POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11795, 26 July 1900, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(Feom Our Own Cokeestondekt.) WELLINGTON, July 25, INSTRUCTION IN DRILL.

Mr Hardy to-day asked the Government ■whether they will grant free passes on the Government railways to all public school teachers while attending classes fbr instruction in drill taught by officers of the Defence department, in order that the said teachersmay bo able to impart military drill to the children attending the State schools. -Mr Mall-Jones said this was a matter which the Government considered should be undertaken by the Education department. In view of ths strong expressions of opinion given by members of the House to the Government, and a general desire throughout the country that school teachers should be trained hi the direction indicated, arrangements would be made, with the Education Boards for schcol teachers to receive the instruction as proposed in the question. But an application must first be made in every cape to the Education department, and endorsed by it. Mr Pirani asked if drill instructors would be provided. Mr Hall-Jones said the arrangement to be made was to provide for proper instructors.

THE GRATTAN GREY CASE.

Mr Atkinson to-day asked the Premier whether ths Government intended to grant the late chief of the Hansard staff some compensation after his 25 years' service. The Premier, in reply, said it would never do to put a premium on a defiance oi the House by any of its officers. To retire a servant of the House owing to misconduct or insubordination and then give them a premium was not a doctrine that he understood. Where would they be, he asked, if they applied that principle to the public service of the colony?

ARMING THE VOLUNTEERS

Mr J. Allen asked the Minister of Defence if he will provide volunteer corps which have been in existence for years with sufficientsmall arms to arm their men : also, if he will make provision for volunteers who are detailed for certain defence works having facilities to learn their work; also, if he will proTide for field batteries that have had no practice for years having the necessary practice? He said there were several companies that -had not sufficient arms, and had to appear on parade partially armed. A good many of the men would now not turn out at parade because they were not armed. This was having a very serious effect on some of the companies, and he hoped it would be remedied at once. In regard to the second part of his question, the same difficulty occurred, and the men ha<l practically no opportunity of learning their work. Mr Scddon replied that if the companies requisitioned for arms they would be supplied. In regard to field batteries, facilities were given for the men learning their duties, though in Dunedin there was some difficulty about a range. Mr Allen said the Premier's answer was not satisfactory. He knew of instances in which applications had been sent in twice for arms, and the men had not got them yet. The Premier said that was the reply from the department. He knew the rifles were there, and there was no reason why they should not be sent out. Mr Allen: "But they are net there, and they have not been sent out." The Premier: " Very well, then ; that is a matter for inquiry."

THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENTS,

This afternoon the Premier elated that the question of members of our contingents ioining the South African police forco had caused considerable comment. He had communicated with other colonial Governments on the subject, and he had received a message from the Premier of Tasmania, who stated that the Tasmanian Government had no objection to granting discharges in South Africa, provided that no liability to the colony arose therefrom. Mr Seddon's reply to a question as to his views was distinctly "No." The men were sent there for the war, and until the war was over the Government would not agree to the discharges. That was, he believed, the mind of the people of New Zealand.—(Hear, hear.) They were sent to South Africa as soldiers, not as policemen. He had made inquiries, and had been told by those who had returned that there had been some discontent. The New Zealanders had been separated, and had lost their individuality as a New Zealand contingent. When the proposition was first made, it was not generally accepted. When volunteers for the police were first called for only a few of our men offered; but subsequent events occurred with which the men were dissatisfied,' and that 'Jed to the applications Ijeing made to join the police. Of course it was not the ordinary police, but the same as our Armed Constabulary, and they were paid more than they got as members of the contingents. But still they had to keep their horses, so that there was not really much gain financially. There was one satisfactory feature about the matter, afTd that was that the men were only taken on for three months. They would then have the option of rejoin; ing their contingents. He (Mr Seddon) had sent a strong memorandum to the High Commissioner through his Excellency the Governor. The Government should have been told at once that the men had been allowed to leave their contingents. It waf. in the power of the officers to refuse to allow the men to leave, and the Government would, as far as possible, rectify this matter. If the people had known that this sort of thing was going to happen they might not have been so enthusiastic in subscribing for the despatch of the contingents from sJsw Zealand. Our men ought to be brought back when the war was over, and their services as soldiers no longer required, and it would then be a matter for consideration as to what course should be adopted. What had been done was against the intention of the people of New Zealand. With regard to the action of the Auckland division in joining an Artillery Corps. Mr Seddon said the explanation was satisfactory. They had done their duty, and he was very well satisfied. One awkward part of the matter was that the financial arrangements regarding the men who have left their contingents would be upset. Many of the men had left orders behind, so that payments might be made to their relatives. These orders would, of course, have to be stopped, which would cause discomfort and inconvenience: but they must take the consequences. Mr Fowlds remarked that the South African Mounted Police were soldiers to all intents and pur poses

