POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 849, 8 June 1888, Page 28

POLITICAL NOTES.

Messrs Maeartliur, Bruce and Wilson wrote to the Premier yesterday week withdrawing their support from the Government on account of the Protectionist policy embodied in the Financial Statement. All three gentlemen regret that such a course should have been, as they consider, forced upon them, and have expressed sympathy with the Premier for the difficulty of his position, but are of opinion that, in the face of their election pledges, they cannot for a moment support the present financial policy.

A rumor was current last night week that a telegram had been received from Loudon representing the prospects of floating the new loan as very ugfavorab’e at the present time, and advising the po.-tponement of any operations on the London Money Marfiet for several months at tho least. I do pot pretend to vouch for the truth of this report, which, however, readied me from two different quarters, both likely to bo well informed.

It was freely stated iu tho lobbies yesterday week that Mr Mitchelson had retired from the Ministry owing to a difference with a colleague. Subsequently the story went that ho had tendered his resignation, but had been induced by the Premier to withdraw it. A question being put in the House the Premier denied the truth of the report as to Mr Mitchelson’s resignation. Ji is generally understood that the actual facts were these : Mr Mitcholsoh took exception to Mr Fisher’s having prompted a ceitain notice of motion givon by

Mr Cadman, but being assured by Mr Fisher that no reflection upon him was intended; Mr Mitchelson accopted that assurance.

Mr Buxton scored off Dr-Fitchett rather heavily duriug the debate on the Contagious Diseases Act Repeal Bill last night week. _ Dr Fitchett, in the course of a speech against the Bill, had taunted many of the advocates of the repeal of the Act with ignorance of the subject they discussed. A few minutes later Mr Buxton (who was one of the speakers alluded to) arose and made a personal explanation. He himself, he said, spoke upon what .he had heard and read ; that was where he had got his information. And if Dr Fitchett knew any more than that he pitied him. Then the member for Rangitata sat down "amidst tremendous cheers, and was subsequently observed to be chuckling quietly to himself.

Mr Pyke tendered in evidence before the Waste Lands Committee a number of telegrams which he had received from Otago warmly advocating his scheme for the extension of the Otago Central Railway. Tho telegrams were returned to him with a resolution to the effect that they be not printed witii the other evidence. I wonder why ? The telegrams appear on another page of this issue.

The Railway returns for the first four weeks of the current financial year are of a somewhat unfavorable character as compared with last year. The difference, however, is largely accounted for by two circumstances. First, the Good Friday holiday traffic fell outside that period this year. Secondly, this year’s opening period contained only 2S days against 30 last year. Therefore the results are not strictly comparable at all, and it is needless to quote the respective figures.

Some telegraphic correspondence between the Premier and the Agent-General, relative to the Midland Railway, was laid on the table last night week. All the correspondence took place during last month. Further concessions are asked by the Company, the most important being permission to deviato from the route laid down for crossing the mountain range which it i,s proposed to pass over by the Abt system instead of piercing it with a long tunnel. The Company offer, to take so much less land as this concession should save in cost.

The total sum expended upon railway construction up to the 31sfc March last was £14,603,109, of which £13,352,978 was the cost of the lines already actually opened for traffic.

Permission was given the Premier in the House yesterday week to correct the errors in the tariff to which I called attention. The alterations made were as follow : Methylated spirits, duty made Is instead of 15s ; fresh fruit, namely (the word in the tariff being “ including ”) apples and pears ; brooms and brushes, &c., altered to 15 and 20 per cent ad valorem instead of per pound. In answer to Dr Newman, Ihe Premier said he was quite satisfied about the “ primage " duty, which was now being collected.

Three Wellington petitions were presented to the House yesterday week—from Thomas Carter, praying for consideration on the ground’that he had received less than he was entitled to while in the employ of the Defence Department; and from P. Garbes and W. McGinnerty, asking for grants of landfor military services rendered.

The correspondence between the Premier and the Agent-General relative to the appointment of a Chief Commissioner of Railways has been presented to Parliament. Its main purport has been mainly anticipated, but the following points are worth noting : In the first place the Agdnt-General was emphatic in warning the Government that it would be useless to name a salary “not exceeding ” any sum - the amount must be definitely fixed. To this the Premier replied by naming £2500. Sir Francis Bell subsequently wrote that ho had obtained the assistance of two noted railway magnates as advisers, vjz., Sir Edward Watkin (chairman of the South Eastern Railway), and Mr George Findlay (general manager of the London and North Western line) and seven candidates had been selected from the list of applicants, but after personal interviews it was unanimously agreed that not one was at all suitable. It was deemed unlikely that the right sort of man would apply, and so the Agent-General suggested that he should be empowered to do tue l est he could toward obtaining what was needed. .The Premier replied by cable on the 4th ultimo: —“Endeavour find such man*’ With this brief but pointed mandate the correspondence ends, and “ such man ” is sti.l unfound.

