POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 850, 15 June 1888, Page 28

POLITICAL NOTES.

Mr W. C. Smith’s amendment, tbat the Tariff Bill be read a second time in six months, “ glided (like the late Mr Ba/dell) amoßt imperceptibly from the world,” being put and negatived in a chance interval when the debate flagged, and a good deal of chatter and confusion prevailed so that hardly a voice was heard bn either side when the question was put. Mr Smith’s amendment, if carried, must have turned out the *- Ministry. But it wasn’t, and so he steps down from the proud pedestal which he temporarily occupied as (self-appointed) leader of “ Her Majesty’s Opposition." No matter, a time may come yet,

The debate on the Customs Duties Bill yesterday week remarkable for the personal tone of most of the speeches. The speakers were Messrs Tanner, Pish (who monopolised, over two hours), Allen, Goldie, Scobia Mackenzie and aaffthe Minister of

The Chinese Immigrants Bill was sent down from the Legislative Council yesterday week with amendments for the concurrence of the Lower House.. The amendments consist in feScitldittg from the operations of the Bill (1) Chinese who have been naturalised in New Zealand's (2) Chinese who have left China or Hong Kong before the 10th instant ; (3.) the officers and crews of Chinese war vessels ; in limiting the duration of the Act to the end of next session} and in excising the disqualification of Chinese from voting at local Members tell me that the amendfljen£s will pfobably be accepted by the Lower House.

A report presented to Parliament shows that there has been a decrease of 18,637 in the number of sheep in the Colony since last year. The decrease in Canterbury is as large as 301,729 ; -most other places showing increases. The export of frozen meat had increased by 224,559 carcase b.

A petition has been presented no by Mr Joyce* laying before the House 1 a fow remarks in connection with ft legalised gambling ihabhine balled tHa totalisatof, with a view to its entirb dbblltibnj” The petitioners (residents of Lyttelton) point cSil'C thdfc wives and families of the working olitsflbs arti often brought to a"*state of semi-starvation through the machine, and argue that even if a large license fee were charged, the revenue derived would not equal the amount of money that would be transferred at every race meeting in the Colony.

In addition to the provisions already explained, Mr ' Guinness'- Workmen’s Wages Bill enacts that if wages due to an employe within three days o? the termination of an engagement aienot paid, the wages shall run on at the same rate until they are paid, the amount thus recoverable being limited to a month’s wages.

A most extraordinary petition was pre* sented to the House last Friday by Sir George Grey. It was from Mrs Mary Steadman Aldis, for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act. The petitioner complained that she had been accused of agitating for the repeal of the Act without understanding its provisions, so she entered into the most elaborate and curious details to prove her thorough acquaintance'with all particulars of this unsavoury subject. She concluded by contending that under the Act women are punished for what is not legally a crime, while efforts are made to make the sin safe for men ; that the Act tempts young men to sin by inducing them to believe they can do so with impunity; that the carrying out of the Act is a service which ought not to be demanded of any decent man, and that it is therefore degrading to the police ; that its powers may be grossly abused by licentious policemen or magistrates ; and that its provisions are unjust, cowardly and unmanly, wherefore she prays for its repeal.

The Live Stock Committee recommended to the House (1) That one or two ports be declared quarantine ports, and quarantine grounds for stock be provided * there on an island in each case ; (2) that the strict quarantine regulations proposed by the Sydney Conference of ISS6 be adopted j (3) that tuberculosis, cancer, nicer and all tumerons sores be included in the list of diseases calling for quarantine ; (4) that extended powers be given by legislation to the police to examine skins suspected to be those of stolen sheep. The Committee entirely endorse the recommendations of the Committee appointed last session to deal with the same subject.

Tbe arrears of rates “that will be recover, able under the District Railways Act Amendment Bill, now before Parliament, amount to £15,813 in all, including Rakaia and Ashburton Forks) £2530 ; Waimate Gorge) £1363.