A DIGNIFIED REBUKE.

Sir Maurice O'Rorke administered a quiet, but none the less effective, rebuke to Mr Wilford, the member for Wellington Suburbs, this afternoon for " trifling with the dignity of Parliament." Mr Wilford was plainly endeavouring to talk a motion out, and in doing so was using many words in his efforts to say nothing, and to take as long as possible in saying it. For some time he managed to keep within the four corners of the Standing Orders, but it was evident that the Speaker was watching for an opportunity to. intervene and put an end to this waste of words, which was being solemnly reported for insertion in Hansard. At length Mr Wilford made a slip by referring to a previous debate, whereupon the Speaker at once rose to his feet. Mr 'Wilford did not appear to know that a member is supposed to sit clown when the Speaker gets up. Sir Maurice said: "The hon. gentleman must sit down when I rise. The hon. gentleman is now clearly transgressing the rules of the House in referring to a- previous debate, and it is my duty to dissuade him from doing so, and I would put it to the hon. gentleman that he is not taking a course which will tend to uphold the dignity of the House in the manner it is his privilege to do. I want to give him as much latitude as I can, but he must respect the forms of this House, and must reflect that while he is in this House he is a member of the Parliament of New Zealand. and is sitting here representing the people of New Zealand." Sir Maurice. O'Rorke is always most anxious that our Parliament shall maintain the high position it holds among the Parliaments of the British world, and when members are inclined to forget the dignity of the House nnd indulge in a little too much levity, the Speaker's earnest tones of rebuke at once bring them back to their right minds.

QUESTIONS.

The following, among other questions, were given notice of to-day: — Captain Russell to ask the Premier whether it is the intention of the Government to reappoint the Hoii. William Pember Reeves for a definite period as Agent-general for New Zealand.

Mr Smith to aek the Government whether they will bring in the Mount Egmonl National Park Bill, so as to secure the forest and other reserves round Mount Egmont for the people- of New Zealand for all time. Mr Rhodes to ask the Premier whether, in view of his statement that he intends to i.ssue B, medal to the members* of the New Zealand contingents serving in South Africa, it is his intention to obtain the sanction of the Imperial authorities for those members who have joined the British Army to wear that meda-1'

JOTTINGS,

Mi1 Arnold wants a subsidy equal to £1 for £1 for the purpose of building a drill hall at Roslyn.

Mr .T. Allen would like -the Minister of Defence to order blank ammunition to be issued to the defence storekeepers in various districts, so that volunteer corps desiring the same for practice or to accustom, a horse to the use of small arms may be supplied.

DEPUTATION OF GROCERS. (Pee United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, July 25

A deputation from the Master Grocers' Association waited on the Premier this evening vith regard to certain legislation now before P-.-.riiarrar.t. Ti:cy urged that, the limitation of the Imprisonment for Debt Bill should not bo made retrospective. They approved of the

bill in other respects, believing it would do away with the credit system, but thought employers, including the Government, should pay weekly. They agreed with the bill abolishing the trading stamp system, and urged that Chinese shops should be brought under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act; that if preference is to be given to unionists no man should be ernpioyed who had not had experience in a trade, also that only men who understood trade should be appointed to the Conciliation Board. The Premier replied that the Trading Stamp Bill would probably go in the direction of printing coupons at ths Government Printing Office, and redeemable by the post office at the face value. The other questions, including Chinese shops, paying Government day labourers weekly and omitting the retrospective feature of the Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Bill would be considered.