POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7287, 25 June 1885, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

[By Telegraph.]

(IBOM OUE OWNOOBXIKSPONDKNT,)

Wellington, June 24,

Mr Fitzhorbest, who, it may be mentioned, is a captain of the local naval corpe, gave notice to day to ask tbe Difonco Minister if ho will appoint a torpedo institution to each of the four principal ports, of the Colony. If Parliament had been Bitting and tho question bad boon put during tbe recant war ecure, tbe answer would probably bave been in tbo affirmative, but economy and retrenchment are now the ruling spirits in the Defence Department, and it is not likely Mr Fiizborbert's request will bo agreed to. j Upon going into committee on the Employ- | ment of Females Bill, Mr Stout will movo an amendment to tha effect that it shall be constituted a broach of the Licensing Act to employ females in bars of hotels, except licensee's own • family, before 8 o'clock in the morning or after 6 at night. I understand that although members bavo only been in Wellington sometbing over a fortnight they, eoem anxious, or some of them, to get away on a holiday jaunt, and a requisition is going round for the use of the Hinemoa for a trip to Picton and Nelson, leaving next Saturday and returning on Monday. The proposal, however, is not very cordially received and will probably fall through. A meeting of the Freetraders' Committee was held this morning for the purpose of considering a course to be recommended for adoption by the opponents to the proposed new tariff. After consideration, certain definite resolutions were adopted which are to be submitted to a general meeting of tho Freetrade members shortly. The resolution will not be available for publication until they have been dealt with by the geueral meeting, bat it may bo eaid that they are in the direction of a condemnation of the Budget proposals on grounds which all concur in. It ia ascertained that the strength of tbe Freetraders and opponents to tho tariff in tho House is stated at 46, inclusive) of a large number of Government supporters. Neither they nor the members of tho Opposition deairo the removal of the Government at tbe present time, but a majority of them are prepared oven for this result rather than forego Frestrado principles. Tho movement bo far has been a perfect success, and is gaining strength every day. The secretary of the Freetrade Committee haa telegraphed out tha question to various local manufacturing companies, "Does your industry require protection " ? So far only one nnawer has bo&u received, that from P. and P. Duncan, manufacturers of agricultural implements, Christcbuvch, and it waa as follows :—"No, We know the requirements of the colony, and the publio use colonial in preference to imported implements and machinery,"

Quite a revolution in Parliamentary work for tho remainder of the cession is promised in the adoption of Mr Macandrew's motion that the Houbo shall meet at half-past 10 in the morning. The motion originally ran as follows :— "That for tho remainder of the session this House shall meet at half-past 10 in the forenoon and shall adjourn for the day at half-past 5 intheafternoon," Thiaw&sprobablydrawnwith tha necessity of setting apart some part of the 21 hours for transacting businoea pertaining to committees of tho House. There soemed to have baen some previously expressed objection to the wording of tho motion, making it compubory for the House to adjourn at half-past-5, for upon rising to move the motion the mover aaked leave to strike out the words, " And shall adjourn for the day at half-past 5 o'clock in the afternoon " Thia was agreed to, thus leaving it optional on the part of tho House to sit during the evenings, Tha difficulty then presents itself that if the House goes on with buaiuess during tha evening committees cannot sit, and witnesses and other persons whose business may be to attend committees may have to hang about and waste their lima for nothing. However, the Houbo has alfirmed the principle of transacting businecs during the daytime. At the same time tbo wor"ds relating to adjourning at half-past 5 having been withdrawn, the difficulty of deal ins with committee work remains, but must bo left for the Standing Order Committee to settle and arrange, the motion having bean referred to that committee to arrange the order of business for the Houue, nod bring up their report. Until that report is brought up btuinosa will proceed as formarly. There in a good deal of surprise at the roanlt of tho the division on tho motion, and much dissatisfaction among certain sections, who alwaya havo strong tiii'gctions for th 3 traditions of our Parliamentary institution, and th9so declare that thoy will not put iv any appearance at the Houaa until the usual time. If tbcße threats are carried'out it is possible upon assembling thero may not be tho necessary quorum to aa to Ro on with the business,

