POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10397, 27 June 1895, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

(Fhom Odr Own CpnnESPONDKNT.) Wellington, June 26. TRAVELLING ALLOWANCES TO RAILWAY MEN. From a question pub by Mr Pirani to the Minister for Railways to-dsy it would appear that the state of things in regard to travelling allowances in existence under the regime of the is sjiill allowed by the Government. Travelling allowances from 15a per day downwards are given to officers while away from home, while the lower grades of employees are allowed 4s per day when, stationed away from home providing other accommodation is not provided, when no monny is allowed. Accommodatioif has been defined by the department ai.pftiviiitly as a bunk in a railway truck or the steiter of a hut with a mud floor. Mr Piraui denounced in strong tsrms the continuance of such.an inhuman state of things, and expressed fire*fc diasasis&stion with the Minister for Railways' statements that no alteration could be made until the whole question of travelling allowances was dealt with. The Premier deprecated matters of this sort being brought before the House as savouring of political pressure, and gave (he assurauce that the anomaly referred to would not be allowed to continue. FIRE BRIGADES. It was about two months ago .that the Premier made rle-olhtion among the fire .brigades of the country by stating his intention of cutting off; the subsidy that permits them attending the annual . conference and carnival. To-day Mr Lawry asked Mr Seddoa to reconsider this stern decree, .and he permitted himself, to be mollified: He w»s, however, of opinion that the fire brigades should be a charge upon the local bodies and insurance companies. - There w«s & cum of £600, he said, to tie credit of the brigades, while they had cost the Government £500 for railway passes. He was' quite willing to reconsider the question, but he was of opinion that these charges should fall upon the local bodies or insurance companies, and if necessary there would be legislation in this direction. THE HALF-HOLIDAY. In answer to Mr G. J. Smith, the Minister for Labour has stilted that a bill will be introduced to amend the Shops and Shop Assistants Act in the direction of doing away with all exemptions. An opportunity will be given to consider a proposal to prevent the sale .of tobacco and cigars by publicans on the halfboliday, but Mr Reeves is doubtful as to the i wisdom of deciding upon the day to be observed I by a poll of the residents. | RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. Major Steward, in asking to-day that the 1 construction of the Otngo Central, Midland, and Main Trunk lines might be proceeded with, disclaimed any intention of bringing pressure to bear upon the Government to induce ineroI bers to enter upon a borrowing policy. The Premier in his reply said taut no special "sanction for exnenditure was necr-s^ary, as the votes were suffiflient. As to the Otago Central, 29 additional mtn wero to be put on, which would make, he was understood to sny, a total of 228—as many as the appropriation would permit. As to the Midland railway, plans aud specifications were being prepared so that work could be proceeded with. The Hon. Mr Larnach is concerned about a long-standing promise for the extension of the Ht-riot-Roxburgh railway, aud deaired to know if the Premier would keep to the intention of a former Government for its con&truetiori. Mr jSecldou said the railway would : cost fully £2,000,g00. The last, Public Works Statement promised a more complete survey, and rhat promise would be liept. It was a question whether the line would pay if constructed. THE RABBIT PLAGUE. Mr Flatman wishes fresh' legislation to repel tha rabbit invasion, which he says is causing much alarm in South Canterbury. The Minister for Lands was understood to say (they will not Bpefck up when answering questions) that 4 bill' was in preparation under which settlers will be required to erect wire netting fencing, and might procure advancer, for that purpose. Major. Harris would have the Government employ the workless in the rabbit-infested districts for the destruction of the pest instead of removing men from one district to another, competing with resident labour. The Minister for Labour said pressure was being brought; to bear upon landowners to keep down the rabbits, which was a preferable course to the Government doing it tor them Major Steward having asked the Minister for, Lauds if he will provide in the Fencing Bill that a rabbit fence shall be a 'eg^l fwnee within the meaning of the act, was informed that the necessary provision would be made in a Rabbit ■Bill that would b8 before the House in a few days. CO-OPERATIVE LABOUR. Mr Lang, a quiet member, who only speaks when he has something worth the saying, desires that local men in need of. employment, should have a fair share of the district co-operative work. He stated that a party of outside men was recently sent to his district for co-operative , work, and their work not being laid off they ! refnsed 63 a day until the work should be I ready. At the same time local man were only receiving ss^i day, and many of them were wanting worW The minister for Labour snid ha would do his besb. Local men .would have t.he preference, but local work did not always belong to the district in which it was, bat to the whole colony. „ ■■ ; ;;:•;■:■:, THE TARIFF.' «;;■, ... ■ -.j . : Thereport of: the Tariff Commission, which is now in the hands of Ministers, though it has not been made pnblic, is in the main careful and moderate in- its recommendations, and shows that the commissioners fully recognised the vastness of the interests involved. They have chiefly confined themselves to giving an indication how the present anomalies may be remedied, and how certain duties may be altered in the interests of the country us a whole. They have proceeded only to a very limited extent on protective lines, and the :&amber ;of.; articles upon which they advocate the reduotion or complete extinction of duties ■is far. larger than>tbe number upon which they recommend new or additional duties: Though some of the,recommehdationß savour of Protection, the bulk of them are in the direction of- Freetrade. Various inferences have been draw n from: the f?.ct that the Government have carried a motion referring the report to a committee, Ihis being regarded by some as an indication that Ministers.'sr? disappointed at the prominence given to Freetrade principles, and that they are anxious for a furthest instalment of Protection. *

