TOPICS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4478, 4 October 1901, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

PUBLIC DEBTS OF THE COLONY. ’ A return laid on the table of tho 1 House yesterday shows that tlio public debt of the colony during the Fox Ministry in 1871-73 increased £1,443.095, bo* ing' £9,608,336 in 1873; during the . Vogel Ministry, 1874-76, it increased £6,855,325; in the first Atkinson'Minis* try, 1877, by £3,439,350; in the Grey Ministry, 18V8-79, by £2,125,600 ; in tho Hall Administration. 1880-83, by £6,4.50,500, when" the debt itself bad risen to £28,479,111; in the 1884 Atkinson Ministry it increased by £1,626,571; in the 1885 87 Stout-Vogot Administration by . £4,670,071, tho total debt then amount, ing to £35,741,653 ; in the 1888*91 Atkinson Ministry it increased by £3,088,. 697 : in tho 1892 93 Ballanco Administration* by £427,490,; being a total debt at the end of tho Enhance Government of £39,257,840. During the Seddon Government it has increased by £10,333,405, being now a gross debt or £49/591,245,, The total increase since 1871 to. 1901 wa s £41,426,004. ,

MUNICIPAL EFFICIENCY. When Councillor Godbor moved in tho City Council, last night “That a /committee be formed to consider . the advisability of a oompleto re organisal tion of tho employees of the Council, with a view of- more efficiently carrying ■ out the duties of its several departments,” Councillor Devine raised a point of order that the motion oould not bo debit with, as a resolution of his calling r foj- a re-organisation of tho City Ecgi-,/ noer’s staff had been vetoed within the last six months, Councillor , God her therefore asked leave to amend his resolution in the direction of excluding the City Engineer’s staff from its scope, tut as Councillor Luke objected to 'this', course, tho motion was ruled out of order, Councillor Godber .intimated that he would give ' notice to bring- it .up ' again at the next 'meeting of the Conn, •il.

PROPOSED NEW MAIL SERVICES. Ag stated in yesterday’s issue, tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce has again been interesting itself in the question of the mail services. The secretary of the chamber has by instruction drafted the following' letter 'for [transmission to Sir Joseph Ward, 'Postmaster-Geno* ral: Tho council of this chamber dosires respectfully to bring under your notice the fact that such portions of New Zealand mails for tho United Kingdom as are sent by way of Sydney, ag also correspondence connected with the increasing trade of the colony with tha East, are unduly' delayed by the fact that the steapiors carrying such mails leave here on Saturdays and reach Svd. nel on Wednesdays, thus missing the outward mail despatched thence each Tuesday, and involving a detention of six days for the following mail. It is also desired to call your attention to. the fact that the inward Federal mail, which is due in Melbourne on Tuesdays, ■ and frequently arrives on the Monday, Is detained in Melbourne for the Union steamer leaving ,on Wednesday, and eo '• reaches the Bins, on the Tuesday- The** detentions could be largely avoided and a great improvement in our mail system if tho intercolonial steamboat service were i.-i each case advanced by a day. The inward mail would then reach the Bluff on tjie Monday, and the outward mail could bo_ despatched from Wellington on the Friday, so catching tho outward mail leaving Sydney on the Tuesday. ■ Under such circumstances,' the principal towns in the South Island and Wellington would possess a,• regular weekly service, with three days for reply to their correspondence. It to my council that a still further improvement might be effected if the express train from Dunedin, which now leaves at 11. were despatched at 8 o’clock. This would enable the steamer to leave Lyt. telton by 6 o’clock -with English and colonial mails; which would catch tho trains leaving Wellington, and so enable tho important towas of Napier, Wanganui and New Plymouth - algo to reply on Friday to English correspondence, while tho mails would reach Auckland on Thursday-morning. With a service so organised; it seems to my council that tho colony wohld bo well served, if, in addition, a satisfactory connection can bo arranged with'America and by that faster route with Eng- ; land.” ' ‘

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, In bU letter dated London, 16th August, to tbe“Sydncy Morning Herald,” Mir Henry W, Lucy says; —The session nowbreathing its laat will not count amongst the most useful or the most honoured of a long line. But it certainly has achieved one rmportant missioh. :It has demonstrated the impossibility ot carrying on business in -tho House of ■'Commons under the existing rules. > Their breakdown has been so complete that twice at the beginning and at the end Hr Balfour was obliged to do a; little tinkering. Tne strengthening of the rule governing the suspension of -disorderly members, and the closuring of supply by compartments, served their immediate purposes. They cannot 'be regarded as other than temporary expelients, the latter, though necessary in ’.ho - circirmstapcos of the hour, most ol>« "actionable. Had the present Governmont anything like the greed for legislation that possessed Mr Gladstone,,- an ■V'.-.r--.:!-;' t} ■ . : i-- j.. -■ k i*. ■ : .l J .1 ■

autumn session would bo held, devoted exclusively to reform of procedure. But Lord Salisbury and Mr Balfour are not disposed to do more in the way of Icg'.g' lation than is forced upon them. They will await the opening of the ordinary session, but cannot afford to let it pass without grasping tho nett’Je of obstruction. It is understood that the session will open next year in the middle of January, and that as soon as the Audreys is voted procedure will bo taken in hand. Particulars dealt with will bo tho rule whereby private legislation takes precedence of public business, the multiplicity of idle questions and the appointment of a committee to allocate time among the various estemates. Failing these safeguards, the House of Commons during the last fortnight has pre. fiented a pitiable condition. In a portion of two nights nearly fifty , millions sterling was voted in rjupply without opportunity for discussion. Ary exceptionally largo measure of time had been given to supply, and it had bcon wilfully wasted. The votes had to be rushed, and they were taken by a pfe-ocess of physical exercise in the preeiructs of tho House. This week has seen m ensures of immense detail and highest importance driven through in tho dead of tJic night, or by a Wednesday sitting, extending from noon till midnight. It is impossible that legislation accomplished in such circumstances can ho flawless, whilst the dignity and ancient renown of the House of Commons are- fatally undermined.

THE SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE. Some further light was thrown upon tho negotiations regarding the San a rancisco service by a statement made fay the Postmaster-General in the House yesterday. Sir J. G. Ward informed Mr Withoford that Mr Spreckols had submitted proposals for a five years’ contract at tho rate 01 £‘20,662 per annum. This was considered to bo in excess of what the colony could afford to pay,' and tho Government had therefore ofhored £15,000 a year in a lump sum for T»orce years, ns the agents wished that it should bo for a period of three years instead of on a basis of weight of mails carried. Mr Spreckols had cabled to his New Zealand agent refusing to outer fca.ni tho offer. This was the position in w.&ich the matter stood in the meantime. As soon a s the Government proposals were formulated, they would bo submitted to the House. In reply to a question, tho Minister stated that ho would give notice of the resolutions.