Now the membora have Imd time to master the local government proposals of Grovarnmeat as explained yesterday by tho Treasurer on moving the second rending of tho policy bill), tbofo asoinu to ba a good doal of rlfeaatM. faction with tho proposals, onpßeially among those incmbertf who hold seats in county couucils iv tho country. To-morrow thero is to be a meeting of these membars, when it is expected that about 40 will be present. Tharo seems to be a very general opinion tbnt tho proposals arq not at all satisfactory, and gome vigorous objections are being applied to

them. At the same time there are some members Who, though they dissent frbrii tlte principles of the proposal, will feel bound to BUpport them.. To oppose them would ba political suicide oil tho part of these members, because tha district they represent will greatly benefit by them. Tha only disaffected members nay that if borrowing powarß Under the bill are allowed to be- exercised it will fesiilt in the dostruStion of tho prnsent local governing bodies, for, actuated by tha fear of being left out in the cold, all local bodies—aven the most prudent of them—Will feel compsllod to j.iin in tha general scramble. They would all ro in for a Short life and a merry one, The £30d0 por annum would soon ba swallowed up because every local body would consider it a duty to help itself without delay, and that Bum is looked upon merely as guarantee interest by the Government oa five or Six millions of money, nbd stands really as a security for the loana raised by local bodies. The distribution of subddiea is also considered unjust. Counties without road boards are fairly enough treated, but counties wholly in road board districts get nothing whatever, though they have to maintain the mair. roads. Tba road districts themselves are considered well provided for, but counties which are partially in road districts and partially, on outlying districts are limited to a maximum subsidy of £2000. Two thousand a year special subsidy is granted to each of the goldfiolds countios. Tha result of this is that goldfield3 counties that have no road districts receives £2000 special subsidy, and may go in for loans to tho extout of £10,000 for goldfiold works,.if it can show a sufficiently large rate list. A goldtield oonnty may therefore secure oa muca as £12,000, taking special subsidy and subsidy on rates, and loans, raised on the securitioa of the subsidy, whilst a country liko Southland, equal in rate wealth to eight average oounties of the Colony, is limited to a maximum of £2000 as the bill Btnnds, because it ia in road board districts, I understand that strenuous efforts are to ba made to limit the borrowing powers under the bill, and an endeavour will bs msdo to do justice! to comities which are partially under j road districts, and to maka adequate frovision for counties wholly in road districts, t is pointed out that no provision is made for tho paying of d9bsntures issued by existing local bodies vmder the Roads and Bridges Construction Act; and it is thought that these debenturoH should ba paid out of the subsidies to the local bodies still indebted, so that local bodies who have paid up thoir debonturea in full should not suffer tho injustice of being placed on the same.footing as those whose debentures ara not paid up. . Mr Pyke informs me that the Minister of Public Worka has assured him that he has given positive instructions to- tho officers of tha Department at Dunedin to measure up every part of tho Hindon section of the Otago Central railway which can possibly ba let by contract, and will call for tenders as soon as tha officers supply him with the requisite information.

With rognrd to tho Roxburgh bridge, the Public Works Department his not yet received intimation of tho shipment of the wiro cables for the bridge, and cannot therefore call for tenders just yet, Mr Pyke to day gnve notice to ask the Colonial Treasurer to morrow to explain whether it is intended that the goods eaumor- ! ated in the tabla of duties of customs annexed to "Tho Customs Laws Consolidation Act 1882," and specified therein a^ free, ned not tho enumerated liet of articles tx :mptod from duty, iihall bo subject to a dnty of 10 per cent. ad valorem uuder tha proposed now tariff. Further papers on Colonial industries have boen presented to Parliament. They include a letter from Sir Julius Vogol to the general, asking him to consider whether it is ia j his power to promote the progress of manufacturing industries in the Colony, also requesting him to inquire whether tha army and navy or Civil Sarvice stores would be' willicg to offer for sale New Zealand products and manufactures The second is a memo, by Dr Hector on Colonial manufactures. There are also papers on trade with Brazil; on the manufacture of "glue," on salt works, explosives, tobacco, iron, sugar, beef, frczan meat, woollen fabrics, and trado with India. There ia a minute by Sir Jnmos Ferguson on the meat and wool trade with India, pointing out that meat can i be bought at 21 or 3d per Ib. in India, but j suggesting an experimental shipment; also one of woollen goods. An amendment ia to be moved in tha Legislative Council re the Disqualification Act Amendment Bill limiting the application of the new clause to Sir George Whitmore only. While releasing him from a penalty on account of accepting a salaried command of the forces, it provides that he shall not take ilia seat in the Council whilo holding such office, but tho seat will remain dormant. This compromise has not yot been accapted by tho Government, but will probably be considered early. It might disarm Eorr.o opposition to the bill, but the measure will encounter much resistance.