business being the consideration of the Financial Statement and the revised tariff. The work was still incomploto when the Cabinet rose this evening. It is said the Financial Statement will be briefer than usual. Various rumours are floating about as to the changes to be effected under it. So far the Cabinet has kept its counsel well. One rumour is that the property tax exemption will be lowered to £250, but this I regard as improbable. Another is that while tea may receive an extra impost, sugar will remain untouched for the present, to be dealt with on a future occasion. It is believed that robbing the colonial gooso of her feathers one by one will prevent her squealing, while to take the whole plumage at once would raise a terrible outcry among political quacks. Some of the Wellington merchants are making long shots at the revised tariff and taking all sorts of lines of goods out of bond. One speculator considering that "encouragement of local industry" would be the word, took a quantity of lager beer out. One firm, I understand, that makes a specialty, has cleared £30,000 worth of tea at tho various Customhouses of the colony. THE CHINESE BILL. The Legislative Council seems disposed to make some trouble over the passage of tho Chinese Bill, and tho political prophets are hazarding predictions as to the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse s amendment on the second reading being carried. THE EDUCATION ACT. Several members are desirous of tinkering with the Education Act. Mr. Joyce wants it altered in the direction of (1) allowing the Bible to be read in public schools with a conscience clavise ; (2) giving a grant of 30s per head- per annum to denominational schools wherein at least 200 scholars shall have attended on every public school day during the year, and shall have been taught in the six standards used in the public schools, and havo passed examinations of the Government inspectors. Mr. Wilson has also his " little plan," arid his amendments in the Actare—(l) That Boards should beabolished; (2) that a Council of Education should bo appointed to havo control of the educational part of our school system— the Minister of Education, the Inspector-General, and sny fivo inspectors (to be chosen to represent thorn by the whole of the inspectors) should be members of Council besides other nominated members ; (3) that the Minister for Education should pay all teachers in the colony upon a uniform scale, and should havo control of all tho inspectors who might then bo moveablo from one district to another ; (4) that several committees should be grouped together to take the duties of the present committees ; (5) that the Minister of Education should bo able to pay to any person or persons who would erect buildings themselves a capitation allowance of £1, provided the number of scholars reach 50, and the Government inspectors are allowed to inspect and examine the schools. Mr. O'Callaghan is apparently in favour of placing school teachers under the provisions of clauses 11 and 12 of the Civil Service Reform Act, 1886. Tho Minister of Education in tho course of a discussion last night, said that in his opinion it was in the interest of retrenchment that Education Boards should be abolished. It was a large question, but it would havo to be dealt with shortly. I understand his purpose is to do so by Bill if thne this session will permit of it. His announcement of tho proposed abolition of the Boards was received by many members with cheers. Many of the members are afraid that if once tinkering is allowed with tho Education Act, there is no saying where it may end, and it may lead during tho controversial melee to the opponents of the Act robbing it of some of its most valuable features. Mr. Wilson is desirous that the Minister of Education should take ovor his nominated committee on education, and mako it a sessional one. When this committee comes to bo appointed, the Auckland members will take steps to have an Auckland representative placed upon it, as tho marked omission both last session and this is too glaring to escape notice. THE MOANATAIARI MINE. Mr. Peacock has waited upon tho Minister of Mines in reference to the threatened forfeiture of the mine on a technicality, and the Minister has agreed to an extension of time to enable tho company to take stops to secure its rights. I understand the time is to the end of June. The Hon. E. Mitchelson has also received a telegram on the same subject. ANOTHER WAR SCARE. Somebody will cry " Wolf" once too often. A wag this forenoon posted the following up on tho wall of the " Members' Lobby :—"Special—Overland: The German squadron stationed at Breslau sailed for Omsk yesterday, and this morning opened fire on the marine fortifications of that port." Hon. members who were weak in geography swallowed the canard holusbolus, and the story spread like wildfire, Wellington having " a bad quarter of an hour." SOLDIERS' AND VOLUNTEERS' CLAIMS. Mr. Ballance is moving to have an officer appointed to examine old soldiers' and volunteers' claims which would come within the terms of tho present Bill before the House, so that thoy may bo included in the schedule.