POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1812, 13 August 1886, Page 13

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(From Oub Own Correspondent.)

Wellington, August 5.

Further papers relative to charging interest on loans during the construction of public works were presented to Parliament this evening. They include a report of the evidence given on the subject by Lord Rothschild before a committee of the House of Lords. The great financier s testimony was to the general effect that the rule of the House of Lords against this practice operated prejudicially to the construction of great werks, because it necessitated the contractor charging higher prices owing to the delay in obtaining payment, so that virtually the interest on construction did in the end come out of capital if this were not allowed to be directly paid. In answer to Lord Salisbury, it was stated by Lord Rothschild that new undertakings were in a different position from old ones in this respect, because formerly there was the prospect of a very large profit at a future period. He added that the practice of paying interest out of capital during construction had always been the rule in France and other European countries.

Amongthepetitions adjudicated upon to-day by the Public Petitions Committee was one from a female Maori guide, who states that she lost her house at Wairoa by the recent volcanic eruption, and suffered so severely through fear as to be unable to do any manual work in order to earn a living, so that she is now without means of support. The committee report she has no claim against the Government. Another peculiar claim similarly reported against was one from a teacher, who pleads that through having been compelled to work in an unsuitable school building he has become almost blind and has had to give up work, wherefore he asked for a small grant of land.

Some correspondence relative to the introduction of fish ova into New Zealand was laid on the table of the House this evening. The principal item is a memo, to the effect that the Government has asked the United States Commissioner of Fisheries to forward to New Zealand during the ensuing season a supply of whitefish, salmon, and trout ova. The resident agent at San Francisco has been instructed by the Postmaster-geneml to receive and deal with the ova.

Wellington, August 6. Mr Vaile, the railway reformer, has left on his return to Auckland to-night. His committee will have to apply for an extension of time. It is whispered there is a disagreement in the committee as to the merits of Mr Vaile's proposals, but that the report will prove to be of an adverse character. A suggestion will probably be put forward that Mr Vaile's plans should be tried experimentally for a year on the Auckland lines.

The great question of the day at present is the action of the Legislative Council respecting the Loan Bill. I find some people are under the impression that the second reading was negatived in favour of Sir F. Whitaker's amendment for referring the schedule to a select committee. This, however, is not correct, as the second reading was carried on the voices ; but on the motion for committal Sir F. Whitaker moved an amendment referring the bill to a select committee, which was carried by 20 votes to 17. The members of the Lower House are much oxercised over this proceeding, and talk loudly about privilege. They assort that the referring the bill to a select committee implies a claim of right to reviseTand review money bills sent up by the Lower House, which is denounced as grossly unconstitutional. On the other hand, it is argued that the Council have affirmed the principle of the bill by reading it a second time without even discussion being called for, and that they simply intend to ascertain that the schedule contains no unlawful items, such as railways not authorised by act (the one of the North of Auckland line being said to be the chief offender). They say that if the item is illegal they have no right to pass it, and that the Lower House ought not to do so. It is anticipated that the committee which sat on the schedule to-day will report adversely on this one point, and that tho bill will then be laid aside, but that the Government will probably then introduce in the Lower House an

authorisation bill, which will get over this difficulty. The general feeling in the Council is that it should be passed, although many dislike borrowing and strongly disapprove of the plan of charging old imported rolling stock against the new loan so as to aid in getting rid of the deficit pointed out by Major Atkinson. Some councillors say the schedule really commits the country to seven or eight millions in the future. I do not believe any serious conflict will arise. Most likely each will give in a little, and so the bill will become law.

I am not sure that I have made myself clear about the merits of the question at issue between the two Chambers, and I find that many people here are in a state of dense fog on the subject. The points are these: The Council object to charging old rolling-stock on the new loan as a way of covering that forgotten liability which Major Atkinson first drew attention to. They also object to the commencement of new lines involving thu future expenditure of some millions, though only comparatively small sums are now set down for those works; but they do not feel justified in throwingjout the bill on those grounds, and they are powerless to amend it. The point has been raised that the schedule contains at least one item directly illegal, being an appropriation for a railway not otherwise sanctioned by Parliament. It is of course contended on the other side that the allocation of money must surely constitute a sufficient authorisation ; but I believe the best authorities hold otherwise, and insist that the law as it stands requires every new railway to be explicitly authorised by Parliament. The Council do _ not choose to pass a bill containing illegal provisions; and by laying it aside (should the Select Committee, as I expect, report against it) give the Lower House an opportunity to pass an Authority Bill. It is generally hoped that an amicable arrangement of this kind will be made.

Wellington, August 7.

Tho curiously discordant views of the different members of the Cabinet, illustrated by what passed yesterday with reference to the question of colonial distilleries and insurance fund investment, has excited a good deal of comment today, and the impression prevails that there have been some narrow escapes of a break-up lately. The openness with which Sir J. Vogel declared the difference between himself and Sir R. Stout on the distillery question, and the uncalled for scorn with which he alluded to the Premier's •' sentimental " objections, were very noticeable, and also his chagrin at a defeat through the action of his colleagues on the insurance investment questios

Wellington, August 9.

