POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12448, 3 September 1902, Page 5

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

SOUTH AFRICAN STEAM SERVICE. (From Our. Own- Corbksposdsnt.) WELLINGTON, September 2. In the House this afternoon Mr G. J. Smith drew tho Acting-Premier*9 attention to the newspaper report that fresh tenders were being called for the steamship service between New Zealand and South Africa. He asked if the Government would advertise for tenders in New Zealand. He said he noticed the Christchureh Chamber of Commerce had already dealt, with , tho matter. Sir Joseph-, Ward replied, that; the Agentgeneral had ciiblecl him the fact on Saturday, and, the cable message had reached him on. Siihday night or Monday morning, be did not know which. The tenders were to close'.oil the 4th September. He considered tho tinio was altogether too short—(hear, hear), —and in addition that tenders ought to be called for, in tho colony.—(Hear, hear.) Of course ho did not know what was the cause of the advertisements appearing. Tlio last tenderer (Mr Sleigh) had to the first of last month to take the contract up. It was extended to the 26th, and then was not taken up.' Apparently .there were legal troubles of Sonde kind. Whatever the causa was, he (Sir Joseph Ward) did not know, but he was quite satisfied that if a service was to be .obtained now, apart from being advertised in the Old Country it should also be fclvertig'ed here, and that a reasonable time, say,; a fortnight, should be allowed within which, to receive tenders. He bad eable'd telling tho Agent-general that the time was. too short; that it should be extended for II days; . and likewise that it was mec.es.saiy that tenders should be called for in the colony. He did not know what wfere the conditions published in the Home papers at all. He proposed, however, to ascertain tile actual lines oh which the ten-ders-were being asked'for at Homo, and t to call for tenders on similar lines here. The tima» ought not tb lie, closed in England until the people of - the colony Had an opportunity of tendering on similar lines. The Post to-night, referring to the matter, wants to know'why the Acting-Premier has only suggested an extension of the time, and thinks he ought to have sent an instruction. UNEMPLOYED FROM AUSTRALIA. Sir Joseph Ward, replying to Mr Witheford, said it was ,not intended to legislate against- British subjects in any part of tho world coining here, whether unemployed or not. ' It would bo very impi-bper to bar tho way to British subjects who happeried to be in trouble elsewhere. If undesirable immigrants were attempting tb come in that was another matter., BANK CLERICS. Mr Barclay asked the Government if it will take steps to have inquiry made into the hours of work and rates of pay in banks in New Zealand. Mr Barclay said it wa3 noted that'the .banks paid very low wages and, worked their clerks for very long hours. The Hoii. Mr Hall-Jones replied that last year wheii the Shops and Offices Bill was before the House.meetings of bank clerks were hold, and. deputations and petitions were organised to intimate to the House and the Government that the clerks wero satisfied with existing conditions. Under these circumstances lie could not undertake to make the inquiry asked for. Mr Barclay: " We all know how those things were got up." DUST ON RAILWAYS. Mr Hen'ies asked the Minister of Railways.'whether .any steps are to be taken to minimise the dust nuisance on the Auck-land-ftotorua railway,, and whether any schemes having that object in_ view have been laid before the '.Railway Department. He explained that the nuisance was very bad on this line- because of the, pumice dust. Sir Joseph Ward said, this matter had received rgreafc deal of attention, and every means available had been tried to obviate the nuisance without effect. Reports had, however, readied the department that oil had been used on the track there with success. The information was not sufficiently definite, but if th© plan was likely to be successful it would bo given a trial on this or some other of tho New Zealand lines. FREIGHT ON FIREWOOD. Mr Arnold asked the iof Railways whether, in view of the fact that firewood is becoming scarce and has to be conveyod from a greater distance to the centres of population,. the department will reduce the freight on firewood or convey it for a longer distance fit the minimum rate. Sir Joseph. Ward said lie would be glad to look into the matter again, but he pointed out that in 1896-97 a special effort was made to induce this class of traffic, and the; result was very disappointing indeed. If tho circumstances were now altered he would he glad to see if anything could be dtne in the direction indicated. . RAILWAYS SUPERANNUATION FUND. Tlio Acting-Premier performed a graceful act in moving the member for Palmerston into the chair to-night, ill the absence of