I find from a perusaTbf the minutes of the Waste Lands Committee, that with reference to Mr Pyke’s Otago Central Railway Bill, Mr Cowan moved that the Bill be ap- ' proved, subject to the incorporation of the provisions as to settlement recommended by the Surveyor-General. Messrs Cowan, Ormond and Why.ta-voted for this resolution, and Messrs Mackenzie, Thompson, Jones, Rhodes, Richardson, Ballance, and O’Cal laghan against—that is seven against three so the motion was lost. Mr O’Callaghan then movod that the Committeo cannot recommend that the Bill be allowed to proceed. This wa3 carried by seven to three, the ayes being tbe same as the noes in the former case. Mr Pyke, hpwever, directly the Committee reported to the House last Friday, quietly moved that the Bill be on a future day, which was carried and the day fixed before anybody Was fully aware of what was .going on, or observed how flatly the recommendation of the Waste Lands Committee had thus been set at nought. Wi r Pyke is hugely delighted at the Bucces3 of bis skilful )i"tle coup.

It will be remembered that on the retirement of Mr Seed from the jo-.nt positional Secretary and Inspector of Customs the two offices- were separated. Mr Glasgow, the Chief Clerk of tbe Department, was promoted to the secretaryship, and Mr McKellar, collector at the port of Wellington, was made Inspector. Since their appointment, both these gmtlemen have performed their duties in an admirable manner, and have shown -themselves thoroughly efficient officers in all respects, but the existence oi a dual headship of the Depa-tment has proved seriously inconvenient. Messrs Glasgow and Mr McKellar have felt strongly the awkwardness of their being invested with quasi co-ordinate powers, which, hacl they not been such excellent officers, working so cordially together, must often have involved some troublesome complications. After much, consideration and consultation with Messrs Glasgow and McKellar, the Government have come to the conclusion, with the full approval and concurrence of those gentlemen, that another arrangement is desirable, and it has been agreed that Mr McKellar, as senior officer,' shall become secretary as well as Inspector, and that Mr Glasgow shall become Collector of Customs at the port of Wellington, with an increased salary. It is ad-

mitted on all hands that Mr Glasgow has proved a most Table Secretary, and there is no doubt ho will be equally efficient in his new sphere of duty.

Captain Hume, Inspector of Prisons, has been created a Lieutenant. Colonel in the New Zealand Militia, and Assistant Ad-jutant-General in the Defence Force. It is thought that Captain Hume’s long experience as a staff-officer will enable him to be of great service in inspecting the Volunteers during his official peregrinations. The new appointment does not carry any increment of salary.

The Public Petitions Committee report on tho petitions of Messrs James and Buckley, lately police inspectors at Wanganui and Invercargill respectively, that, in the Opinion of the Committee, the petitioners have already been liberally dealt with in the way of retiring allowances.

The petition of William Packard, of Wellington, sets forth that the petitioner had been employed in the Government -me, and that ho left because lie S6r>»~ i -i that his services were to be waa aa o asks for consideration, ‘0 £SO con,p'easStioffi

Mr Doiviiio Stewdrt’fif yrew y of,,ihe {joiofljf and its inhabitants, ds eSpveesecf f>y t,hfe t hon member last Friday night: 11 A mfirts disgrace-fully-governed Colony never existed. We have everything in abundance, and only man is vile !”

On Saturday morning a deputation of about twenty members of the House waited on the Premier to urge that effect should be given to that part of the Special Powers and Contracts Act of 1885 which gives the relief so often petitioned for by Mr Joshua Jones, of MokaU. The Premier refused to propose legislation in the matter, but promised to appoint a commissioner to .investigate the case. He would not promise that the Government ttould propose legislation to give effect to the report Of the commissioner,- but said he would lay it before the House as soon as possible.

The Midland Railway Committee appointed by the House on Friday night to consider the proposed provision in the contract, met on Saturday, Mr Samuel occupying the chair. By the casting vote of the Chairman a decision was arrived at in favour of the proposed proviso.

* The Premier has authorised several members to state that arrangements will be made which will prevent the new duty on machinery affecting machinery now on its way to the Colony, and ordered before the tariff resolutions were passed.

. A meeting of members was held en Monday to consider the Codlin Moth Bill now before the House. There were thirteen members present, and Captain Baillie presided. The Bill and the objections made to it were discussed at some length, and it was eventually decided to adjourn the meeting till Thursday.