The Public Revenues Bill introduced by the Colonial Treasurer empowers him to borrow in debentures £150,000 at 5 per cent, to pay off Deficiency Bills. It also provides that in all cases in which the accounts of any local body are audited by the Audit Office under the provisions of any act in that behalf or by order of the Governor under the provisions of any such act, and in any arbitration held by the Controller and Auditor-general between any two local bodies under the authority of any act in that behalf, the costs and expeuses of any such auditors' arbitration shall be according to a scale which the Governor-in-Council is hereby authorised from time to time to fix and determine, and shall be paid by the local body or bodies concerned into the public account, and it shall be the duty of the Controller aud Auditorgeneral to recover the same as a debt due to,the Crown in any court of competent jurisdiction. The Special Powers and Contracts Bill has undergone considerable alteration in the Wasto Lands Committee. It limits the time of application for exchanges of pastoral deferred payment licenses for leases to Ist June 1888. A new clause is inserted enabling claims under the Forest Tree Planting Endowment Act to be satisfied. The clause authorising thermal spring leases to be extended from 21 to 29 years is struck out. The other alterations are wholly of local interest.

There was a good deal of surprise and some indignation to-day when the Government asked the House to agree to the amendments of the Council on the Civil Service Reform Bill, which simply leaves the bill in a position of a bucket with the bottom knocked out. However, the Premier was anxious to get the bill through in some shape, and he will improve on it next session, besides making some political capital of the Council's action.

Mr Horace Bastings and Mr R. H. Leary, of Duuedin, have arrived in Wellington to represent the interests of the Waimea Plains Railway Company in the proposed sale of the company's line to the Government. It is understood the directors object strongly to the alterations in the terms made by the committee of the whole House in the bill authorising the transaction. .

The Joint Public Committee of the two Houses presented a public report to-day. They state that having entrusted to Mr C. D. Barraud, as president of the Fine Arts Association, the details of the illumination and mounting of the address to the Queen previously agreed upon and already published, they decided on the following arrangements at Mr Barraud s suggestion : — That the address should be in the form of a book with an ornamental cover, that the front of the cover should be of inlaid and carved wood with greenstone and silver work bearing Maori designs, the book to be inlaid wood showing a fern tree ; that the silver work should be entrusted to Mr Kohn, of Wellington, the woodwork to Mr Stuffert, of Auckland, both having a reputation for turning out good work, and that the illumination should be performed by Messrs Bock and Cousins, of Wellington, who are already making satisfactory progress. The illumination will be completed in about two months from now, and the book when finished will be enclosed in a suitable morocco case. The total cost is estimated at about £100. The signature of all members will be attached on separate sheets. An estimate of the cost of photo- lithographing the address so that each member may receive a copy is estimated at £45, but if done in the Government Survey Office the cost would be reduced by about £15.

Among the alterations made in the Special Powers and Contracts Bill by the Waste Lands Committee, the grant of half an acre in Port Chalmers to Taiaroa and other Natives as reserves has been struck out and a new paragraph inserted empowering the number of trustees of Havelock Commonage to be increased, and authorising the appointment of Messrs Oudaille, Auld, Ward, Sutherland (all of Havelook), Livingston. Ferris, Corry, Craig (of Waitahuna), and J. C. Brown (of Lawrenoe) as trustees.

A return was laid on the table to-night showing the salaries, rations, and allowances for residence to officers of the lunatic asylums of Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Dunedin. It appears that at Seacliff (Otago) Asylum the head attendant receives a salary of £130, at Auckland a salary of £120, and at Christchurch and Wellington £100. The salaries of male attendants in charge of wards range from £80 to £80 >in each case, and of attendants not in oharge from £70 to £80, Tb,e female attendants receive, from

£40 to £50 at Auckland, £40 and £65 at Christchurch, £40 to £60 at Wellington and Seacliff. All the attendants are allowed rations and either reside in the asylums or have cottages found them. The salaries of attendants in charge rise at the rate of £2 10s per annum, and that of other attendants £5 per annum.