the Chairman of Committers, when the Railways Superannuation Bill was refciimmittfld, because the measure was refriodclled by the Scleci G'ommittoe iri acebrdanfco with Mr Pimni'i suggestion. In fiiot, the bill is hardly recognisable in With tin? form in which it was first introduced. It is now one of the most satisfactory to tlm employees that could be desired. WANT OF INTEREST IN PARLIAMENT. The interest in the doings of. Parliament here this session is less than it has been for several years. Wlien t-hfe House resinned work this afternoon there were only six men in the public gallery, nix jburnalir>t.s in the press gallery, and five lneu in tlie Speaker's gftllery. Tlie liidie.S' gallery) the gallery occupied by Ministers' wives and their lady friends, and' the Legislative Councillors' gallery wore all tentuitless. IMPERIAL GUARANTEE DE- ' BENTUREB. Some lion, members seom to think that the Treasury has been doing the vanishing trick with the £400,000 of Imperial giiaratitced debentures. It seeuis very Inucli a-! ease of '"now you see them, and now. you don't." At all events Mr James Allen, who is generally orodited frith kiio'wing something aboitt iihanfce, hfes set himself tile task of solving the latest piece of Treasury legerdemain, witli What success your readers must judge for themselves from the following colloquy which look place in Pdrliament this afternoon:—Mr Allen asked where fcl-.o £400,000 of Imperial guaranteed debentures which on 31st March. 1901, were in the .investment account, were .on the 3ist March and 30th June last, and between lho*e dates. Sir Joseph Ward said this question was one of the most remarkable that had been put to him in connretioii with the, financial operations of, the l colony during all t.ho time he liad had charge of, llie affairs of the Treasury.. On both dates mentioned ,by the hoii. gentleman the whole of the £400.000 was in - the hands of the Treasury. Mr Alleti: " \nrt between those dotes?" Sir .T. G .Ward: " Well, it is not liossibk .for mc. to nn&'ft<a\ and even if. I cbuld I don't think it would be an appropriate) thing for mo to do." Mr Allen: ; " And were they not pledged I .'" Sir J. G. Ward: " Well, "the lion, gentleman, has not put that in his qupsiion. He should put it on the Order Paper." Mr Massey: "You had belter answer now." Sir .Joseph Ward: "Certainly; bnt I don't like t<> satiate, the lion, member with information when he is on a fishing expedition. I shall, keep him on the tip-toe of expectancy for t!>a next day or two, but t have no doubt when I do answer it will give ,tlio .lion, gentleman perfect satisfaction.." Sir Allen (laughingly): "Oh, yes; perfect satisfaction." .Just before the dinner adjournment Mr Alien gave notice of the following further question Whether this Imperial guaranteed debentures for £400.f)00 were pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise dealt with .on the 31st March and 30th June ''last and between those dates? If the.y' #e.re pledged, or hypothecated, or otherwise dealt with, to whom were they so pledged or' hypothecated, etc.: and if they were in the hands of the Traasu'ry On the above-, mentioned dates, not pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise dealt with, in what account of the Treasury do .tiicy appear? . Sir Joseph Ward said lie would like the' hori. gentle: man to have a comfortable night's rest; and so he would tell him that the funds re: ferred to were not pledged nor hypothecated on the 31st March or tlie 30th June, or between tlicsfe daks. His only regret was that the lion, gentleman, with the whole position -clearly before him, had not beep able to find out the matter for himself. Mr Allen: "Will you answer the latter part of the question now?" Sir Joseph Ward: "They were in the hands or, the Treasury, and I think I informed : him thiVy were in tlio investment account." Mr Allen: "No; you informed me they were' not. What account were in?" Sir Joseph Ward said lie would declihn to give th°i hon. gentleman the information. Mr Allen! "Oh. well, I'll have to mit i&y 'question on the Order Paper after all. , QUARANTINE STATIONS FOR STOCK. '.Mr E. G. Allen asked the Minister of Lands and Agriculture if he- will favourably consider the'expedirncjC of rsMU&hin'g ;«•' quaranfcino station for iniiiorte.-l stotik .at Port Chalmer?. The Hon. Mr Duncan said it was not! necessary at the present' time tb have a second quarahline sta'tion in tlx* South Island for the small nimiVr. of imported stock arriving there. Mr A]!en usked if the dvipiirtuic-nt would pay the railage cm" iinpcrted stock from Lyttelton to Dutiedin. Mr Duncan said the sum would be very little in a year, and he would consult the Railway Department on the matter. THE AGENT-GENERAL AND THE CONCILIATION ACT. In the Hoiiso ,this., afternoon Mr Mbnlc asked the Acting-Premier if he would advise the. Agent-general to refrain -from making official statements on th? l laboi'r conditions of this colony as at present affected by tlie working of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. In a recent cablegram from London ths Agent-general, was reported as having stated in tlrts London press that the Conciliation and Arbitration. Act was working satisfactorily in the cblony." Mr Monk - takes' exception to this statement, holding' that Mr Roevc.s, not being on the spot, is,not in a position to give an opiiiidn. The Acting-Premier stated in reply tpat the duty of the was to siife that no misrcpr'efOTitatioii of the cpWn'y took place in London, and from time to time lie, as representative of the Colony, had to correct such misrepresentations either' by writing to the papers or in any other way he considered'best. In regard to tljis particular matter, the Ageht-gen-eir.tl advised the Government that a statement had published from a cbrrespbnident in' New Zealitiid implying that, the Arbitration Act was Hot working satisfactorily—that it was meeting with tlift general