PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8305, 11 July 1890, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[BV TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] Wellington - , Thursday. RAILWAY FACILITIES. A deputation of Southern members waited to-day on the Railway Commissioners and the Postmaster-General, to urge that facilities should be afforded for opening up traffic between the more-settled districts of Otago and the Te Anau Lako, by establishing a mail coach service from the railway line, and by improving railway facilities and connections. The Commissioners promised to consider the railway question, and Mr. Mitcholson the mail question. THE TOURIST TRAFFIC. In this same connection Mr. T. Mackenzie has given notice of the following motions:—"That, in the opinion of the House, the Government should adopt some definable and energetic means of rendering the magnificent natural scenery of New Zealand hotter known and more accessible to tourists and others; ('2) that in order to carry out the foregoing resolutions with as much effect and as little expense as possible, a report be obtained from competent persons as to the most practicable and interesting route between Milford Sound and Lake Te Anau, thence on to Lake Wakatipu, and through to Mount Cook via Lake Wanaka and Hawoa." Mr. Mackenzie's reasons for bringing forward this motion may bo thus stated :—New Zealand is undoubtedly attracting numbers of visitors from Australia. The tourist traffic is of great importance to any country. Hundreds of thousands of pounds sterling are yearly spent in Switzerland by tourists. New Zealand, owing to her great attractions, will become the Switzerland of Australasia, and it is worthy the consideration of this House, the wise expenditure of money with the view of carrying out the spirit of these resolutions. PRIVATE SCHOOLS. On the motion of Mr. Gotdie a return has been laid on the table showing the number of private schools in New Zealand, and the number of pupils attending them in December, 1889. The return shows that there are a total of 37 boys' schools, 51 girls schools, and -05 mixed schools, the total number of male and female scholars being 13,158, the total for the previous year being 13,853. The total average attendance w;is 11,39(5. In the Auckland province there are a total of IK) private schools, with 3,375 pupils ; in the Wellington province, 38 schools with '2007 pupils ; in Canterbury, 154 schools with 3055 pupils ; and in Otago, 3S schools with 10(52 pupils. These figures include the Catholic schools, but the return also shows these schools separately. There are a total of 05 Catholic schools with 0021 scholars. In the previous year there was a total of 9316 scholars. In Auckland province there are 2(5 schools, with 1073 scholars; in the Wellington Province, 11 schools, with 1300 scholars ; in Canterbury, 16 schools, with 1981 scholars, and in Otago, 16 schools, with 1616 scholars. LABOUR DISPUTES. Mr. Downie Stewart has made some important alterations in his Labour Arbitration Bill. It originally provided for the reference of all trades and labour disputes to a Board of Arbitration, and made such reference compulsory. In its present form it makes the reference optional. The board of reference is to be termed Board of Conciliation" (not of "arbitration"), and is to be composed of five members — two nominated by the Labour Council, two by the employer in the case under dispute, while the fifth is to be the umpire appointed by those four, or tho local Resident Magistrate in the case of their disagreement,. When once both parties have agreed to a reference to this Board they will not be at liberty to withdraw from the reference, and will be compelled to abide by the decision, which will remain in force for twelve months. SIR ROBERT STOUT. It is understood that Sir Robert Stout's object in delaying his reply to the Opposition round robin (praying him to re enter politics and resume tho leadership of the party) is that he wishes first to consult his partner in Dunediu before committing himself to so serious a step. The general opinion, however, is that he will ultimately consent. Ho is said to have declared positively that nothing will induce him to stand' for a Dunediu constituency, but it is thought lie may bo persuaded to reconsider this determination. I learn that another seat will be offered to him with almost a certainty of his return, if ho persists in refusing to stand for Dunedin. AUCKLAND PETITIONS. The Public Petitions Committee report on the petition of William and Mary Steadman Aldis, praying for the repeal of the C.I). Act, that since there is now before the House a Bill dealing with tho subject of this petition tho committee has no recommendation to make. The same committee report on the petition of B. P. Bayly, of Hamilton, praying for relief for having been dismissed from the office of sheep inspector without proper