A return has been completed and presented to Pailiament showing the salaries and allowance of the warders of the prisons at Auckland, Dunedin, Lyttelton, and Wellington. The chief warders receive £200 in each case, and the principal warders £180. Of these I there is only one r at the Wellington Terrace gaol, and two in each of the other gaols. The warders receive £150 each. Of these there are 18 at Auckland, 7 at Lyttelton, 6 at Dunedin, and 7at the two Wellington gaols. The assistant warders receive £135. Of these there are 8 at Auckland, 1 at Lyttelton, 6 at Dunodin, and 7 at the two Wellington gaols. No rations are allowed, but either cottages are provided for residence or £20 per annum is allowed for house rent. Uniforms are supplied at an average cost of £3 17s per officer. Some further information relative to the late census was received from the Registrar-general to-night. The population (excluding the Maoris) of the respective p rovincial districts is given as follows : — Auckland ... „. 139,379 Taranaki ... ... 17,999 Wellington ... ... 77,531} Hawlce's Bay ... ... 24,568 Marlborough ... ... 11,113 Nelson ... ... ... 30,203 Westland ... ... 15,931 Canterbury ... ... 121,400 Otago ... ... ... 149,154 Total ... ... 578,253 The total number of Chinese in the colony is given as 4510. Of the houses there are 10,000 with only one room, and 21,000 with more than six rooms. The empty houses number 953 in Wellington, 2153 in Canterbury, 2470 in Otago, and 2659 in Auckland. The most populous ward of any borough in the colony is Cook Ward, Wellington, which has 11,310 inhabitants ; Smith Ward, Auckland, comes next, with 9350 ; Leith Ward, Dunedin, follows, with 8651 ; and Ponsonby, Auckland, and To Aro, Wellington, have 7923 and 7625 respectively. . An attempt will be made to recommit the District Railways Purchasing Bill to restore the sum to be paid in cash to £35,000 instead of £27,000, to which it was reduced in committee. Vigorous lobbying is going on in support of this, which is likely to be successful. Wellington, August 10. A return was laid on the table of the House to-night showing the travelling expenses of Ministers during the past financial year. The respective amounts are as follows :—: — Travelling Allowance. Expenses. Sir R. Stout ... £107 5 0 £101 2 0 Sir 3. Vogel ... 308 14 0 10 13 6 Mr JRichardson... 168 0 0 101 11 0 Mr Larnach ... S2Q U 0 279 13 (i Mrttallance ... 20(3 14 0 11.0 7 4 Mr Tola ... 107 8 0 13 5 0 Mr Buckley ... 35 14 0 54 U 0 Total ... £1323 9 0 £777 6 4 The total allowances and expenses ot Ministers' attendants amounted to £459 13s lOd and £252 3s 3d respectively. The Public Petitions Committee have referred to the Government for consideration the petition of William Fowler, of Palmerston, Otago, who complains that his property has deteriorated by the railway being constructed close to the boundary fence, thus depreciating the value of the property at least one-half.

A curious point in connection with the Property Assessment Bill now before the House was brought out by Mr Downie Stewart in the debate on the second reading of the bill this evening. In the Assessment Act of last session which purported to be simply a Consolidation Bill, certain words were omitted from the clause of the act of 1879 without any intimation being given to the House of such omission by the words proposed to be omitted being printed in italics in erasive type, consequently the alteration passed unnoticed, but the omission of those words had the effect of rendering all church endowment and similar properties throughout the colony liable to property tax, and was intended to have that effect. However, through an oversight, the definitions were not similarly amended, and so an attempt to collect the tax on some church properties in Otago was successfully resulted in the Supreme Court. Mr Stewart charged the Premier with having deliberately omitted to direct attention to the excision of those words which were designed to have an important effect on taxation. No reply to the charge was made by the Premier. The bill amends the definition of " company " so as to include companies and societies of all kinds, excepting those specially exempted in the interpretation of " company." In the act of 1885 the words " formed wholly or mainly for the purpose of gainor profit divisible among the shareholders" were by an oversight inserted, although they woro struck out of the exemption section. The bill further enables a mortgagor to recover the tax paid by him on account of a foreign mortgagee, and enables the tax to be recovered, on reversionary interests in property. It also enables companies that are not land companies to be taxed on properly other than their real property. , There has been a long discussion on motion to commit the Special Pew: is and Contracts Bill. Mrßrycemade a ver» ■ i.-miaging speech, pointing out that the bill in iiu off-hand way amended or partially repealed quite a string of existing acts, and by their important effects being lumped together in a bill which had no ostensible bearing on those subjects, great difficulty was created in ascertaining the actual position of the law on those matters. Nothing also seems likely to be done to-night excepting with this bill. I understand that the Railway Authorisation Bill (introduced at the suggestion of the Legislative Counoil to remedy an illegality in the Loan Act) will not be allowed to pass without opposition, it being alleged that if the railway in question (north of Auckland) is carried beyond the four-mile point it will involve an outlay of at least a quarter of a million to reach another paying point. However, th,e bill is expected ultimately to pass. Another fight, as I said yesterday, will tak9 place over the proposal to recommit the District Railways Purchasing Bill for the purpoae of increasing the amount for the Waimea Plains line by £8000. This will be sbrenuously resisted, although the most -vigorous lobbying is going on in its favour and the agents for the company are leaving no stone unturned to sooure support. Reverting to the Representation Bill, I may add that hardly anybody seems to believe that it will come up again this session, unless to bo mentioned as dropped ; or if it oomes on and passes the second reading, whioh will probably be obstructed by stonewalling, it will be moved to be postponed for a fortnight.

In the feeling of Oppression and Tightness across the Lunga, the annoying Influenza, the touch of Asthma, procure a bottle of Bonnington's CarraIjotu or Msh Wosa. for unttiedMe. relief,— [A,d VTQ t