POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 916, 20 September 1889, Page 28

POLITICAL NOTES.

It was intended, as we stated some time ago, to introduce a Bill imposing a license fee on retail tobacconists, but it was found impossible to pass the measure this session. The Government found it impossible to make any provision for labour settlements during the session, but in the recess they will make inquiries with a view to submitting proposals to the House next year. Inquiries are now being made by the Government with a view to obtain a room suitable for sittings of the Magistrate’s Court at Ek6tahuna. If arrangements can be made the Court will sit monthly in that township. The Premier informed Dr Newman yea*, terday week that he entirely sympathised with the hon. member in his desire to prevent large sums of money being sent out of tho Colony for sweeps and consultations. “I have the sympathy and you have the power,” said Dr Newman • to whiph the Premier said that he had no power In 'the matter unfortunately. His own idea was that the best plan would be to-confiscate the money, if it could be done. Mr W. P. Reeves suggested that if the Government watched the newspapers they.fg’-ould be enabled to do something in the way of putting these sweeps down. Immediately after the House had risen for the dinner adjournment last evening Week, the members of .the. Government party assembled in .the Cabinet room, the occasion being the presentation of a gold watch to Mr McGregor, the senior Governnlfent whip, in recognition of his services to the party this session. Tbb watch bears the inscription,' " Presented to A. J. McGregor, Esq., Government whip, by the members of the party.” The presentation was made by the Premier, who passed a higheulogium on the ability with which the important duties of Mr McGregor’s office had been carried out. Mr McGregor is certainly one of the best whips the House has had, and the very large number of people who are his friends will be glad, we are sure, to hear that the party has recognised the value of his services. The Petitions Committee report that they cannot recommend that the petition of expolice Inspector Bullen, for further employment, be granted. The Committee is of opinion that Mr E. Geisen, of Poxton, who petitioned for compensation, has no claim on the Colony. The petitions of Messrs H. R. Elder and G. Moore for an inquiry into the expenditure of £2OO borrowed by the Whareama Road Board, has been before the Petitions Committee, who state that owing to the late period of the session at which the petition came before them they cannot entertain it. A return of the amount paid to Ministers in travelling allowances between October 1 and December 3, 1888, was, according to a return laid on the table, £174 10s. Of

this v.nt Mr Fisher drew *IOO 0a 6d (iu which is included/. .46 days’ travelling allowance, at 30a) ; Mr Fergus, £IS 7a ; Mr Hißlop, £l3 17s ; Sir Harry Atkinson, £l6 lie 6d ; Mr -Richardson, £l6 6a and Mr Mitohelson, £9 Bs. ’ ■

Upon the petition of James Rempthorne for relief on account of loss sJ'Mjained by the imposition oh saccharine', Petitions Committee report that, in their opiuion, the equities of the case ”"’ll be met-uf the petitioners are allowed to take out of bond the whole of the saccharine whic?h they are under agreement with the Company to purchase during.the first year of the engagement, the Government to make them an allowance equal to the difference between the present and the old tariffs.

The ocean mail service resolutions submitted by the Government were debated last night week, and eventually adopted, the majorities being substantial in each of the several divisions taken.

What might otherwise have been a dull debate on the Native Land Court Bill last Friday night was enlivened by an encounter between Sir George Grey and the Premier. Sir George had been speaking for a long time in eloquent denunciation of the Bill as validating past', transactions and inflicting injustice upon the Natives and the Colony ; and eventually the Premier was moved to make a speech of the most earnest deseription, in which he expressed his opinion of Sir George Grey’s conduct in language emphatic and entirely guiltless of rhetorical adornment. The honv gentleman, ho said, gave them the same speech at the end of every Bession, though he knew very well that the cases he referred to, especially the claim of Sir James Fergusson (upon which Sir George Grey had been exceptionally strong) were not touched by this Bill. Pie always discovered some terrible iniquity at the ond of a session, just as he had now; andffor reasons which were not noble ones, he wished to postpone the Bill—it was always hang things up, and talk about the unborn millions. If the hon member would give his attention to what he knew to be the real aspect of the case the House and the country would bo glad to listen to him, but he would not do that. He was prepared to give him full information about these transactions whenever lie asked him, and whenever to do so was in order. Sir George Grey, replying, said he didn’t want the information—he , wanted the Plouse to have it. Subsequently things took a more pleasant turn. Mr Taipua warmly thanked the Native Minister for the consideration he had shown to the Native members, and said that if there were Maori newspapers everyone of them-would be filled with praise of Mr Mitohelson. The humorous Mr Taiwhanga next appeared on the scene, and declared that he was “ frightened of the Premier’s hob boot nails.”

Correspondence in connection with Mr D. H. Macarthur’s election to the chairmanship of the Mauchester Hoad Board was laid on the table last Friday. It appears that Mr Macarthur was elected on the 4th of May last, and the election was petitioned against by Messrs Lethbridge, Jones and Wheeler, on the ground that the meeting was illegal, no notice having been given of it. They stated also that had a member who was absent received notice the result might have been otherwise. The Qo.y.qro.mhfii, however, declined to interfere, and on the 9th of July ap Order'in Counoil, validating the eleotion, was isßued.