cause, that in the opinion of the committee the petitioner lias been treated with every consideration by the Government, and that the committeo has therefore no recommendation to make. THE A WAN IT I RIVER. Mr. Hobbs has been interviewing the Department in referenco to t he placing of a buoy on a sunken rock at the entrance to tho Awanui River, north of Mangonui. It has been promised that the matter will be attended to upon the next trip north of the Hincmoa. THE .MINISTRY' AND THE HANK OF NEW ZEALAND. As is usual in tho case of party questions considerable difficulty is being experienced in setting up the Commission to inquire into the accusations made by Mr. Hutchison as to the relations between certain members of the Ministry and the Bank of New Zealand. Two days have been spent on negotiations between the Government and the Opposition, but so far no agreement has been arrived at upon the names to compose the committee. The Government wish to have five of their own supporters on tho committee and four of the Opposition. Mr. Ballanco and party wish to reverse the position. It is understood that the Government want to have an odd number on the committee, and Mr. Hutchinson will agree to this, but desires four to bo from each party, with one independent member, Mr. Saunders beinf suggested. Meanwhile the matter remains unsettled. Had the matter rested only with Mr. Ballanco and the Ministry it would have been more easily arranged. At lunch time it was understood that a settlement had been arrived at, and during the afternoon sitting Mr. Mitchelson asked for leave to move without notice for the setting-up of a committeo to enquire into "certain charges made against members of the Ministry. Mr. Seddon objected, and wanted no know what the motion was. Mr. Mitchelson accordingly read his motion as follows :-r " That a select committee bo appointed to ascertain whether ah or any of the accusations against tho Government, and especially against, certain members thereof, made by Mr. Hutchison, member for Waitotara, in his speech in tho House on Wednesday, the 2nd instant, are in substance true or false, and to report their opinion thereon, with power to call for persons and papers, and to report within fourteen days, five to be a quorum, the committee to consist of Hon. Mr. Ballanco, Hon. Mr. Bryce, I)r. Fitchett, Mr. Fulton, Hon. Sir J. Hall, Hon. Mr. Larnach, Mr. Macarthur, Mr. Ormond, and Mr. Seddon. Mr. Ballanco suggested the postponement of tho motion till to-morrow, as tho parties were not agreed as to the names of the committee. By to-morrow some agreement might bo come to between the Government and the member for Waitotara. Mr. Mitchelson then gave notice of the motion in the usual form for to-morrow. There is every prospect of a long and lively debate on tho subject. THE FINANCIAL DEBATE. The financial debate dragged along drearily all this afternoon and evening. Mr. Bruce opened with a capital speech, thoughtful and logical, and was attentively listened to, but the same cannot be said for his successors Messrs. Buxton and Duncan. Their speeches were dull, both in matter and delivery. During Mr. Duncan's speech, however, the House was roused from its somnolent condition by an amusing but decidedly irregular incident. Mr. Duncan accused Mr. T. Mackenzie of dummyism in connection with the acquisition of 1000 acres of land in Otago. Mr. Mackenzie emphatically denied tho accusation, and said Mr. Duncan knew when he made the statement that it was not true. A brief altercation ensued, in the course of which

Mr. Mackenzie said his applications were perfectly in order, and that he paid £1 an acre for land which had since been valued at 15*. Both gentlemen spoke warmly, and Mr. Duncan produced a plan, which he flourished about excitedly, and invited Mr. Mackenzie to come over and see it. As the mountain would nob come to Mahomet Mahomet had to go to the mountain, and Mr. Duncan, amid great laughter, walked over to Mr. Mackenzie, and proceeded to discuss the plan with him. Mr. Duncan pointed to a part of the plan, and was heard to say, "Is that yours?" Immediately afterwards Mr. Mackenzie rose and acquitted Mr. Duncan of any maliciousness in making his accusation, as he had been misled by the plan, which was erroneous. The incident ended by Mr. Duncan laying the plan on the table. Mr. Mackenzie has given notice to move that the whole matter be referred to the Waste Lands Committee. Mr Menteath, who followed Mr. Duncan, failed to relieve the dreariness of the debate. Sir John Hall was a little more successful, and was encouraged by plenty of "hear, hears" and applause from the Government supporters. After Sir John Hall came Dr. Newman, and after him Sir George Grey, who dealt chiefly with land and the land tax. His B{>eech was anything but dull, and he was as heartily encouraged by the Opposition as Sir John Hall had been by the supporters of the Government. Sir Goorgo Grey