WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9831, 28 May 1895, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ■ Wellington, Monday. i MINISTERIAL.

The Hon. Mr. McKenzie is reported to be better. The papers of his department and the memoranda necessary for despatch of business are duly forwarded to him at his house at Shag Poinb.

THB GOVERNOR AND THE PREMIER.

There' are whispers here of strained relations between the Governor and the Premier. I mention this nob because I have any satisfactory assurance of the causes assigned for such a situation, but rather that the fact of the rumour itself (if ib has any foundation) possesses a certain importance at any time. The disagreement, if there be a difference of opinion, is alleged to be a matter of form rather than a snbfetantial embarrassineub. I shall nob enumerate all the causes assigned, because it is' nob possible they could be known to anybody. Neither Lord Glasgow nor the Premier is likely to disclose a matter of difference between them if it existed ; but there is one assigned cause so curious that I give it without vouching for its accuracy. . Ib is said that His Excellency, in his capacity of Commander-in-chief of Her Majesty's forces in the colony, lias brought under tho notice of the Defence Minister that in the removal, direction, or employmenb of the Permanent Force he has nob been consulted. History repoats itself. This is extremely like the matter in difference between Sir George Grey and the Fox • Whitaker Government many years ago. lam not inclined to place much reliance upon the story at all, but ib {is undoubtedly important and significant if there be any truth in ib. THE UNEMPLOYED DIFFICULTY;. A lively correspondence has taken place between the Premier and Mr. Fish, the Mayor of Dunedin. The unemployed of Dunedin approached the Mayor with the statement that Messrs. Pinkerton and Millar, M.li.R.'s, told them there was plenty of work to be done at Forest Hill, Catlins, and Otago Central, and that 250 men were out of work in Dunedin. This Mr. Fish communicates to Mr. Seddon, who replies thab the Labour Bureau returns only give 75 as the number of men unemployed, and asks for further information. The Premier says, "At a time like the present the local governing bodies certainly have a duty to perform, and nothing would give me greater pleasure than to hear that the Dunedin City Councils and surrounding local authorities should they find on investigation that there are 150 married men with families out of work in Dunedin, wore assisting in relieving the necessities of these poor bub deserving colonists. The complaint of the deputation that more attention appeared to be paid by the general Government to the unemployed in other parts of the colony than those of Dunedin is certainly unfounded, and from your own knowledge you must know ib is incorrect." The Premier adds thab 300 men are employed on the Otago Central, and that while the Government was doing its best to cope with the unemployed difficulty the presenb rate of expenditure on Otago and Southland works cannot bo increased. The communication seems to warm the Mayor of Dunedin, who rejoins :—" The Hon. the Premier, Wellington.— for telegram, which I have published. Labour Bureau here admit there are now about 200 names of unemployed upon the books, which does nob include skilled men, such as masons, who, Mr. Faruie admits, would bring the total to 230. Impossible local bodies doing anything for each one. We are employing now about 20 men on work which, although necessary, could be done without, in order to help a little. Our ability to help would have been greater had nob your Government seized every opportunity to take revenue from us which wo were justly entitled to retain. Then now, your threatened legislation in widely extending the municipal franchise, is making things duller and work scarcer, for propertyholders will notimprovo or spend money on their property when their power of electing men to control the purse strings is likely to be taken out of their hands.—H. S. Fish, Mayor, Dunedin." The Premier answers with a reference to tho proposed Local ' Government Bill of next session. He says he is sorry that the local bodies in and around Dunedin are without means, bub the fact augurs well for the passing of tho Bill next session, and concludes : — 11 1 am aba loss to understand your statement that the present Government had taken every opportunity to seize the revenue of the borough of Dunedin, and very respectfully question your ability to prove the assertion. Your reference to tho proposed legislation as affecting municipal affairs could scarcely be said to bo in good taste ; for ib must be within your knowledge that the widespread depression and loss of population in Dunedin is tho real cause for the non-increase of buildings and house accommodation in that part of the colony. I regret exceedingly that you should have thought this a fitting opportunity for attacking the Government ; and more so, as it leaves your action open to misconstruction, and uncharitable persons may say that it is an attempt to make political capital at- the expense of the unfortunate men whose necessities compelled thorn to appeal to you to aid them in obtaining employment. —R. J. Seddon."