SESSIONAL NOTES,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11150, 24 August 1899, Page 5

SESSIONAL NOTES,

Wellington", Wednesday night. In his speech on the Financial Statement last evening Mr. Hone Heke devoted some attention to the question of the education of natives. He said the system had not been the success anticipated by those interested in it. A sum of £16,000 was annually expended for the support of native schools, which, looking at the whole thing from a broad standpoint, might just as well be thrown into the sea. The majority of the natives attending the schools did not receive any benefit from the expenditure whatever. Isolated successes on the part of native pupils might be pointed to, but thatwas not sufficient. The fault was that in native schools they had not the system which applied to schools under the Education Boards. In the first place, a large number of the teachers were incompetent, and the requirements of the various standards were lamentably low. He suggested that it would be far better if the Government would bring forward a scheme centralising the schools, and making them boarding schools. Then technical instruction should be given. Some of the native pupils were capable of receiving the highest education possible, but others would be far better served by learning some handicraft, such as that of carpenter. This matter, ho hoped, would engage the attention of the Education Department, as it was one of great importance.

The Times is angry with Mr. Seddon on account of the absurd amount of secrecy maintained by the Government as regards tho details of their administrative doings. An article which appears this morning states: " One Minister has frankly confessed himself in favour of a State censorship of the press, akin to that of Russia, and his influence has probably infected his colleagues, until now the affairs of the country are managed with a degree of secrecy that suggests underhand work, when there is not the least ground for suspicion. A few re-

cent instances — might be adduced, if necessary—will illustrate what we mean. No later than yesterday morning we published a cablegram from Sydney making known to the public that the Governments of New South Wales and New Zealand had been negotiating in respect to tho importation of fruit into this colony. The Reid Government had been urging the abolition of the restrictions, imposed by the New Zealand Government on the importation of fruit from the other colonies, with a view to guarding against the introduction of insect pests. Now, it appears that Mr. Seddon, in a recent letter, has avowed his willingness to admit any fruit from New South Wales, which is accompanied by the certificate of a Government inspector of that colony, testifying to its having been thoroughly fumigated. Why should the Premier of New Zealand have thought fit to withhold th': action of the Government in this matter from the people, so that the first intimation they received of it should be by cablegram from Sydney?"

The Leader of the Opposition will deliver a political address at Patea on Monday evening next. The Colonial Secretary (Mr. Carroll) will probably follow him a few days later, and endeavour to counteract the effect of Captain Russell's speech. This will probably make it necessary for Mr. George Hutchison, the member for the district, to pay a visit to his constituents before long, in which case Mr. Carroll, with Captain Rut-sell before him, and Mr. Hutchison behind him, may have a rather warm time. Matters political should bo very lively in Patea during the next fortnight "

In view of the amount of discussion which has taken place during the present debate as to whether our manufacturing industries were being helped or hindered by the legislation of the present Government, a table quoted by Mr. Massey the other night is of great interest. The table in question gives the values of the principal articles expcrtcd by New ZealaiTd, and compares the figures for 1891 and 1898, with the following results:—

1891. 1898. Dec. Inc. Ale and boor ... 1,809 1,629 220 - Apparel 9,859 2.331 7,528 - Cordage 1,990 559 1,431 - Leather 58,112 103.833 - 45,726 Phormium „, 281,514 74,556 106,958 - Soap 5,067 2,434 2,633 -- Woollens ... 17,347 9,634 7,713 - Other kinds ... 44.659 68,824 — la 165

Totals 420,357 253,805 166,552

It must be remembered that the above decrease has taken place in spite of the increase of our exports of leather, an increase which 16 due almost altogether to the increase in the number of flocks and herds, and to the increased number of stock in the colony; and, notwithstanding the fact that during the seven years referred to tho population of the colony had increased by over 100,000 individuals. Last year the colony exported produce of the value of £10,500,000, but out of all that year's exports our manufactures contributed only £250,000, while on the other hand we imported 63,224 dozen pairs of boots and shoes valued at £122,371, though th°v are protected by an import duty of 22 per cent.

Some politicians appear to have remarkably short memories. Take Mr. Houston, for instance. In speaking this afternoon on the woes of the country settlers, he appealed to the Premier in pathetic tone to remove the duty on kerosene, which was almost a, necessity of life to the farmer. In the face of this statement it is difficult to believo, though it is true, that when the tariff was being revised a few sessions ago, and Mr. Earnshaw moved that the duty on kerosene be reduced from sixpence to threepence, Mr. Houston is retarded in Hansard as paired against the proposal. This is on a par with Mr. Houston's speech in the recess, when lie took credit to the Government for removing the duty on fencing wire, whereas, as a matter of fact, the motion t-> place this article on the free list was moved by an Opposition member, and carried against the wishes of the Government, and again Mr. Houston is recorded as paired against it. These inconsistencies are rather astonishing, and certainly require explanation.