POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10481, 3 October 1895, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(FnoM Ocs Own CoBUHSPOBrrmNT.)

Wellikgtos, October 2, THE BANKS' AGREEMENT.

When the banks' agreement has been arrived at—and the time seems drawing near, i£ it has not arrived—it nill oE course be submitted to the Legislature for approval, since the act bo directs, bat in order to do this it will ba necessary to obtain a resolution of Parliament to permit a variation of the procedure prescribed by the ijtatute, for it is probabiy felt the time is too short now and the temper of the House tot uncertain to admit of the ameaditig legislation declared to b« noceinwy by the ch&irrcan o? the Colonial. Batik at the recent general meeting of shareholders bc-iag parsed. To avoid this it is proposed that Parliament shall declare.' by resolution that it will be prepared to approve the banks' agreement or otherwise before it i» ratified by resolution of tho shareholders. Thw will bs reveroiup the order of pioscdure laid down in clause 37 of tiie act, which provides that the ratification of ths shaiehoMers ehall be obtained Bcao and approved of and that of Parliament after, before tho contract shall become absolute. Now the adjourned general' meeting of the shareholders of the Colomal B^nk is cal'ed fortho 30"u inst., by which time Ministers doubtless hope that Parliament will have been prorogued. Btsidea' the general meeting of shareholders ra=y be again Jadjourued. Therefore ic falU out tuat the metnod of procedure must b» rsversed if .the agreement is Dot to bs deferred until the next session of Parliament—in sheet, homely phrase, tbe cart must ba mide to go before the horse. How members are likely to receive this proposition 1 will indicate later. As to the difficulties interposed iu the way of agreement by the condition of clause 36 of the act, which except! such portion of the assets of the selling bank as the directors of the Bank of New Zealand and the auditor appointed by the Governor .shall cettify in writing to bo in their opinion baa, doubtful, or valueless, they have, I am totd, been turmounted within the l&Vt day or 6vis>, as to which Use, -no doubt, many pertinent questions will be asked when the agreement comes before the House. -As io the fate of the contract, if it proves ju&cand equitable it will uot be dissented from, though it Will certainly be debated aud very keenly criticiied. >: ;

THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENIB. The Premier this sfteioooo with much apparent goodwill proceeded to flaughter no iisss / tba'i 31 of tho most helpless of the legislative sucklings that still swarmed upon ;lihe Order Eap«r. Although toward many :j' oi them he expressed tJimself in terms-of:' commueration and rejret, he did ttop or utay his hand uutil all had been despatched <ind_,ihe fated 31: were' swept put cf exUteuo ia less th.>.:i as many minutes. Of the Public Tenders aud Contracts Bill, C while many members desired it :toj tm passed thsre were more, he said, who wanted to got ': hueo. Bittetment was a good thing, but it would, ku;[> e. while. In the light of; reseat. proceodiugs in the Houbq it would '-ha bast to . let the luunatica Act Amaadment Bill'drsp out cf sight. Beetroot Sugar, should;, have attention during the recess.* Kospituls and . I Charicable Aid would raise tho qubstic'n of town v. country, and its necessity would disappear if : I the Local Government Bill should become law; and ns to this last mexsuie the Premier proposes tj dsbate it before toe close of thasessFoa for the iuformfttion of the House, aud. the . counfciy. Inebriates' Institutions must go with the Luantics, but the Divorce Bill (Mr M'Nab's) ..; might "eihain for the present; The.Btferendum

(Mr O'Kegan'e) must die, but its parent was young, »nd would Eurtive the lossy Payment of Jurors was a good thiug, bac itmeant "a ch&rge upoo. revenue and it must join the rest. And so on through the liso until Mr Speaker performed the lait sad ofScsii, and the hopeless yictinvs were ordered t» ba withdravm and discharged from the paper. - ; >> , .. THE POEIEUA ASYlitrat; " ;

To-day Mr Duthie' naked thei : Premier whethor Mr A. W. D. Bell. w«s ever •in charge of ths Potirua Asylujn buil3ingi! as engineer oi works while taa.t institution wks in course of erection, »hd if 'while iuthoii capacity he (Mr Bell) <;bj(c:ed to the then ovtrseer of works as incompe-^.t and recommenced bis dismissal. Before .coining to his formul reply the Preaniee read volauiinous cofreEpondcQce to show, and'