was in exceptionally good lighting form, and dealt vigorous blows all round. When he sat down, just before eleven, Mr. Hi«lop rose to speak, but the House insisted on taking the supper adjournment, and when it resumed at halfpast eleven Mr. O'Conor moved the adjourdinont of the debate, which was agreed to, and the House rose. The Government have now come to the decision that the debate shall not be again adjourned, bub on being resumed to-morrow, shall bo continued to a conclusion, even if the House should have to sit all night. The reason to-night's adjournment was concoded was, that Mr. Hislop had prepared a big speech, and did not care to let it oil to empty benches. He will speak to-morrow at considerable length, as also will Mr, Soddon. It is anticipated, however, that the close will be reached before midnight to-morrow, unless an unexpectedly long interruption should be caused by a discussion on the appointment of the committeo re Mr. Hutchison'a charges. No agreement has yet been arrived at as to the personnel of this committee, and a severe battle is likely to be fought, even if it do not result in a stonewall, which is far from improbable. DUMMYISM. The special commission which has been sot up to inquire into " dummyism," continued its labours to-day. The Commissioner of Crown Lands for Otago was examined, and stated that as far as he knew there was very little dummyism in his district. Nearly all the lands taken up in Otago during the last two years had been acquired by people who already owned land and wanted to get more. To-morrow the Crown Lands Commissioner for Canterbury. Mr. J. H. Baker, is to be examined, and Sir Robert. Stout is also to give evidence on tiie question. The inquiry promises to be a long one. RAILWAY REFORM. Yailo's scheme of railway reform is again going to be inquired into by a Parliamentary Committee. The Hon. Mr. Fergus has given notice to move that in order to give effect to the report of the Public Petitions Committee, a committee be appointed to inquire and report to this House upon the subject matter of the said petition, the committee to have power to call for persons and papers, and to report within a month, such committee to consist of Messrs. Allen, Harkness, T. Mackenzie, J. MeK.en/.ie, Monk, W. P. Reeves, Ward, Whyte, Hon. Mr. E. Richardson, and tho mover, three to form a quorum. MISCELLANEOUS. When the " call" of the Legislative Council took place to-day, there were only seven absentees (.">J councillors responding to the call), and of these seven the majority were satisfactorily accounted for. Mr. Bonar was stated to be at Lyttclton, on his way up to Wellington. Mr. Scotland is also on his way hither, having been delayed by illness ; Messrs. Eraser and Oliver are in England, and Wahawaha is ill. There are now no fewer than AS questions at thn head of to-day's order paper, besides 14 others for subsequent days. The Bills have crept up to .I.'!. Mr. Joyce wants the Government to open negotiations with the Australian Governments for reciprocal tariff treaties on [ colonial products, He is asking a question on the subject. ! The Hon. E. Richardson is asking for the reports of the stewards of village settlements for INS!) and 1890. Mr. Cadman is moving for a return shewing the number of oflicers of the Customs Department who have received pensions during tho past three years, and the amount of leave granted to each officer immediately prccoding his retirement. Mr. Cadman intends to move for a ieturn showing the total value of material Mr. Blackett, consulting engineer, has inspected in England on behalf of the colony since his appointment, tho number of letters he has writ to., to the Government since his arrival in London, the amount paid for clerical assistance to him both by way of salary for clerk and otherwise, and the total amount fit salaries, extras, and contingencies which have been paid by the colony since his appointment. Mr. .Joyce intends asking whether the Government will forthwith set up a special committee to inquire into some of the causes which have produced such disastrous financial results to the New Plymouth Harbour Board, and also to ascertain tho extent of the colony's liability to those landholders who have made their investments since the date when the Government withheld from European capitalists the Board's financial position, and remitted 1*5115 7s Id to enable the interest on the Board's coupons to be met on Ist November last. Air. Hutchison is going to move for a return of the moneys remitted through the post-offices of the colony during the twelve months ended the .'slst March, 1S!)1), to "Adam Bode," "Walter Graham," or to any other known name or description for "benevolent" or other " consultations" on races in Australia. The Government are considering how best to recoup local bodies in mining districts for loss of gold duty, which it is proposed to abolish, but the Bill is not yet ready. _