PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8475, 28 January 1891, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[by telegraph.—special CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday. THE FORMAL OPENING.

His Excellency the Governor formally inaugurated the Parliament to-day in the customary manner, by attending in state and delivering his set speech from the throne. The weather was fine, though windy, and the ceremony precisely the same as usual. Just beforo half-past two Lady Onslow entered the Council Chamber on the arm of Sir Harry Atkinson, the Speaker. The Countess was accompanied by her two daughters, Ladies Gwendoline and Dorothy Onslow, and by Mrs. Boyle, a visitor who is staying at Government House. The guns of the Artillery battery outside then lired a vice-regal salute, and His Excellency entered attended by Captain Guthrie, A.D.C., Mr. Walrond, Private Secretary, and the Consuls for France, Germany, Denmark, and Italy, who wore the regular uniforms. The attendance of the public was smaller than I have over seen on a similar occasion. This may be partly accounted for by the counter-attraction offered by the wedding of Mr. Larnach and Miss Brandon in the neighbouring pro-Cathedral, but even the customary outside spectators were conspicuous this time by their absence, excepting a thin sprinkling. The duty of handing tho Royal speech to His Excellency devolved of course, upon the representative of the Government in that Chamber, the Hon. P. Buckley, Attorney-General. It proved, as had been anticipated, very brief, and exceedingly guarded and non-committal in character. The reading occupied a very few minutes, and then the Governor retired amid the booming of another artillery salute, and the whole affair was over, and nothing could have been flatter or less exciting. But, as nobody looked for anything sensational, nobody was disappointed. DURATION OF THE SESSION.

The principal subject of discussion in the lobbies to-day has been prorogation versus adjournment. The Government want to prorogue, for this gives them the power to fix their own time for calling the House together again. The Opposition want an adjournment, their argument being that this would avoid the expense of a second session. The Government party reply to this that they are not to blame for there being two sessions, and that the fault lies with the late Government for summoning Parliament together instead of simply resigning. The feeling of members is decidedly in favour of prorogation, as they will thereby get an additional honorarium of £100, a sum which will be very acceptable to many for wiping off their election expenses. There is some talk of the Opposition proposing that members shall accept £'25 only tor this session, and receive the full honorarium of £150 for next session. This would require a special Act, and it is highly improbable that a majority of the members will consent to forego their pound of flesh from a bloeding country. On the other hand, the Opposition say they are determined the country shall be made fully aware of the fact that there are many members who profess to be so devoted to economy, and who clamour so loudly for further cutting down of public services, who are determined to cause the heavy and needless expense of a second session in order to extract a second honorarium out of the public pocket, although a single adjournment would serve every practical purpose. Members will therefore bo forced to have this question thoroughly discussed in the House. MR. SKUDON IN OFFIC*. A good deal of unpleasantness has been caused by the shifting about of policemen and members of the permanent force from one part of the colony to another at much expense to the country and inconvenience to the men. Yesterday Mr. Seddon, Minister of Defence, gave orders putting a stop to these transfers. To-day he has, as Minister of Mines and Defence, ordered that on and after the Ist of February next no more goldfield allowances are to be paid to constables stationed on goldtields. Hitherto this allowance has been a shilling a day. It seems that this goldfield allowance was in a great measure the cause of the transfer of constable.*, they having been shifted from the goldfields to other districts as a round-about method of stopping the goldfields allowance, their successors at the goldfields not receiving this concession. Mr. Seddon has decided that the best course is to abolish the allowance altogether. In connection with this matter, Mr. Guinness lias given notice to move that a return be laid before the House showing (1) how many members of the police force have been removed from the West Coast counties to other parts of the colony since the Ist January, 1890 ; ('2) what was the cost incurred in making such removals and filling the places of the men removed. MR. WARD'S APPOINTMENT. It is understood that Mr. Ward, though not receiving salary, will take charge of Post and Telegraph Department, but as soon as the Auckland Minister is appointed there will probably be some re-allotment of portfolios. THE EG MONT SKAT.' A writ was isued for a new election for the Egmont seat to-day. Mr. Bruce has agreed to stand for this constituency in thg interests of the Opposition. » PETITIONS.