Mr Ormond has excited the extreme indignation of the Opposition by liis notice of motion, which they regard as “taking the wind out of their sails ” in a most scandalous way. It certainly puts them in rather a “ corner,” and helps Ministers skilfully out of a “hole.”

The New Zealand Customs revenue for last month was £143,850, as against £101,303 for May, 1887, Tho beer duty was £3924, as against £3SGO.

Returns were ordered in the House last Friday as follows: On the motion ®f Mr Wilson, a list of Sheep Inspectors (with salaries opposite each name) on the west coast of the North Island, from Taranaki to Wellington, with other particulars j and on the motion of Mr Joyce, of all correspondence between the Minister for Public Works, or any Minister acting on his behalf, and Mr Maguire, the contractor for the new reclamation, in reference to his pioposal for tho use of part of the Government railway between Kaiwarra and .the railway station, Wellington, and the occupation by him of a portion”of the railway station ground, Wellington.

Tho Native meetings being held on the East Coaßt by To Kooti aro causing a great deal of apprehension among the Natives in

1 that district, 39 of whom have petitioned ’ Parliament to take some steps in the direction of preventing these meetings; which; they say, “degrade aud impoverish the Maori race.” The petitioners state that Te Kooti is obtaining a great hold 011 the Natives, and that some of the chiefs are considering the advisableuesa of taking violent measures against him.

Mr Seddon has been elected chairman of the Goldfields Committee at a meeting of that body.

The unusual practice of clearing the galleries was resorted to last Friday night when the proposal of the Printing Debates Committee, that the debate on the Contagious Diseases Repeal Bill be not reported in Hansard, came on for discussion. All the galleries were full, iu anticipation no doubt of a financial debate, bus they were cleared in a very few minutes, and when the doors were opened two hours later the Premier was found calmly discussing a motion to set up a committee of supply.

The Public Petitions Committee report that they have no recommendation to make in connection with the petition of Gilbert Rock, of Dunedin, for protection to New Zealand literature. This decision has probably been inspired by a perusal of Mr Rock’s “Colonists."

A number of members have intimated that they cannot support the tariff proposals of the Government. Among the gentlemen who are said to have taken this course are Messrs Mills, Fulton, Barron, Allen, T. Mackenzie, Beetham, Buchanan, Anderson,-Withy and Marchant.

The Opposition caucus last Friday was attended by 36 members, and Mr Lance presided. It was decided, after discussion, to ask the Government to postpone the financial debate till Tuesday, in order that time might be given to members to study the comparative table .of colonial tariffs, and otherwise to prepare for the debate. Although no definite decision was come to upon the subject, the general feeling of the meeting appeared to be in favour of supporting the tariff proposals if they can be slightly modified.

Monday was full of rumours. It was persistently circulated in the lobbies in the morning that the Government intended to resign rather than carry their financial policy only with. the help of the Opposition. Later it was ’said that Ministers had resolved to press on their proposals and to carry them, if- possible, whether with Opposition assistance or otherwise. It was further reported that a meeting of the Ministerial party would be held next day to consider the situation,but subsequently this was-contradicted, aud it was asserted that directly the Government had carried the tariff they would convene a meeting of their whole ; party, and insist upon some definite understanding being come to whether they were to have the support of their party or not. It was also reported that a meeting of Freetraders would beheld next day. Late on Monday night it was asserted with confidence that the Government were certain of carrying their tariff. It was generally alleged in the evening that the Government would oppose all three resolutions of which Mr Ormond had given notice.

At the invitation of the Minister of Lands about 20 members held an informal meeting Monday morning for the purpose of having an interview with Mr McCallum, formerly manager of the Edendale Dairy Factory in the South Island. Mr O’Callaghan presided. Mr McCallum spoke at some length npon the various industries in which he is an expert, and a discussion ensued, in the course of which it was suggested that rata should be used for keg 3 in exporting butter. Eventually it was decided, on the motion of Sir John Hall, that the Government should be asked to employ Mr McCallum to travel over the Colony, in order that he may give farmers and others concerned in dairy industries the benefit of his information and experience in such matters ;the appointment to be temporary, and pending the selection by the Agent-General of some permanent officer. It is understood that the Government will favorably consider this suggestiou.

