PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8361, 15 September 1890, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[BY TELEGRAPHSPECIAL REPORTER.] Wellington, Saturday. THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE. The debate on the continuance of the San Francisco service to-day was a much iro lengthy one than was generally looked for, especially as quite a chorus of congratulation was offered to the Post-master-General for having secured such very favourable terms for carrying on the service. A determined effort was made in committee to carry an amendment providing for Wellington being the port of rail for the mail steamers instep of Auckland. There were some iu« I " mathematical calculation, as to wh th J*» was nearest to San Francisco. * " { | iat nnoh ami Dr. Newman «-on " Wellington was much I.' am i other Peacock, Withy, und \ i 0 demo nstraAuckland members pun witJi Auckland tion that the advantage .. itchel , on> 0 in that ro-pec . j t | u , motion to course, * tron - ul > " ! from the position she : dethrone Auckland tro» verted that 1 ~carer J. &» I Auiklani than Wellington was. Ho also I Francisco than ;l ,r h . ino 0 f this kind 'T mil "the contractors would not fulfil were made n» The amendment, which Amoved bv Mr. Larnach, was only lost bv two votes." but it was eventually Carried tint it should be optional with the contractor whether the port of call in this colony should be Auckland or \\cllmpton. There is a strong impression here that the principal reason for the opposition ~hwll to Auckland over tins question Wl „ hv way of mild retaliation for the action' of the skinflints lately in cutting down the estimates in such a wholesale fis'iion, and it is not improbable that in a fuller House Wellington might have been tixed on as the port, of call : indeed I under- j stand the: were no fewer than six members absent from the Houso who had promised tn" port. the claims of Wellington for that rumour. However, as was admitted bv several members this afternoon, tho colony has good reason to congratulate on the continuance of the San Francisco Service on such essentially 'favourable conditions for the colony as have been arranged by the Government. The news that an attempt was to be made to make Wellington the port of call seems to have created considerable excitement in Auckland, for the Northern members have been literally deluged with teletrains from Auckland to-day protesting »i.-'V,n«t the proposal. Unfortunately the telegram", being delayed ones, did not arrive till after the question had been ill .-posed of in the House. As the matter now stands, it is said here that the coin- [. my is sure to make Wellington the port o: call, this being the most convenient place for them. 1 hear that the proposal to make ellititrt< the port of call for the San Francisco mail originated as a joke in the lobbies. No one had previously thought of making such a change, but as soon as it was suggested as a joke the idea struck Wellington and many Southern members as an excellent one, and a canvass was commenced forthwith. The result was that though the attempt to make Wellington the port of call failed by a majority of two the matter has been left optional with the company. The whole affair was a surprise to Northern members, and it was not until this afternoon that the proposal became generally known. Mr. Moss was one of the few* Auckland members who scented danger, and he at once secured Sydney Taiwhanga in spite of the endeavours of the * Wellington members to get his vote. As soon as the Auckland members were aroused to the truth they did their very best with the result already mentioned. Had they started canvassing earlier they would have secured a much more substantial majority, many members being quite indifferent on the question. I hear from Mr. Mitchelson that the Union Company have no intention whatever of changing from Auckland to Wellington; indeed they cannot do so if they wished, for they are bound by the contract to '20 days, and it takes 21 days from San Francisco to Wellington, as against 20 days to Auckland. The following is the first and crucial division test for making Wellington the port of call : — Ayes, 27. Allan Larnach Anderson Loughrey Elake Macarthur Brown McKenzie (Waihemo) Buchanan Newman Fekhvick O'Conor Fisher Reeves, (Inangahua) Fish I! nodes Firchett Richardson (Kaiapoi) Grimmond Ross Izard Stuart-Menteath Jones Verrall ■lovce alker Lance Against, 31. Bryce Mitchelson Cowan Moat Dodson Monk Duncan Moss Fergus o'Koike Fraser Peacock Goldie Richardson (Mataura) (; rey Seymour Hi-lop Taiwhanga Hubl.s Taylor Hodgkinson Thompson (Marsden) Kelly Thompson (Auck. N.) Kerr Valentine La wry Withy Me( .rigor i'. iks. — For Wellington: Hutchison, W. P. Reeves, Ward, Pa rata, and Beetham. ftgain-t. : Scobie Mackenzie, Harkness, Oriuond, Carroll, and Atkinson. THE PROPERTY TAX BILL. The passage of the annual Bill to impose the property tax for the current year was attended this afternoon by a most unusual circumstance. The Bill itself was read a !