POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9096, 3 July 1888, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

[fit TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Monday. THE TARIFF.

There is no truth in the statement current that the Government intend to reduce the duty on saccharine, which is now 100 per cent. They are more inclined to increase it. An instance is given in the local Press to show that small industries are nob always benefitted by excluding imports. A manufacturer in Wellington employs in his trade certain small brass castings. These he obtains from the importers at a retail price of Is 6d per dozen. The importer being out of the castings, the manufacturer had to get the castings made for him, and found that he had to pay at the rate of 6s per dozen. The result is, that he is unable to continue his manufacture.

CLAIM OF THE LATE S. J. EDMONDS. Messrs. T. Thompson, Peacock, Hobbs, and Hamlin waited upon the Native Minister to-day in relation to the claim for compensation of the late Mr. S. J. Edmonds, for loss of the cutter Kate at Whakatane, at the time of the East Coast campaign. The claim has been before the House for several sessions, and action is now being taken in the interest of Mr. Edmonds family. The Native Minister said the question was one which would have to be referred to the Department of the Minister for Defence. He promised to have the matter enquired into, and would give a reply after consulting his colleague. .

SPECIAL SETTLERS' RELIEF BILL.

Sir Geo. Grey, in hi? Special Settlers' Relief Bill, proposes to abolish the differential rents for lands held under the farm, homestead settlement, and village homestead settlement systems, and to fix them at a perpetual annual rental at 5 per cent, on the capital value of the land, together with 5 per cent, on moneys advanced under the regulations. It is also proposed to give the selectors the right of acquiring their freeholds after occupation for a certain period, on fulfilment of the conditions imposed by the settlement regulations, and on the payment of the capital value of the holding, and repayment of the money advanced, with interest. In all cases where the regulations require occupation of the lands by the selectors, such condition is to be held to have been fully complied with if the selector can show that he has been in occupation for a certain number of years yet to be fixed. Selectors are also to have the right of sub-dividing and sub-letting their holdings. THE AUCKLAND RAILWAY DEPARTMENT. Mr. Moss has received a letter from the Trades and Labour Department in reference to the dismissal of employes. It seems the regulations provide that the men shall give or take a fortnight's, and they got only a week's, notice. As the men whose notice expires this week are to get a week's wages, this will practically bridge the difficulty, and overcome the objections thus raised. Mr. Moss declares that the reductions are made so systematically in one direction that he believes the motive is more political than financial. On the other hand, I have the positive assurance of the Minister of Public Works,-that all the reductions have been made without the slightest reference to politics, and that nothing has been considered but the efficiency or the service, and the financial exigencies of the country. THE PUHOI SETTLERS' BILL. The Puhoi Settlers' Bill is being introduced by the Minister of Lands to authorise the issue of Crown grants to land in the occupation of certain German settlers at Puhoi. The circumstances of their case, under which they have been kept out of their Crown grants for twenty years, I have already telegraphed. Mr. Moat has been agitating the matter for several sessions. They are settlers under the 40-acro system. On payment of the balance of the passage money due, the Governor may issue grants for 40 acres to each of the following persons for the sections set opposite their names :— Mahurangi, Anton fachischka, Elizabeth Schischka (wife), Marie, Catherine, and Anne (three daughters) ; Waiwera, Joseph Scholium, Dorothea Scholium (wife), Wenze Scholium (brother of Joseph), Mahurangi, Maria Galhoff (nee Fischer), Frederick Zaubb, Elizabeth Zaubb (wife), Anton Heidler, Veronica Heidler (nee Prahan), Catherine Give (nee Tunwald), John Stotter, Adalbert Werigeill, and Eva Bayer. THE CODLIN MOTH BILL.

Mr. Moat informs me he has received a mass of correspondence from Northern settlers, expressing satisfaction at the rejection of the Codlin Moth Bill. Many of the settlers have fenced their orchards with quince trees and cherry plum, and the taxing of such trees was especially offensive to them. Mr. Moat made two unsuccessful attempts to strike out. this provision in the Bill in the lower Chamber.

LAND ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The principal provisions of this measure are as follow :—The Minister of Lands, having the calling in of the Canterbury Pastoral Lands next year, pastoral lands are to be classified. Purely pastoral lands are to be disposed of for actual lease for a term not exceeding twenty-one years. Semipastoral Leases are to be dealt with under the present law, with the right of re-entry on the part of the Government, on twelve months' notice, for the purposes of settlement. The minor, but' still important provisions of the Bill are that payments of thirds to local authorities shall be made quarterly direct from the receiver of land revenue. Hitherto the money was forwarded to the Treasury, and had to pass through the Lands, Treasury, and Audit Department, causing great delay. Residence on swamp lands may be limited, as in the case of bush lands under the Act of 1885. The Bill amplifies the provisions for exchange of perpetual lease to deferred payments, tho provisions of the Act of 1887 in this respect being inoperative. Exchanges of tenure are only to be made once, and are not permitted with regard to lands acquired after the year 1887. Finally, the Bill provides for the administration of Crown lands on the dissolution of the Land Boards, and determines what duty shall be performed by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and what will require the approval of the Minister before being entered upon, Payments for cash purchases are made uniform, being now one-fifth all round. STATE FORESTS BILL. The State Forests Act Amendment Bill empowers the Governor to withdraw open lands from under the operation of the original Act, and provides that any unexercised orders for forest tree planting may still be exercised up to the 31st of December, 1890, when they will become null and void ; while any order yet to be issued shall expire on the same date.

RAILWAY TARIFF ON FRUIT. A deputation of members waited to-day upon the Minister for Public Works in regard to this matter. The Auckland members present were Mr. Hobbs and Major Jackson. A lengthy discussion took place, bub the gist of it may be put in brief compass. The request made was, that instead of so many tariffs for fruit, there should be a separate class for fruit. At present only those sending two tons could obtain the advantage of the low freight. What was wanted was that the rate for two tons should be charged proportionally for the lesser weights, ranging from two tons to one hundredweight. The deputation also pointed out the desirability of making empties returnable at low rates, and that new boxes from the factories for filling should also bo charged as empties. The Minister said he was favourable to make some concessions, and the Premier (whom he had consulted) concurred in that view. The question would be considered by the Cabinet, and their decision communicated to the deputation. lam informed that on long distances the freight would be about one-fifteenth of a penny a lb. Mr. Mitchelson made a suggestion with regard to new boxes, that they should be sent up in bulk and made up at their destination. Although I do not think the deputation will get so large a concession as they demand, some concession is certain, as the Premier and the Minister for Public Works are both desirous of extending all the aid that can be fairly given to the fruit industry consistent with railway revenue and the financial exigencies of the colony. THE MOKAU COMMISSION. The Mokau Commission left to-day for Wangaiiui en route for Auckland.