To the general surprise of all parties, a division was taken on Tuesday afternoon on the Becond reading of the Customs Duties and Excise Bill. Shortly after 3 o’clock the order of the day was called on, the right of resuming the debat3 being Mr McGregor’s. That gentleman was not in the Cnamber, however, and, amidst cries of “Question,” the Speaker proceeded to put the question. As he did so, Colonel Fraser was observed to be fidgetting about as though he would fain get up and speak, but he did not rise, although the Premier did, just after the noes had been called upon and too late, of course. Mr Barron called for a division, and members came trooping in amidst much excitement. The result of the division was the signal for a weak outburst of cheers, in which both sides joined.

The subsequent explanations of members were very comical.' The broad shoulders of Mr McGregor were made to bear the blame for the collapse of the debate, and many were the proofs that he had extensively bamboozled several honorable gentlemen. One member asked him whether he was going to speak, and Mr McGregor replied evasively that *• he shouldn’t take long,” whereas in truth and in fact it would appear that he never had any intention of speaking at all. In at least one case, however, the member for Akaroa did not impart fake information, for we have it on the word of Mr Blake that when he asked Mr McGregor whether he intended to speaK, that (gentleman replied in the lapguage of signs by shutting one eye and jerking his thumb in the direction of his shoulder, “from which,” said Mr Blake knowingly, “I gathered that somebody was going to be sold)” As a matter of fact, however, Mr McGregor was not in the least to blame, for aDy other member who wished m ght have resumed the debate.

Dr Newman intends to move for a return giving the following particulars in connection with the Government Printing office : (1) What extension of time beyond the contract six months was allowed to the successful tenderer ? (2) What extra time was granted to him, acd whether he was beyond that time ? (3) If he has incurred penalties ; if so, -what, and if they have been enforced ?

The total cost of tbe breakwind recently erected at Pigeon Bush was £865, according to a return presented to the House on Tuesday, on tho motion of Mr Buchanan.

The Public Petitions Committee have reported on the annual petition of Henry Baucke. The effect of the report is that the petitioner's claim has been settled.

The question whether the reductions in salaries of CJiyil servants are to date as from the 31st March last was brought before the Premier on Tuesday, The Premier replied that Civil servants had been paid for April and May on last year's Estimates, and it would be for the House to decide whether they should recoup the excess on salaries now proposed for those two months.

The ropoft of the Public Petitions Committee on the petition of ratepayers who prayed for the constitution of the Pahiatua County, is that as a Bill dealing with the subject is shortly coming before the House, they have no recommendation to make.

A return laid on the table of the House shows that tho number of persons who were drowned in New Zealand rivers between July 1, 1885, and June, 1887, was 80, bringing the total number up to 2236.

The annual report on tho New Zealand Police by Captain Gudgeon was presented to Parliament on Tuesday. The uoual statistics are given, and the conduct of the force is reported ns excellent. 1 Captain Gudgeon in some remarks on crime in New Zealand, states-that there is a decrease in the crime of arson, but adds, “ This, however, requires explanation, for the police have every reason to believe that numerous instances of this crime remain undetected and unpunished, not from want of suspicion or vigilance, but from the want of sufficient evidence to justify a criminal information. The only solution of the difficulty would appear to be condensed in the recommendation of a London jury in a late case, viz., ‘ That provision should be made by law for an official inquiry into the origin and -cumstanoes of all fires. That such inquiry to diminish the frequency of fires £ faffin ' more easy of detection, 4f a°r« p .“tatos the information flftcl tffcSjS*which would result from searching "tfilt expose faulty and inferior ifdrU, thus lead to improvements in building coa&Waotion.’ There is a general imprest! oll among the public that the insurance oompanles .are primarily responsible for many of the suspicious fires } bub, without committing myself to so strong an Opinion as the above, I may, nevertheless* say that* so long as houseowners are allowed to Over-ihsufe* so long will fchefe be suspicious fires* and the polib'e pdwbileSs to stop them. ’* . Q-