PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9463, 6 September 1889, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[by telegraph.— correspondent.] Wellington, Thursday. THE WESTLAND COALFIELDS. Mr. Hutchison asked the Premier to-day what steps the Government proposed to take with reference to the Westland coalfields report. The Premier said he really had not had timo to look through the evidence, and consider what proposals the Government would make in the matter. He would, however, bake the earliest opportunity of doing so. " I only mentioned it," said Mr. Hutchison, " because it may be necessary to rofor to the matter on the motion to go into Committee of Supply." ' RAILWAY IRREGULARITIES. Considerable discussion took place in the House thirl afternoon on the reports of tho Petitions Committee on the petitions of George W. Schwartz and George Samples. These men were in tho Railway Department storos at Petono, and they alleged that thoy were dismissed from offico in consequence of thou- having roported certain irregularities into which enquiry was hold by the Railway Commissioners. Tho matter was first referred to by Mr. Taylor, and a warm discussion followed, in the course of which it was stated by Mr. Andorson that irregularities prevailed in i tho Railway Stores Department which would not- be permitted in any third-class commercial houso in the colony. From tho statements of other members who spoke it appeared that somo officials were in the habit of taking home kerosene and other articles on the loan principle, and the chairman of tho committee (Mr. Thompson) stated in answer to a question that it caine out in evidence that one official received a cheque for goods sold to a merchant, cashed it, and kept it for five weeks before entering it. On the other baud, several members of the committee said the Railway Commissioners had dealt with the affair with • firmness and promptness immediately it was reported to them. Mr. Izard said the fact was that these men were punished for reporting an irregularity, while the person who committed it went scot free. Eventually the Government accepted a motion by Mr. Duncan, to relet- the reports to the Government for consideration, and that was done. It should be mentioned that tho reports were to the effect that the petitionera bad no claim on the colony. LEGAL EXPENSES. According to a return laid on tho table, to-day, the cost of legal business transacted for the Government during the yoar3 18S4 to 188$, was £31,935 Is sd, of which £19,308 was paid to Crown Prosecutors and Solicitors, and £12,51*3 for other legal assistance. POST AND TELEGRAPH. The report on the Post Ollice and Telegraph Department was laid on the table to day. The total revenue for tho year was £319,510 ; the balance of revenue ovor expenditure being £54,455. The revenue has increased by £8231, and tho expenditure lias decreased by £9250. Tho increases as compared with ISjiT in the various branches of post-office business were as follow — Letters, 1,020,246; post cards, 46,404; books and sample packets, 403,603; news- ,

papers, 5'21,526. The revenue of the post- i office exceeded the expenditure by £53,137, which sum, however, is to be reduced by £13,573 due for conveyance of mails by sea. In the Telegraph Department, 1,763,803 telegrams of all codes were transmitted, a decrease of 69,531 as compared with 1887. The department showed a balance of revenue over expenditure of over £5000, The Telephone Department shows a balance of revenue over expendtare of over £6000 LOCAL GOVERNMENT. The Local Government Committee submitted their report to-day. Tho Commit-

tee regret that the short time at their disposal has been quite insufficient to enable them to do more than collect general information and discuss the subject referred to thorn, and to decide that their opinion it is very oxpedient that some new system of local government should bo established, ', and that it should bo framed with the fol- , lowing objects, namely: (1) Doeentralisa- ' tion, (2) reduction in the number of local ' bodies, (3) a definite and fixed relation between the finance of the general govern- ' ment ami that of the local bodies, (4) the j establishment of local districts with elective governing bodies, the districts to be ' comparatively few in number, and to be ( defined with "due regard to community of ' interest and the natural features of ■ tho country ; the four large cities of 1 the colony, with their suburbs, to bo 1 made separate districts, and tho remainder . of the colony to consist of not more than 16 , districts ; (5) the constitution of local Coun- , cils by election by the borough and county councils, or road boards where the Counties ! Act is not in force, within each district, ,

with provision that the Governor-in-Council may, when necessary, alter (for the purposes of such election only) the boundaries of any borough, county, or road board district. The cornmitteo recommend that a committee should be set up early next session for the further consideration of this subject. The report was laid on the table, and copies ordered to be sent to the various local bodies. THE OYSTER MEN. I am told that the Government have sent a reply to the oystcrmen's application re opening tho Coromandcl beds, and that they do not intend doing anything till thoy can legislate next session, so as to carry out the views of the Coromandel County Council, and hand the control over to that body. THE JANET RAMSAY. The Petitions Committee having had under consideration the petition of the crow of the Janet Ramsay, a vessel seized for illegal sealing, recommended that in addition to tho remissions already made by the Government the sealskins should be handed back to tho men. SUNDAY ISLAND. Messrs. Nicoll, Eder, Hogg, and others having petitioned that their claim to Sunday Island, Kermadec Group, should be recognised, the Petitions Committee recommend that in tho event of their being deprived of the island or any part theroof full compensation should be given. THE KAHIU RAILWAY. Mr. Bnrstovv was examined before the Public Accounts Committee to-day in reference to the Kaihu Railway Co. His evidence, I am told, created a very favourable impression, but it is unlikely the committee will recommend the Government to take over the lino with all its liabilities. The Government have a lion on the line for its

guarantee of the debentures Issued by the company under the Act, and it is expected it will be content with that. This, however, is only a rumour, as nothing definite has yot been done. THE DISBANDED NAVALS. Mr. Goldic asked the Minister of Defence to-day whether the Government are aware that the Wuitemata and Onehunga naval volunteers obtained uniforms upon the pledge of payment being made upon the receipt of the annual capitation, and will the Government, upon being assured that such was the case, pay capitation for the period previous to ciisbamiment, so as to enable them to meet this and any other outstanding liability. Mr. Mitchclson replied in the affirmative, remarking that he considered the case one of great hardship. JOTTINGS. On the motion of the Minister of Lands, the Lands Transfer Bill was to-d>-y referred to a Select Committee to consider and re-

port upon the Bill by Monday. Mr. Hoclgkinson has given notice of his intention to move, "That a copy of the English Local Government Act bo laid on the table of the House."

Sir John Hall states that he will not take office.

A dinner is to be given to Sir Robert itout by the Opposition, at Bellamy's, on Saturday night.

A trip to Queen Charlotte's Sound, Tory Channel, is on the tapia. lb is proposed that "if sufficient inducement offers" the

Rotorua should leave hero on - Saturday night with members and their sisters and their cousins and their aunts aboard, and do the Sounds, returning on Sunday night.