Petitions were presented to-day by Mr. Jackson Palmer from Captain Slattcry, of Northcote, praying for an amendment of the Naval and Military Settlers Land Act, 1889, so that he and others similarly situated may receive grants for their services as old soldiers. By Mr. W. P. Perceval from Stephen Spalding, now a patient in the Wellington Asylum, asking to be discharged in order that he may go to a large asylum in England. By Mr. K. Thompson from John F. Boyd praying for a land grant for military services. By Mr. Jackson Palmer from the residents at the Great Barrier, praying for a subsidy for a mail service between Auckland and the Great Barrier. By Mr. Kelly from settlers and occupiers of native land at Gisborne praying that their grievances may be investigated. puhipuhi. Mr. Seddon informs ma that an application has been made for further funds to complete the Puhipuhi Road. The amount voted was £7;~0, "and this sum, has been exceeded by £'200.' The application now made is for a further £'230. The Department has been instructed to see if the work can be concluded for a reasonable sum, and if so the money will be granted, and the work pushed forward as expeditiously as possible. LABOUR BILL. The Interests of Labour Bill, of which Mr. R. M. Taylor gave notice to-day, is a similar measure to that introduced by Sir George Grey a few sessions ago. Tho measure provides that eight hours shall constitute a day's work, and 48 hours a week's work ; that to prevent the grave scandal of sweating taking place in Government. and municipal contracts, provision shall be made for the payment of tho local rate of wages ; that leases of mines shall not be granted by the Government; that when fitting opportunities offer the Government shall purchase the coal mines and work them. The Bill also makes provision for injured miners or families of miners killed or injured. SYMPATHY WITH SIR GEORGE OREY. In the House this afternoon Mr. Rces, amid considerable applause from the Government benches, gave notice to move " That this House desires to place upon record its deep regret at the enforced retirement from public life of" Sir George Grey, and to convey to him the assurance of its high! appreciation of that long, illustrious, and beneficial career, which has been devoted to the best interests of New Zealand and other portions of the Empire."

OONFKKENCE ON' LABOUR AND CAPITAL. This afternoon Mr. Ree.s gave notice of his motion about a pan-Anglican Labour Conference. It is as follows : —" 1. That in in the opinion of this House, the ceaseless conflicts between capital and labour arising in all civilised communities? are full of danger to the peace of society. 2. That the time has come when a solution should be found for the difficult economic questions now existing. 3. That to this end tho New Zealand House of Representatives should suggest to the representative assemblies of the British Colonies, the House of Commons, the representative Houses of the various American States, and tho Representative House at Washington, the propriety of appointing delegates to a conference to

be held in London or Washington, on the relations now subsisting between capital and labour, and of possible remedies thereto and alterations therein."

NATIVE LAND QUESTIONS.