. . ''. JUDICIAL REFORM. It is stated that it is possible that district judges will be merged into circuit judges with Supreme CoSrt jurisdiction, but without Appeal jurisdiction, which would be reserved for the present Supreme, Court judges, who will then ba confined to permanent courts in'the centres. This would leave the new judges to do all provincial work. THE ESTATES COMPANY.. . ■ Mr G. J. Smith is to ask (1) whether any correspondence in connection with the proposed disposition cf the'property of the Bank of New Zealand Estates Company by chance has taken plare between the Government and the company or the Bank of New Zealand, and; if so, what is the nature of such correspondence; (2) seeing that the shares in the Estates Compacy are held by the Bank of New Zealnnd, which has been guaranteed by the colony and in the management whereof the' Government have a voice and power of veto, do the Government approve of such proposal to institute a'huge gambling scheme ? * '! OLD SOLDIERS. This afternoon the old soldiers found an ardent champion in Mr E. M. Smith, who wiehed to know if the Government would brin^ down a bill without delay to deal with old soldiers' and volunteers' land claims. The Minister for Lands did not respond with sny cordiality, saying that it meant an expenditure of aboub £60,000. It was for the House to consider whether it would legislate to deal with the _ whole question. Later on Mr Smith moved the adjournment of the House to express his dissatisfaction with the reply. The commissioners' reports had been made, and tho claims should be settled ; and if they amounted to £600,000 they should be paid, and juatice done. Many of these men were in a most pitiable condition. If the Government had the powor, why did they not bring in a bill and do justice? JOTTINGS. Ministers say they have no knowledge of civil I servants acting as directors of public companies. * Mr Wilson wishes to prohibit a license being transferred from one township to another, and was tuid that the question would be dealt with in the amending liquor bill, as to which, in answer to another question, the Premier could not say when that measure would be brought down. The Minister for Lands, in answering a question this evening, etated that over 700 men had already been placed upon the new altercate system of land Eettlemnnts and labour on public works, but that a difficulty was being experienced in finding suitable land, &s situation and quality were both essential. Mr Buddo takes exception to the nature of the agricultural returns, which, he says, have proved seriously misleading to farmers, particularly as to wheat returns. The Hon. Mr M'Kenzie agreed that the statistics were of no value, but ia future tho Agricultural department would take charge of the work and reform the system.

[ This session Mr, Joyc^ appears the advocate of the cause of the convict Gbemis, and wants a Royal Commission. The Premier refused, stating thereTras.a bill before the Houee that w6uld meet the ■ caee. Dr Newman's Slander of Women Bill makes it actionable to impute unchastity to a woman. Under the present law.it is necessary to show actual damages. 'The'bill is. the outcome of a case recently heard in the Supreme Court in Wellington, '■■■■■■'.'■'.' ' The Alliance Liquor Bill is in the hands of. MrM'Nab. The reciprocity treaties with both South Australia and Canada will belaid before.Parliament immediately after the: return of the Treasurer.; . -, Mr M'Nab wants a'tnining courfc. set up at Invercai gill, and the stipendiary magistrate is to be asked to report upon it. ' Provision is to be made in the Local Government Bill to make domain and park boards elective. •, '