THE COMING SESSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8584, 4 June 1891, Page 5

THE COMING SESSION.

, [by telegraph.—own correspondent]. Wellington, Wednesday. Preparations for the coming session are in a very forward state, and a mighty sheaf of bills will be introduced, r At the earliest opportunity the Government will propose that Parliament shall proceed at once with public business, as has been done in several recent sessions, instead of adjourning to the following week after the formal opening and notices of motion, as was formerly the practice. Notice of address-in-reply to the' Speech from the Throne will be given ' at the earliest possible opportunity, 1 and the debate oil the address will be taken without delay. Mr. J. Maguire, the : new member for Egmont, will be asked to move the Address, but it is not yet definitely settled who shall be invited to be , the seconder.? This will very likely bo settled • tomorrow. The Colonial Treasurer intends if \ possible to deliver his Financial Statement either on Tuesday, June 16, or Friday, the 19th. Mr. Ballance is hard at work on his Budget, and it is very nearly complete. . He informs, me that no further disclosures relative to i the financial policy of the Government will be made'until the complete policy is disclosed' in the Financial Statement. •'

Ministers assure me that the reports as to intimation being given to them of secessions from their party are entirely groundless. The Premier states that he has not yet received a single notice of support being withdrawn, and that he i sees no reason to expect any such withdrawal. ) I understand that some of the 'Ministerial party estimate their majority at fully 15 or 16.. : . No final decision has yet ; been come to with regard to. the Chairmanship of Committees. The question . whether a Chairman of Committees shall be elected, or whether the proposal that -the Chairmen of Select Committees shall act in rotation will be referred to the House, and a new standing order has been drafted to provide for such a change, if desired by Parliament, But there are considered to "be difficulties in the way, as certain permanent functions have to be ; performed by the Chairman of Committees, and it would not be easy to arrange . for the performance of all these if the chairmanship were placed in commission. There is a' prevalent rumour that should it be decided to elect a Chairman tif Committees as usual, an arrahgement will be arrived at for the exChairman (Major Hamlin) to be chosen once more. Nothing, however, is as yet; settled oh this head. V

I hear, on good authority, that the result of the actual investigations into the position of the Government Insurance Office, which is now proceeding, has, so far, been most satisfactory, and that even a more favourable report than is usual is anticipated. There seems to be some likelihood of still further delay in the presentation of the Public Trust Office Royal Commissioners' report. I hear, however, that it will be an exceedingly "sultry" document whenever it comes in. The Government have not yct come to any. decision as to the suggestion that henceforward tho operations of the Trust Office should be carried on under a State guarantee like the Government Insurance Department. I understand, however, that the Government are in favour of placing the office under Ministerial control, as in the case of the Insurance Department, and that it will be proposed to make the Public Trusteeship no longer a patent office of which the holder is removable only on an address from both Houses of Parliament, but to render him amenable to the Government, and to some extent as every other head of a public department*- There is some talk of placing the Trusteeship in commission, and appointing a committee of three to perform the functions of the Public Trustee, but as yet nothing is determined. One of the provisions of the Public Revenues Bill to be introduced this session ; by Mr. Ballance will, empower the Government by Order-in-Council to direct the Audit Department to inspect the conduct of any department in the civil service, including insurance and trust offices, and to report specially upon ; its working, either generally or in ' respect of any special feature that may be deemed advisable. At spresent this power does not exist to the extent which the Government consider advisable,' and so additional statutory powers will be sought. , „ •