POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11198, 22 August 1898, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)^ - • WELLINGTON, August' 20; ' how Hansard is; stuffed. Ministers have of late been in the habit of supplying. some of their, followers with reams of figures to be Used in their speeches, and these are often read out in parrot-like styleby speakers who apparently have but little comprehension of their. import. Not only does this happen, but long tables of figures that have.-;neyer been used., at all, in some mysterious and unaccountable manner, occasionally find their way into Haoasard. This practice was ihorougJily : exposed by Mjp . Fraser, the member, for Wakaiipu, .in his speech. He said there was one thing, the Opposition could' not, do that the Government could do. It, was not,so easy,for t!iem : to geb into Hansard tables. that were never read. (Cries of " Oh!" and "Who does, that,?".) Mr . Tanner: " See the last number of Hansard." Mr Frasev: "'I refer-to the last number of Hansard. There are pages of figures there that I am sure nine-tenths of the members will bear me.oj.it ih.saying were never read in this House." Mr Tanner ; : "Jt ought not to be allowed to. anybody.'' ; (Cries of "Hear; hear."). Mr Ffaser:,"'l quite agree with the hbii. gentleman; ,it certainly ought jidt to be allowed^" .' .'„'.,' .. ... ......... . .. . > V INDIGNATION OF MEMBERS. There is a strong feeling in certain quarters regarding . the action of some Government supporters in putting into Hansard these long and elaborate tables,'which.have never been . read in' the House, and it is probable that the' matter will be brought under the notice of the Speaker and Parliament in a . day or .two."'These! tables have, :it is said; been prepared by Government officials, and^ have been compiled and placed ,on,record with - the. object, of supporting or emphaaing the peculiar phases of finance upoU which the Government, have!been laying special stress. One of these tables covers a whole: page of Hansard. If all that is said about this matter is true, Hansard will soon be quite valueless as an actual record of the proceedings:-Of.j Parliament.- '" "•• " -•---■,-'-. . . , j THE -LIQUOR BILL;: ! It is now evident that there is very little . hope for Mr Millar's"Liquor Bill, which, .'stands adjourned until Wednesday next." The financial debate will'not have' finished by,that time, and unless "Mr "Seddpn is prepared to ,give another -day' for priyafe members' bills, whiplv is not1 liKely at this late period of the session, the bill is doomed. It remains to be ■seen whether the Government will take the matter up and "adopt Mr Millar's proposals "in a Ministerial- measure.; ■-■.'■

r ■ MR VAILE'S STAGE SYSTEM/ " ' I imderstand'th'at Mr Vaile feels keenly tbe scant courtesy which he has received at the haiids of the Premier and the Legislature. The Railways Committee of the House declined to hear him, and the.Public Petitions Committee of the . Council. has .taken-up the-.same attitude. The Council, as: a whole was-then-ap-pealed to, and on a division the action of the Petitions Committee was upheld. I am told that the Premier, has even declined to grant. .Mr Vaile ah 1 interview. I understand that Mr Vaile intends to appeal from Parliament' to the people. -, '•' „'. ~.. ..: -.- "", -■

NATIVE LAND LEGISLATION. That; the Premier's proposed Native land legislation does notplease everyone was'shown to-night,when. Mr Field, one of his own-party, told him plainly, that ,he objected to the bill, altogether. Mr Field's views on this question are of considerable" value,. as he is well acquainted with' the Natives' 'and r their ways. He: states: that the great' bulk of "the Maori lands • are held by a few families, and while the Natives themselves are a decreasing quantity their lands are an increasing quantity, as far as value is concerned. In ,the course of time these lands will get into the hands of a very few Maori landlxxrds., -This, ;Miy Field contends, is not desirable. "The pro•posqd legislation would be bad for the present generation of, Natives,, -as .nearly all; .the revenue would, for some, time be.absorbed in expenses, but. the.,next generation may be benefited. The Government should buyl the land from the Maoris at a fair value, and set; apart some of the purchase money to keep them- from destitution. ■; Mr Hunter also thinks that the* time has not come when the purchase of Native land for purposes of set-tlement-should cease. • Where the Natives are; willing to sell and the land is held in unpro:, Stable occupation the. State should, he thinks,., buy at a reasonable price. The southern Natives, too, are, it appears, dissatisfied \vith the Premier's proposals, arid have forwarded a petition praying that the suggested legislation may not apply to the South Island Natives, as they are quite able to manage'their own lands.' • ..-■•■ "' -"■'