PARLIAMENTARY NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11782, 11 October 1901, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS AND GOSSIP.

DISFRANCHISING WELLINGTON.

[BY TEI-EOrtAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Thursday.

BONUS FOR CANNED AND CURED FISH.

A Bill entitled " an Act to Extend the Fisheries Encouragement Act, 1835," was brought down this evening by message from the Governor. The Bill provides for an extension of the period during which the bonus for canned and cured fish is payable to August 31, 1902. The following year the bonus is to be decreased by half ; in 1904 only one-third of the rate will be paid ; ia 1905 only one-fourth; and from that date the bonus is to cease.

OPEN UP THE LAND. In asking the Minister for Lands what steps are being taken to open Crown or other lands for settlement in the provincial district of Auckland, Mr. Witheford said that if the Crown lands of the North were made productive and peopled as they should be, they would carry three or four times the present population. He strongly urged that more spirit should be put into the opening up of these lands. Mr. Witheford went on to say there had been some talk of shifting the seat of Government. He might say that the Wellington members had always treated him with the greatest kindness and courtesy. (Hear, hear.) He was sure the Auckland members had to thank them for it. Mr. Witheford had nothing to say against Wellington, but if they were going to shift the seat of Government no better place could be found than the splendid district near Kawhia, which was only waiting to be thrown open. The Hon. Mr. Duncan replied that the lands in question were being surveyed, and as quickly as possible. He believed that about 60,000 acres would be ready for settlement by the end of the rear. " THE CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT.

The Commissioner of Customs was asked by Mr. Witheford whether he would consider tbo advisability of introducing a Bill dealing with the " superannuation of the officers of the Customs Department on the same lines as the one which is being introduced in the interest of the officers of other Government Departments. Mr. Witheford in seeking the information said the officers of this Department thought they should be treated the same as officers in other Departments of the service. The Hon. Mr. Mills explained that those who had joined the Customs Department prior to 1871 were entitled to a pension. Those who joined between that and 1894, were not entitled to any pension, and those who had joined since 1894 had a certain amount reduced from their salaries to insure them, and secure them an annuity when they left the service. There was no reason for the Government to deal with the matter this session, but it had been considered by the Government, who thought there should be some general scheme by which all these officers should be provided "for under one general scheme.

COLONY OR STATE. "I like the terms colony and colonial. They bring up pleasant associations," said the Premier when asked by Mi. Napier to consider the advisability of changing the official designation of New Zealand from a "colony" to a "State." The Premier went on to say that he would like the word colony to be retained in the title of the King. • He (Mr. Seddon) did not trouble himself about these "States." There was too much of the Yankee about it. Ho thought it would be reducing the standing of the colony to call it a State. Mr. Napier explained that it was anything but his desire to reduce the importance of New Zealand, and he pointed out that such countries as France, Germany, and Russia were States. Mr. Seddon :* I think it would have a lowering tendency, although not intended by the hon. member. At all events I don't like the name. I would rather have something British. (Hear, hear.)

" Owing to the fact of the City of Wellington being the seat of Government, and of the disproportionate influence it thereby exercises in the political affairs of the colony, will consideration be given to the desirability of disfranchising those residing in that city, as is the case with reference to the residents of the capital city of the United States of America?" was a query put to the Government this afternoon by Mr. Napier, who said it was a serious question, seriously put. He remarked that it had struck him that the power of Wellington over the Administration would rapidly become excessive, if it had not become so ready. It might happen, as it had in other parts of the world, that such power would be a menace to the rest of the colony. Mr. Seddon agreed that there was something to say in favour of the member for Auckland's remarks. With the present rivalry between Auckland and Wellington things were very awkward at times. He had made an extract of the number of speeches made by Wellington members between half-past seven and half-past ten, and found that they monopolised 75 per cent, of the time of the House. Members would, however, make due allowance, because during the hours mentioned the Wellington representatives had a large number of their constituents in the galleries. (Laughter.) However, a great deal would depend on the conduct of those members during the remainder of the session. If they blocked business, as they had in the past, it would be necessary for the Government to consider what should be done with them. (Laughter.) HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS.

The Government are to give free passes on the railways to scholars attending the high schools. Mr. Hall-Jones made the matter clearer in answer to a question by Mr. Meredith to-day. He said that the distinction between the district high schools and the ordinary high schools was so small that the concession ought to be granted to scholars attending both classes of schools, and regulations were now being framed with that object. This brought up, he said, another matter. If the children had to pay fees at a high school, and the Government retained these fees while giving the children passes, this was not free education. He hoped that the time was not far distant when our secondary schools would be as free as the public schools. This question of extending the privilege to ordinary high schools is mixed up with the question of the abolition of fees. Mr. Meredith asked the Minister if he would name a date on which the regulation would come into force. Mr. Hall-Jones stated that he would request his colleagues to have the matter investigated. LUNATIC ASYLUM ATTENDANTS.