disapproval of tlife' \frorkers of the. colony, and was likely to break ddwii. That, &s a matter of fact, was iiot correct. l The Painters' Union dissented from & derision of the cofu't, atitl expressed itsSlf to that effect, but that wassail. The act had done splendid work in (lie colony. Ther«' might be some who were opposed to it and some who would be glad to see l the' whoki system break down, but lie thoiijjlit.it would Ix? a grp'nt mi?fortuiio' to' the country if- th« policjr cif the act was to be abolished and if wo reitiithod to the bid state of things. Kvi»-ri, if there were 1 difficulties' it did. not fOilow that the act was likely to breakdown. The Agoiit-general liad done no mors thatt his duty,in placing on record in the Londofl papers the correct position. THE SPEAKER AND MR FIStfER. Mr Fisher, member for Wellington City, fell foiil of the Speaker this afternoon, but as usual the Speaker- got. tfte beat of- it. 31r Fisher gaive notice to .move that vp'on a di?jiassion(ite> view of the language and the spirit of Standing Order No. 82 this House dissents from. 11:o ruling, of Ir Speaker in refusing toaallotw t the following question to appear dn the Order Paper:— "Mr FiShcsr to ask tliei member for Wellington City (Mr Hiitcheson) whether he still atlhei-es .to the accuracy of the following stiitement mdtle by him iii Committee of Supply oil the sth August, 1902 (Hansard No. 11. p : . 171): ' For instanco, there was a subscription got tip in the PctOrie Railway Workshops foi* a prcsPhtp.tion to the Minister of Railways. Later on another subscription list rami? aloiig; and when, one of the men protested oil thb ground that he had already subsfcribed, ho was told that one was for Mr Ward and the other for Sir Joseph, and, of course, he l<ad to pay up handsomely. There was lio doubt tli'o members of the civil service wtfro everlastingly cadged, and the very , fact of a superior officer goiiig, round willi a list would induce a subordinate to pay up'ho.w r over badly life could afford; it.'" T:ie. Speaker said Mr Fisher was out of, order in speaking while giving notice of a question: Mr Fisher: "May I quote you a ruling of Sir Maurico O'Rorkc's, Sir?" The Kp&aknr: " I rule you out of order, whatever, the ruling may he." Mr Fishw: "This ruling of Sir Maurice's siiys I niay sp&als on giving notice j of a question." The Speaker: " Order." : Mr Fisher: "But tliis niling says 1 riiay speak." The Speaker: " Order, order." Mr Fisher thereupon subsided. • JOTTINGS. Mr Pirani is asking for particulars and amounts paid in the colony or in Londcn in connection with the visit, of the Premier and the Coronation Contingent to London. Mr Atkinson is moving in the direction of the unconditional remission of the toneo of thre4 years' imprisonment passed upon Frank T. Moore on Friday last. It is not aUvayte advisable to be strictly litoral in regard to Maori nomenclature, and. Mr T. Mackeii7.i(> has given notice to ask the Acting-Premier .whether before complying witli the request of Mr Ell to place on record the nieaiiiugs of the Maori names of railway stations and post and telegraph offices ho will submit lliem .to_ a ccJipiuitteS of experts consisting of the Native Minister, the Chief .Justice, an'd-tlie jsresident of th 6 National Council of Women, to the iutfent that the -miSariings may life rendered fit for publication.

Mr Arnold is to aetc the Acting-Mi mstw of D&fenoo if he is awriro that the Defence Department has rcecntlyimportcda number of ambulance wdggons far the uee bf Volunteer corps; llmt the said faLggoha are .flofe suitable for the rough country of New Zealand, iitid that more suitable waggons could liavfe been mahufactured in Ute colony, .fetid stt less'-cost. The average annual rainfall for New Sjjicftlajid for A poi'iqd of 38 yo&rs from records taken, at Aiicfelaha, Wellington, Canterbury, arid Dttnedin -#as SB.73in. . But if tlio average is computed from observations taken in all'parW ofthe.colony it rises to 53.665. Tho lowest rainfall in the colony for any orie yeSr feihee 1067 wtta recorded at Canterbury, when 14.4-80ih.fell in 1897. fitWTSB&r OBtOMES. h.lils ftfterpooti Mr Arnold, for Mr Miliar; asked the Minister of Lands what steps had beeh taken to SSoilrts or mora of the three properties which, he stated, last gfessiori -the Gbverriinent were itialdsig inquiries relative-, to, ivith. tlio; vifew bf purchase for Wbrkmen'a homes iti Dtmedin. Tlio Hon. Mj Duncan said that Cutten's land, at Anderson's Bay, liad been mentioned; bub the chairman of " the labour people in. Duinedin" had stated that, the working men wire averse to its Election, bceaiiie it was tdo low and swamujr. The,chairman Of thn Land Purchase _ Bsartl, who was rioiv in Dutiedin, hid asked liim (Mr. Duhblin) to see Mr Sidey about some land in Cavorsliam, but on his interviowiing Mr., Sidey the latter said lie was not itwato of it; Ha (Mr Duncan) had, However, wired back to get the information, and when he liad got it thft matter would be gone into, ana ho would ceo whether a better place, or one as convenient ss Cutten's, could be found. TOWN BELT ROADS. ■The. Hon. Mr Bolt has. given notice to move a new clause in the Town Belt Bonds Bill, as follows: —■" It shall liot be lawful for the City Council to make any public road or highway in,. thrbiigh, or over that part of tlie Town. Belt Which is khbwh as the Bbtatiio Gardens, and which is now planted ai a- gal-debs.