This afternoon Mr. Reea gave notice of a ! bill to amend the Native Land Courts Act, ! 1889. This is in accordance with the deci- : sion come to by the meeting of Auckland I members which was held yesterday. The Bill consists of two clauses, the first of which extends the time within which applications under the 27th section of the Act may be made to the Commission, and the second authorises the appointment of a Commission to sit during Ino recess, interview Maoris and others in different localities, make all necessary inquiries in reference to native land questions, and report to the House during next session, advising as to the beat means of settling past disputes and of dealing with native lands in future. The Commission suggested consists of Messrs. (J. F. Richardson, W. L. Rees, Judge Edwards, YVi Pere, J. Carroll, and Wahanui. The deputation appointed by the meeting yesterday to interview the Premier on the subject will wait on him to-morrow morning. MR. GOI.DIK AND THE MINISTRY. Mr. Goldie arrived at ten to-night. He declares his intention of remaining strictly independent, and having nothing to do with any portfolio in the present Government, but if his advice is asked he will recommend the Government to confer the remaining portfolio on Mr. Cadman, whose appointment is now regarded as certain. CHAIRMANSHIP OK COMMITTEES. The proposal of tho Government to appoint Mr. W. C. Smith to the office of Chairman of Committees is creating considerable stir among members, many of whom, especially Auckland members, are sore about the scurvy treatment accorded to Mr. Hamlin, he being regarded as entitled to the support of the Government as well as the Opposition. Some of Mr. Balance's followers openly state that if it were not made a party question they would vote for Mr. Hamlin. The Opposition are whipping up in Mr. Hamlin's favour, but it is regarded as a forlorn hope, as they have not sufficient voting power to reinstate Mr. Hamlin in his old position, which he has filled very satisfactorily for several years. Both the Times and the Post to-day strongly condemn the choice of Mr. Smith for the position ; and the Post, after saying that the appointment of Mr. Smith would be a very improper one, declares that " Undoubtedly the best man for the position is Mr. Hamlin, and after him would probably come Mr. J. W. Thomson." > ROTOUrA RAILWAY. This afternoon, Mr. Mitchelson gave notice to ask the Minister for Public Works if he will take into consideration the advisability of diverting, the balance of the allocation set. apart for the construction of the Thames-Te Aroha and AucklandPenrose Railway for the purpose of using the same for the completion of the Rotorua Railway. FEDERATION. The Australasian Federation Convention* of March next was brought under the notice of the .House to-day by Mr. Macintosh, who gave notice to ask the Government if they intended to take any steps for the representation of New Zealand in view of tho changed circumstances since the arrangements were made in this direction last year. COITNCII. APPOINTMENTS. There is no abatement of the bitterness felt in connection with the Legislative Council appointments. Mr. Shcra opened the ball to-day in the House by giving (amidst applause) notice of a question, whether the memorial " signed by 40 members of this honourable House, representing a larger number of the people of New Zealand over whom His Excellency rules in the name of Her Gracious Majesty the Queen," would be forwarded to the Secretary of State ; and Mr. Fish followed this up by tabling a very strongly-worded notice of motion characterising the appointments as "improper, unconstitutional, and fraught with danger to the best interests of this country," and concluding with a declaration that the conduct of His Excellency in the matter calls for the censure}of the House. The Speaker intimated a doubt whether he could receive such a motion, but promising to explain his views next day the notice of motion has been omitted from the printed order paper.

THE AKAROA SEAT. I understand that the new Ministry had decided before separating for the session on bringing in a Bill to validate Mr. Joyce's election for Akaroa. They contended that Mr. Joycfi should not be held responsible for the mistake made by the returning officer in allowing twelve of the polling booths to be closed at 6 p.m., instead of 7 p.m. The present Opposition, however, entered a strong protest against the proposed Bill, on tho ground that it would bo highly improper for Parliament to interfere in tho matter after it had been brought before the Supreme Court, and in consequence of this protest, 1 am informed, the Bill has been dropped. Mr. McGregor's petition against the election is to be hoard early in February. THE MINISTERIAL POLICY. According to lobby gossip, one of the new Ministers is credited with having said that his joining the Ballance Government was conditional on there being no revolutionary policy pursued, and that as for the question of a progressive land tax, the new Ministry would simply " keep it steadily in view." OPPOSITION TACTICS. Some difference of opinion exists among the Opposition party with respect to the policy and programme of the party. The decision of last night, appointing Messrs. Brycoand Rolleston a managing committee, is not deemed final, but is reearded merely as a temporary expedient, to remain in force while the party has time to look about and harden. One section of the party desired earnestly that Sir John Hall should be the new leader, but Sir John's health is still so indifferent that he could not have undertaken so arduous a responsibility, however strongly it might have been pressed upon him. "" The wish of another section is that the party should cast itself wholly free from all the trammels of the past, and should enter upon an entirely new career, without being necessarily held to represent the views of former leaders of the old party. These members object to either Mr. Biyce or Mr. Rolleston being chosen as leader, and do not altogether relish the power, which was ultimately agreed to be vested in those two gentlemen. They prefer to let matters go on for a time without seeking to harass the now Government, bub constantly waiting for the opportunity and right occasion to them a mortal blow. The existing arrangement may thus be regarded as purely provisional and temporary in its nature. THE WASTE OF TIME. Mr. Saunders is going to ask if it is the intention of the Government to propose any legislation with a view to the better regulation of the debates in the House, so as- to prevent tho growing practice known as " stonewalling," and to limit the time that any one member shall be allowed to occupy in addressing the House : and thus not only to facilitate the despatch of business, but also to promote a more equal distribution of practical representation between the various constituencies of this colony. JOTTINGS. The desirableness of establishing with New South Wales a reciprocal tariff treaty on colonial products, such as butter, cheese, bacon, etc., is being urged on the Government by the member for Akaroa. The same member is pressing Ministers to communicate with the Canadian Government, or to arrange for an interview with the Canadian Commissioner upon his arrival in the colony, and endeavour to get a terminal point in New Zealand of tho proposed Canadian-Pacific Telegraph Cable; also, to make some enquiries as to the best method which if carried into effect will secure better markets in Europe for New Zealand frozen meat.