Mr Oliver, M.L.C., lias been appointed to represent New Zealand at the Conference on the Chinese Question, to ba held in Sydney shortly. Mr Oliver will leave for Australia by the first boat.

It is understood that Mr .Hutchison purposes introducing in committee amendments to Mr T. Mackenzie’s Californian Thistle Eradication Bill, which, if carried, will have the effect of entirely remodelling the Bill. Mr Hutchison’s proposal is, I believe, to make the measure apply to. all kinds of thistles, and the administration of the Bill will be left to local bodies, wfio will have it at their option whether or not they enforce it in their various districts.

The Opposition held a caucus on Tuesday, 25 members being present and Mr Lanee as usual presiding. It is understood that the meeting decided to oppose -Mr Ormond’s resolutions at all points.

Ministers came to a. definite decision on Tuesday that they would oppose Mr Ormond’s resolutions, and that they would carry through their new tariff irrespective of all objections on the part of members on their side of the House. Ministers consider that having.(in tlie Financial Statement) explicitly invited Parliament to deal with the matter apart from copsjdera? tions of party, and solely with a [view to thp public interests, they are bound to adhere to that position, and they mean to do bo. They will do their best to carry the tariff, whether with -the aid of Opposition votes or otherwise.

The seceders, some of whom are very old and staunch supporters of the present Premier, complain very bitterly of being thrown overboard by him. They deny that they have left him, but contend that he has left them and flung himself into the arms of the

he knew to be so repugnant to their mostcherished convictions. They say that they are not at all disposed to return to their allegiance, even when the tariff affair is settled, for they will never know when they may again be similarly treated. On the other hand, they do not feel inclined to join the Opposition, whose views are still more repugnant, and the only future course that seems open is to constitute themselves an independent Middle Party, and vote Upon each Question on its ihei'its, irrespective of patty;

Mr Vincent Pyke asked the Government bn Tilesda'y whether they will take into tjonsideratioi} the desirableness of so-far altering the Civil Service Regulations as te> give only a half-hour’s recess in the middle of the day, and fijfc the closing time half au hour earlibr than at present? In putting the question Mr Pyke said the present arrangement of an hour for lunch had, he thought, a prejudicial'effect on the morals of Civil Servants. They were driven out into the streets, and having a little time on their hands probably spent it in pubiichouses, billiard-rooms, and similar places. The Premier replied that the Government purposed..to maintain the present arrangement. showed that more work was done if there was a break in the middle of the day, and that half an hour generally meant more than 30 minutes.

The'Premier stated in the House on Tuesday that the extensive use of delayed telegrams . was causing a great deal of expense, and it was probable that the Government would have to propose some alteration in the system.

The correspondence between Ministers and Mr Maguire (contractor for the Te Aro reclamation) with reference to the latter’s railway line from ICaiwhara, would not appear to have been voluminous, judging from a copy of such correspondence laid on the table of the House in pursuance of a motion moved by Mr Joyce. The arrangements, it appears, were conducted between the City Council and Minister for Public Works, and the correspondence produced consists of two letters, the first of which is from Mr J. P. Maxwell, General Manager of Railways, to With reference to the personal interview which you had with the Hon Mr Pisher respecting the laying of a line of rails from Kaiwhara to the- city reclamation site, 1 have the honor to inform you that the arrangements about this have been concluded between the Minister for Public Works and the City Council, and after carefully considering the request made by you for a different arrangement, it has not been found practicable to comply with yom request.” The other letter is an acknowledgment from the Town Clerk of an intimation of receipt of permission for the line of rails to be made. Some little interest was manifested in connection with the production of this correspondence, it having been understood that the subject dealt with was one upon which a difference of opinion existed among Ministers.

In the public buildings vote on the Estimates, the folio wing votes of interest to Wellington apoear : —l-epairs, fittings, &c., to Government House, £353; Parliamentary Euildings, £700; Parliamentary Buildings, painting, £6OO ; Ministerial residences (reDairs), £250; rent for Ministerial residence, £2OO ; Government Buildings, painting outside, £2OOO ; temporary post and telegraph offices, Wellington, rent, and incidental expenses, £ISOO. Q-