■■■' d time, and passed through the committee with scarcely a word of comment, but on the third reading Mr. Goldie called for a division, the third reading being agreed to by 40 to 14. Mr. Fish then rose on the motion that the Bill do pa--, and denounced Mr. Goldie for dividing the House on the Bill, stating that he looked on such conduct as a shame. He himself was as strongly opposed to the property tax as any member of the House, but lie recognised that to defeat the Bill now would mean a serious loss to the colony in revenue. It was also pointed out that, if the Bill were defeated now the Government would have to meet the House next year with a deficiency of £400,000. Several other members spoke on the final stage of the Bill, amongst them being Sir t'"o. Grey, who rose just before the dinner adjournment and said h-. wished to propose an aui.-j"!men which affected the existence of the Ministry. His amendment was to the effect that the imposition of the property tax for the coming year should be left for the new Parliament, but the speaker ruled it, out of order at that r uf' ' ' 'eorge then spoke until the »>..) J adjournment, and resumed his remarks a i.i I -past -even speaking at great length on things hi general, but, very little on the property tax (j„ beif) " reminded by the » pea -er t ia„ he was travelling outside the question, Sir George caused a laugh by replying that he was coming to the question, which did not appear to be altogether satisactory to Sir Maurice O'Rorke, although lie did not again interpose his authority.

WINE AND Kin; IT IM.rsTKIES. The report of the Induces Committee on the wine and fruit industries is now ready but has nob yet bee,, presented to he House. It say* the evidence shows that the wine industry is capable of extensive development, and that large area* of volcanic land now unproductive could be profitably utilised in wine growing. Before this nan take place, however, it is absolutely necessary that the phylloxera vasta". tr ix should be eradicated, by the total destruction of all vines in infected areas. The committee further recommends the passing (,f the Distillation Bill, to enable wine"rowers to fortify their wines when bad ns render such a course necessary. • j' ■' regard to fruit-growing, the committee {"■"lds that this also will develop into a very important industry, and a satisfactory trade P fresh fruit at certain seasons with San rnncisco and Europe, if carried in cool -ambers, which tho Government should I'." re to be provided in steamers under a ii f.ontract.s. The readiest means of disl n, 'H' u i;~ the requisite knowledge would a. - v t ' 10 establishment of fruitgrowers' ciations, such as have been formed in

various parts of the colonv ; and the committee recommend that these associations should bo encouraged and assisted by the Government, as is done in other countries The committee conclude by pointing out the attention being paid by other Legislature* to the development of agricultural industries, and by declaring that to enable tho subjects dealt with by the committee to re-eive he attention which their importance demands. » Minister of Agriculture should he appointed, whose duty should be to conserve the interests of all industries having their origin in our fruitful soils, and that the department under his control should include experts capable of directing the attention of agriculturists and others to the best means of dealing with insect and other pests, and of utilising generally, the products of the soil to the best advantage. THE PROROGATION. It, is fully expected that the business will be finished on Monday, and that the prorogation will take place on Tuesday. Sunday. JUDGE EDWARDS' SALARY. Very contradictory opinions prevail as to the outcome of Judge Edwards' salary trouble. In any case the majority will probably be very narrow. Ministers expect to carry the salary by one or two votes. The other side profess themselves confident of being able to defeat it. Some of the Opposition say the Government, ought not to attempt to force the vote through in this Parliament, but should charge it to unauthorised" expenditure, and leave tho new Parliament to settle the matter. There is undoubtedly much soreness among some members that Ministers did not wait to ask the consent of the House instead of making the appointment and then coming on the House for the salary. On the other hand, I hear Ministers have a memorandum from the Chief Justice stating emphatically that a sixth Judge was urgently necessary. The memo, may possibly yet come before tho House.