Political Gossip.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVII, Issue 5317, 4 July 1892, Page 4

Political Gossip.

(by telegraph.) (from OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) ■Wellington, July 1. Mr Carncross opposes the holiday on polling day as being against the interest of the working classes and causing interruption in industry. Mr Buckland has made a good suggestion : That the provision proposed to apply to commercial travellers be extended to every voter who had been absent on Dolling day from the district where he was registered. This is supported b\ Mr Carncross who pointed out that such a provision stood on the Electoral Bill in a sister colony. Mr Allen would like to have the Electoral Bill amended so as to put a stop to personal canvassing and improper outside interference by Ministers and others at elections. Mr Jackson Palmer is anxious that the Government should offer a bonus for the exportation of dried fruits. The abolition of the duty on salt used for agricultural purposes forms the subject of a question by Mr M'Guire. Mr Taylor is desirous of knowing when the sheep returns for the past year will be circulated. Mr E. M. Smith is moving for Government assistance to manufacture _ paper in the colony out of colonial material. Mr Fish is to ask on Tuesday for a return giving particulars of the co-operati\ e works carried out during the year, and the amount expended on the same iu each district. Mr Rhodes has on the Order Paper a series of questions designed to obtain information as to the Government's intentions and expectations with regard to duplicate taxation on debentures. Mr O'Conor has a question down for the purpose of affirming that something must be done to put an end to the constant struggle for office among the representatives of the people. The general idea is that the "Buller Lion" is in too big a hurry for the nifllenium. Mr J. Kelly gave notice to-day that lie ■would move an amendment to the Electoral Bill when iu Committee. It is understood that his intention is to strike out the freehold qualification so as to have only a residential qualification. The proposal is certain to receive large support. "Coming events cast their shadows before" was the remark made to-day when Dr Newman, for about half an hour, was seen occupying Mr Rolleston s seat earnestly talking to Sir John Hall. A number of the Doctor's constituents believe that he will in a few years be leader of the party. Mr Ballance stated to-day that the Government had no intention of introducing a BQI to make the Council elective. Dr Newman asked if the Government would take steps to stop the sly grogselling alleged to be carried on at Otorohanga. Mr Cadman quietly answered that the police were doing all in their power to stop the traffic. Mr R. Reeves asked if the Government would take steps to extinguish fires now existing in several coal seams on the West Coast. Mr Seddon said he had hitherto agreed with the questioner that these fires caused absolute waste, but had been assured that a company was being formed to work the deposits of coke which were being manufactured by the burning coal. A proposal had been made to turn a creek into one mine, but .as there were a number of valuable Government works in the locality it was feared that an earthquake might be caused leading to great damage.—(Laughter). Mr Seddon promised to make further iuquiry into the fires. The Premier, replying to Mr J. Kelly, said the Government sympathised with the suggestion in his question that local bodies should have power to exempt permanent improvements from local taxation. He hoped to be able to carry this into effect by legislation. In the debate on Constitution Committees to-day Mr W. Hutchison complained of the discourtesy shown to members of the Congregational Union attending the Conference at Wellington, recently, by their not being granted access to the Parliamentary Library. The Hon. Mr Reeves explained that permission had been granted as soon as applied for, but too late for members of the Conference to avail themselves of the privilege. Mr Ballance has received a large number of telegrams from leading Liberals and representative men in all parts of the colony congratulating him on the Financial Statement, and declaration of policy. Some deprecate the idea of a dissolution but state that in the event of such taking place the Liberal cause is safe. The intention of the Ministry, with regard to unemployed relief farms, is to have oue establishment in each Island. It is thought that it will not be necessary to propose special lesaslation on this matter, as land can be obtained and utilised for that purpose under existing laws. Mr Dawson will ask the Minister of Public Works what amount of the L 30,000 placed on the Estimates last session for the construction of the Otago Central Railway has been expended up to date, and also how many men are at present employed on the construction of railway works in Otago and Southland. Mr Moore wants to know the cost of taking the Oaniaru dredge to Port Chalmers and the cost of repairs to the dredge, taking it to New Plymouth, and all other charges in connection with the dredging done at Taranaki. Mr Shera will move in Committee on the Electoral Bill to have the Maori representatives in the House placed 011 the same footing as Europeans. Captain Russell expresses himself as favorable to the abolition of special Maori representation, and Mr . Kelly claims that the result will be to have five North Island members returned by the native vote. The Premier thinks it advisable to give the Maoris the option of coining under ordinary representation, but it is not statesmanship to force such a change upon them. The Government wilt not make any proposals with regard to compensation to ex Judge Edwards. The Education Department wiil introduce a regulation to get the cases of hardship referred to by Mr Taylor, in which children educated in Catholic schools had a difficulty iu entering the civil service, removed.