it did show, that Bsr Arthur Bell never did

sueuine o? was in charg* of th« aaylam. .Thete ««, however, an intt-ntion to appoint him, and rs h preiiminßiy to .[ his anpointmenii he vi»it;sj the work, but not in any official capacity. ■\Viii\i he saw led him fo write.; some very adverse comments npoD the overseer in charge &ud tho conduct of the wock; Later it w»s decided thai Mr 6sll should uot be appointed, and he shortly after accepted a ; position in the service of the Government of :West Auttralitt. Th« Premier: hod wh»t, was evideutly a csrefully : p»epar»d Vcasej, and , his answer siiemeU to meet the approval of the Hoiliio, hut when the papershava been printed, as cas been ordered, the matter will doubtless be very fully threihed oat.- Thefollowing is the formal reply of the Premier to Mr Duthie's question :—"The answer to tbe first portion of toe question is in the negative.:: It wa»at one time proposed to place Mr Bell ia charge of the : building, and he paid on« preliminary visit' to ■ ths works, but; in his report1 on that visit he i states. thut he went 'merely aB a casual visitor,; and that ne 'witched the work as a casually ioterestedßtranger,' The in»trnctionß to Mr Ball to take charge of the work were withdrawn before he had acfccslly..assumed charge of it at all. As regarcls the second part of thi!-qu6stiqu, it is correct; that in Mr Bell's report on hi) preliminary vioit ha states that be did not regard the overseer as! sufficiently qualified for the trork, also that be would have tu ceoline to':teka charge: of the work unless he was removed." - . :

DUNEDIN LOANS CONSOLIDATION :■•.•'■.• '••■■ . .-■.•■■'BILL. ■.-,,■ .. :..;■■■: . ■

This bill, ; which' Bt»nds No, 4-1 on to-day's Order Papur, was singled out lor preservation by the Premier to-day and saved from the detraction that beWI those before and after it on the lift, Mr Seddon declaring it a measure of importance that only awaited consideration of amendments by the Council. '.".■■■

SHIPPING AND SEAMEN'S ACT

AMENDMENT.

This bill, introduced into, the Council by tho Hon. W. Montgomery, provides that the master of evtry intercolonial or Hocue trade ship Ehall cause his crew to be exercised at bo*t dri}l once eVery month, full particulacs of each drill to be *euter»d ia the log. A ptnalty of £20 is provided for neglect of this provinion: In the case of ctrttiflsites of compalencj1 tor engineers of fcteaiaslsipa plving within testrioted limits, a river engineer's certificate is to entitle tho ho)der to terve ai ecgineer withm rivsr or exteuded river limics, aud a mariue engiuedrivel's ccrlifl^xte will entitle the holdar to serve as

CDginier withiu ialand imvijjatioo waters on Bteamshipg filled with Eou-eohdeneing machinary, ths combined area of the. cylinders of which does act'.exceed 200 circular inches. Every iron ship is ta have ius compasses adjusted by n licensed itdjuster.

SEA FISHERIES ACT AMENDMENT.

This bill, intfodacud ißto the Council-by the Hon. W. Monfcgonjerjl, tvil! give power to the Collector of Customs or inspectors to enter aay »hop ard searoa for fish or ojstera supposed to have been illegally taken. This provision in the pvincipal act limifinsr oystsr beds to fivo acres in extout is repeated, the »rea being left to the Governor to fix. The jicnxlty of £20 for sellh-g fish contrary to the act'.of 189* will bs exfct'n'led fcu those h»\ring oysters in theic poases-iion duriu'g the close season.

LOfiAI, BODIES' SINKING FDNDS,

Sir Kobeit Stout to-day a«k*d tue Colonial Treasnrer oace ngain—Have debentures under " Tba Civ salidnted Slock AeS • 188+" been issued sgainit the increase- in sinkioc fandi of the Govj-rumeut Loans to Lucxl BodUs which havo nccmed during tU« Gi>a>ieml years 1892-93 anrt 1893-94? To which JBr Ward with a note of di Satioa in his voice replied, " I give the Siiue answer-'that I bavo doue on former oct.a«iois." "You libvu nover. aoiswered on former o-casions," letoried Sir Robert Stoat, in ■ which opinion Captniu Busseil joined, and wou'.d like to h»ve the annwer reoeatcd. " I have tepoattfily au«*«rfd it,"* B»id the Xre»!>urer, "and will fiive no farther answer, aud it tho hon. pentli-maii 'puts the question, every day ho will rt-ceire the Rome answer." Mr Ward's asperity was Bliiaalnted by two further notices'on tbe tfttne. (.nbjsct by Sir RoWrfc Stout, &nd tbere i» ptomws'of much bot coiiflio!; 'twixt tbe two hot!, gentlemen on the Rnbjest During the early hour* of this morni?j(j, duri«T the ccDftidtrftt'"^l °» tn6 lSatiDi&tcs f there were tome very iuci-ivß.utterances en tho Bi>!)jtoS:. :

Meujn's Food fok InpantsXn" Invamds.— Peifcctly ai'r.pt*d for the yonng^t iiifaut. K«eps poofi in all climates; free from ioimal gurtno. 'i'« b» obtained from all drugcist* ftnd stores. • SaoKE "fvOYAL COLORS" TOBACCO.

THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT. The grievances oE the messengers in the Post and Telegraph Office found an exponent in Mr Millar iu tho House last night. After the member for Port Chalmers had stated that messengers had to work tally 10 hours a day, thongh the Postmaster-general said they had only to work seven or eight hours a day, a promise was made by Mr Ward that be would look into the matter. Mr Millar complained that when sUtionmasters were also appointed postmasters and placed in charge of telephone exchanges tho extra salary promised them was never paid, but was taken by the Rsilway department. Other members took the matter np, and at length the Colonial Treasurer had to agreed to make a note of this also. According to the post and telegraph report, a new series of the posts! notes of the lower varuea will replace thoso now in use. The new notes are to be of a more convenient size than the existing ones, but will still be payable to Any person named in the note.

THE AGENT-GENERALSHSP.

The Premier, with a flue air of candour, roused the interest of members this afternoon by reminding the lender of the Opposition that he (the Premier) had promised to state his intentions with regard to the Agent-general-ship. However, he had,found from inquiry that tnere was no occasion to do anything at present, as Sir Weatby Perceval's term would not expire until the 10th of December next; in fact; there was no time fixed for the expiration of tbe term to office.— ("Always has been," interjected Sir Robert Stout.) Well, tbe Premier had been so informed by his officers at any rate. When the appointment was made he hoped : there would be no change of GovernmeLt, as had been the cesa in tome other colonies. This remark some astute persons choese to think' a feather towed to catch the direction of the wind. I offer no opinion. I may say that in connection with the office tbe : name of Sir "Walter Buller, after the lapse of many months, is again mentioned. It will be > remembered that ha was the head and front of the Ward reception movement, and it maybe ■ said that generally he is understood to take a very friendly interest in the welfaic of the Goyernment. •

THE EDITOR AND ME WARD,

Mr Gillon has published the letter he sent to Ur Ward early yesterday,morning requesting to be tarnished with the same of the head of the department who, according to Mr Ward, had mude use of Mr Uillon'n name. In tbis Sir Gillon, after repeating the statement repotted to have been made by Mr Ward, asks as a matter of justioe to be supplied with " the name of the head of one of the departments tinder yoor control who displayed such an interest in my welfare and that of my fatally, ana thit v apparently mads such an unwarrantable use of my name and that of one of my daughters. No person hud any authority from ma or from any member of my frmily to make any such representation or application directly or indirectly. Under no circumstances could either of my daughter* have accepted nny Government "employment. I;. object to be placed: iu a false position through' the action of any irresponsible person making use of my name, and I trust you will furnish me with the'name of the person who presumed to do so." Mr Gillon says that "Mr Ward has not had the courtesy to reply. He "ban chosen to make in the Bouse, where reply is impossible, and to place on record in Hansard a most slknderous - statement imputing to me as a jourBalUt motives of the most.': discreditable nature. His sole authority for such an BCCBsation" is something:' which ha alleges »': head' :of "a department told him; 1 leave an: intelligent publio to judge between him and. me, and will merely express roy own Bsrm conviction that the whole story, so! f»r at> » afiectß ine or my motives, is a pure fabriea- . (ion—a deliberate falsehood)—framed for th« rarpose of discrediting honest criticism.' Until ', Hr /Wavd gives the name of his alleged informant, eo that the* slander can be tricsd to Its source, I must be content to rest under this imputation." •'. . j UV":: ;'

CI7BTOMB DUTIES REOIPRObiTy.

The Colonial Treasurer's Customs Duties Sedprocity Bill has just been circulated after providing for > tbe ratification of the treaties with Cauadn. and South Australia as originally drawn up and e&t&blisbcd, the. bill gives the Colonial Treasurer power to enter into reciprocal agreements with New South Wales or any other Australian colony or British ■ possession for perirds not) exceeding seven year;, and .subject to the right, of either party | to rescind the same upon giving- 12 months' ; notice. These xgceemeuts may bo altered witti Iho Donsent of both of the contracting partief. An sgceument must belaid before Parliaroett within. 10 days lifer the commencr.mei ,t of the first ensuing session, and must le ratified |by both Hou«e» and approve.! by the Governor. The schedules coutaii snch items as Canadian timber and fish and South Australian wine against which sc much opposition has been manifested, but of course Parliament ma.j make alterations in fchesa-particulars. Indeed Air Ward indicated biT£ previous rtccs«iori that tie would probably move to have Canadian timber struck out of the treaty with Canada. Clause 11 provides that every agreement - mtde under this ai;b shall be subject to the condition that it eball not have any force until It" is ratified by letsolntion of both Houses of Ihe General Asscmbb and, approved by tbe Governof, or by tier ALij;Bty if. the Governor haviup y^ard lo the nature of the agreement and hi: Msjeßtt's treaty obligations with foreign t'oncr?, thinks Ht to reserve it for the signification of hot MajesSy's pleasure thereon. Cliusq 16 nets forth ftuit this act shall come into operation on & day to be appointed by the Governor by Order-in-Council. JOTTINGS. ' The Public Petitions Com'nittee, considering tho exceotional circumstances of the Ottgo CfQtrAl fsrmeis on small grazing runs who have lost the greater part of thtic stock recommend that the Government should remit their rents for 12 months.