Mr. Bollard says officers and attendants at lunatic asylums work longer hours than those worked in any other institution in the colony, and their duties are most wearying. This led him to ask the Government to shorten their hours and increase their pay. The Hod. Hall-Jones said it would require the addition of 25 per cent, of persons to give, say, an eight-hour day. When Mr. Bollard asked why an exception was made of these attendants, Mr. Hall-Jones said they had special advantages. They received a full day's holiday once a fortnight, one month's holiday every year, and alternate Mondays off, besides liberal leave. Personally, he did not believe in long hours, and promised to have an inquiry made into the whole matter. With regard to salaries the Minister drew Mr. Bollard's attention to the fact that the officers in question were receiving fairly large increases on the Estimates.

THE MARTYRDOM OF METERS. Practically the whole of the evening sitting was devoted to the consideration of the Factories Bill in committee, and although the sting was taken out of this measure by the exertions of the Labour Bills Committee, the members found a good deal of detail to discuss. In its present form the Bill will be mainly a consolidating Act. Interest frequently nagged, and the shaping of the clauses' was left to comparatively a few members who are interested in legislation of this nature. Mr. Pirani's " lobby brigade" did not trouble the Chamber very much with their presence. At half-past nine the benches looked very bare and lonely with only 29 out of 74 members at their posts, and though the division bell called up an extra 20, the House was not long in. slipping

back into its former denuded state. It. would certajnly do some of the constituents good if they could see what martyrs some of their much-promising members make of themselves when there is dry but important detail work to be done in committee, when speeches are not reported in Hansard.

THE TAGUS INCIDENT. Mr. Allen's criticism of the Premier in regard to the Tagus troopers was referred to in the House to-day. "Mr. Allen asked why the Premier did not grant the returns he had asked for. The Premier said Mr. Allen wanted these returns without the chance of any debate on them. He challenged him to bring tnem on so that they would Tib made a subject of discussion in the House. Mr. James Allen : " I accept the challenge, and will be glad if the Premier will name a day for the discussion of these papers. I should be only too glad to force it to a discussion." 'lne Premier said the forcing would be the other way, and he added that Mr. Allen had gone to a trooper for information the other day. Mr. Allen denied this, and challenged the Premier to name the trooper. The Premier said it was Lieutenant Ferguson. Mr. Allen replied that Lieutenant Ferguson was not a trooper. The Premier added, "Do not make any mistake about me." and the incident ended for the present. It is, however, stated in the lobbies that more will be heard of it.

REVENUE RETURNS. The Premier laid on the table of the House yesterday evening a return showing the revemt'3 for the six months ending September 30, 1901, and for the corresponding period of last year. The figures for the six months of this year are £2,585,866, as against £2,484,104 for the six months ending September 30, 1900. The details for the two periods are (leaving out shillings and pence): —Customs, 1901 £1,062,510, 1900 £1,021,824; stamps £369,381, ■as against £382,581; post and telegraph, cash receipt*; £42.522, as against £37,356; land tax £1799, against £4114; income tax £4997, against £4749; beer duty £39,-467, against £36,240; railways £81*6,864, against £773,338; registration and other fees £33,273, against £28.863 ; marine £15,073, against £13,046; miscellaneous £64,395, against £59,605; cash land sales £36,727, against £69,132; deferred payments, land sales £4227, against £6607; pastoral rent, etc., £64,825, against £66,641.

JOTTINGS. Captain Russell, who has been away on sick leave, resumed his seat in the House today. Major-General Sir George Whitmore, a member of the Legislative Council, was a passenger for London by the Wakanui today. Mr. Witlieford was informed by the Premier to-day that the commandant was of opinion that corps wanting Morris tubes should purchase them out of the corps funds. This was in answer to a suggestion from the Auckland member that the Government should provide volunteer companies with these tubes in order to encourage shooting during winter months.

The Defence Minister to-day told Mr. Monk that Martini-Enfield rifles were sup plied to rifle clubs at £2 5s 9d each.

Mr. Hall-Jones can hold out no hope to Mr. Bollard, who wants a branch railway from Avondale to Karaka Bay, on the Manuka,u Harbour, in order to hasten the delivery of the San Francisco and inland mails.

Incidentally in the House this afternoon reference was made to federation with the Commonwealth of Australia. The Premier said the action of the Commonwealth (referring, of course, to the tariff) had only tended to widen the gap and render impossible that which might have been possible at a favourable time.

Mr. Witheford looks on Mr. Duncan, Minister for Lands, as the Lincoln of the present Administration.