The Maoris are agitating for larger representation in the Legislative Council, and Mr. Taipu has tabled a motion in that direction. Mr. Fish gave notice to-day of several questions relating to official matters in the Wakatipu district which bore a strong resemblance to a string of reflections upon the member for the district —that is, the late Minister for Public Works, Mr. Fergus. I mentioned recently that Mr. R. Thompson intended to move for the production of a letter written by Sir H. Atkinson to Major Mair touching the unfounded charges mado against the late Mr. John Sperrey, Com-

missioner of Property Tax. He gave notice of this motion to-day. Considerable sensation was created this afternoon by Mr. Fergus when he . gave notice of a motion for leave to introduce a Bill providing that any person who has been guilty of accepting a bribe while holding any public position shall be permanently excluded from the House, such measure to be called the Purity of Parliament Bill. A novel idea has been mooted in connection with the female franchise question. Mr. Fish intends to ask the Premier if he will, when the next census is taken, cause voting papers to be circulated so as to enable the women of the colony of twentyone years and upwards to vote as to whether they wish the franchise to be extended to them or not.

Notice was given to-day by Sir J. Hall to move for the production of a copy- of the correspondence between the Minister of Justice and Sir William Fox on the subject of the prosecution by the police of licensed victuallers offending against the law ; also, a copy of the correspondence between the Minister of Justice and Bishop Cowie, as chairman of a public meeting held in Auckland, on the subject of the conduct of the police in that city. Mr. Meredith has proposed that, with a view to facilitate the issuing of summonses for cases adjudicated at B.M. Courts in outlying districts, Justices of tho Peace should be required to qualify themselves to issue summonses.

Mr. O'Conor appears to be on a new tack of a Socialistic tendency. He is going to move that the maintenance of hospitals and charitable institutions should be provided for by special taxation derived from wealth, and not as at present, principally from the people, through local taxation and the consolidated fund.

Mr. W. Hutchinson means to move for full particulars of the cost of establishing the Milford Sound penal settlement. Mr. Wright has come to the rescue of a distressed public who find that there is a deficiency of gum on stamps, and has given notice to move that the Postmaster-General be requested to withdraw from sale as far as possible all postage stamps that have been issued without a sufficient dressing of gum. Mr. Wright is also moving in another matter of a rather odd nature. It seems that at the Ashburton election the £10 deposits of each of the four candidates were inadvertently sealed up, alone with the books and papers, by the Returning Officer. To open this parcel and get back his money, Mr. Wright has to move the House for permission to have the parcel opened, and he gave notice of a motion to this effect to-day. The Otago Central Railway has already cropped up, for Mr. Fergus this afternoon, amid considerable laughter and cries of "Oh ! oh !" gave notice to ask the Minister for Public Works what steps the Government intend to take to carry on the Otago Central Railway. Mr. G. Hutchison gave notice to-day to move for a select committee to inquire into, and report within three weeks upon the present position of tne New Plymouth Harbour Board with regard to the loan of £200,000, and the endowments of the Board, with power to call for persons and

papers. Mr. W. Hutchison is to move for a return of all lands still in possession or the State, with full prrfcicular.?. The proceedings in the House to-day were not very interesting, consisting mainly in notices being given 43 motions and questions, an unprecedented number for the first day's sittings. The only little spurt of interest came in when Mr. Bryce asked the Premier what the expression " a suitable recess" in the Governor's speech meant? but Mr. Ballance simply replied that he would explain it the next day. The new Government took their seats on the Ministerial Benches to-day for the first time, the leading Opposition seat being in its turn occupied by Messrs. Bryce ana Rolleston.

In addition to Mr. llees' Bill to amend the Native Land Courts Act, 1889, notice lias been given of the following measures, some of them being old friends : —Mr. Richardson, the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors Bill; Mr. W. Hutchison, the Eight Hours Bill; Mr. Joyce, the Shop Hours Bill; Mr. Taylor, the Coroners Inquests Bill and. the Interests of Labour Bill; Mr. R. Reeves, Gold Duty Abolition Bill, IS9O, Amendment Bill.