A' deputation, consisting of Messrs Walker, Ward, Turnbull, T. Mackenzie, Cowan, Rhodes, Harkness and others waited bn the Railway Coirrmissibners cn Friday,' Ahd urged them to do ,,, aw.&y;h/git]j ential rates cba?^ed’qn;^vanQTi l dhd digtriot railways. also impressed on thb : Commissioners the desirableness of disdontiauing the practice of charging exc«33 on' all grain dver.fdur bushels in a sack ; arid urged them to use native coal as largely as possible. The Commissioners made a hote of these vepresehtafcions, and premised, ifh give Written* Replies a| feyiV- conf W '' 4 "■ r ’-' -

The Hoqse being disinclined to pass the Westpo.ri-Ngakawau Railway Extension Bill, the Government intimated early on Saturday morning that they would have thp line constructed by. private enterprise under the Westland Nelson Coalfields Act, provision being' mad,e for the Colony taking the line over. In making the contract Ministers, will, we have no doubt, see that the lyne is constructed on reasonable terms, both as to the consideration to be given and the conditions on which' the business of tbq line Is to be carried on. This is an jmportant colonial work, and It is of great importance'thati,t shouldbaundgrtaken With the least possible

“"Very like s whale.” Mr Hamlin gave notice on Saturday afternoon to mpve, on next sitting day—'"That, in the opinion of this House, the next' sitting of Parliament should be held in Dunedin, and that it should be held early enough in the year to admit qf members having ample opportunity oj visit's ing the yl !

Messrs Fish and R. SeOyes, two. old opponents, had an engagement on -Saturday afternoon. Mr Eish haying stated dqrjng a discussion that Mr Reeves vyaa o.qq qt those gentlemen who always M fitting ip and out ’1 qf the Hquso, Mr Reeves retqrted with \yarmth, and was understood to say that he certainly did "flit” when Mr gqt up to speak ; that Mr Eish was a political repegadq ; and that he (Mr Reeves) thanked God he wasn’t like Mr Fish. Having thus exchanged compliments, the two gentlemen finished their argument privately.

■ «■ "I was told that there was a feeling of esprit among members of the Opposition which prevented them dealing with petty meannesses of this kind,' 1 said Mr Fisher, on Saturday morning, holding in his hand a motion whioh he had wished the Opposition to take up. Mr Fisher had just made an explanation in connection with a return of

Ministers’ travelling allowances laid on the table, from which it appeared that between the Ist of October and the 3rd of December last the late Minister of Education drew £IOO 0s Gd. His explanation was that while in Australia he was occupied in making iuquiries in connection with education. He severely censured Mr Monk, who moved for the return, and said what he wanted to do was to move a motion calling for a return of the whole of the travelling allowances paid to members of the present Government. He had ask-d a leading member of the Opposition whether the Opposition would make some motion of this kind, and received the answer quoted above. Manifestly Mr Fisher could not move the motion without notice, and he intimated that he would move it on next sitting day. Mr Fergus explained that he and the Minister for Public Works were both in Australia at the same time, and although they were on the conntry's business they paid every penny of their own expenses.

The Premier informed the House on Monday that the Government were in no way committed to the Government Railway Employes Insurance Bill, which had simply been circulated for general information.

The Railway Commissioners having informed the Premier that they do not consider themselves empowered by law to carry exhibits for the Dunedin Exhibition practically for nothing, the Premier made an announcement to the House to that effect on Monday, and added that he would express to the Commissioners the wi-h of the House that exhibits should be carried very cheaply.

The Public Accounts Committee reported on Monday on the condition of the Kaihu Valley Railway Company. The Committee report that they were unable to obtain full and accurate information, and they recommend that a Royal Commission should visit the locality and make recommendations as to what should be done ; also that the Government should take such steps as may be necessary to prevent the mortgagee foreclosing. The report was referred to the Government for consideration.

During the past session 69 Bills received the Royal assent, and 75 were “ dropped or otherwise disposed of.” Of these 103 originated in the House and 34 in the Council, and 5 were private Bills. 521 petitions were presented, 468 questions asked, 472 reports received from Select Committees, and 228 papers laid on the table. The House sat 477 hours in 53 days —an average of 9 hours a day.

The question whether the Railway Commissioners intend to reduce wages of surfacemen employed by them, was raised on Monday by Mr Hutchison, who said that although he deprecated political interference with the Commissioners as very undesirable, such a step as this would, if taken, justify the cancellation of the Commissioners’ appointment.* Several other members also urged the Government to prevent this reduction being made. Tho Minister for Public Works said that, aqiay'as he knew, there was no suc.q intention on the part of thq Cpmyqi&sioners. He did not ik'd* ‘they had any idea of reducing the rate of wages, and in any case, after what had been said, ha should feel it his duty to bring the discussion under the notice of the Commissioners. He expressed doubt whether the scheme fop insuring employes could he qapyieci oqt iS’sqch a reduction aa this, v^.e.r^'‘ : Mr Ballanoa. lallqdftd '•'the subject in Ma' When,' as 'will ba seen on reference to our Parliamentary report, he strongly opposed such a reduction. The Premier explained that the Government would not propose such a thing so far as they were concerned, !

END. QM- THE, SESSIONThe session reached its eud at 25'minutes tq f 'tjyseaday morning, At that hour, numerous (fotaferfracca having resulted in a compromise on fclie Land Transfer Bill, the Premier mbved the adjournment of the Dqqgo until Friday, explaining thqt Parliament 'would be prorogued. V# proclamation In the meantime. There*'were only about Sp members in the’ Chamber at the time, and the third session of. the tenth Parliament slipped qway quietly into the past.