Political Intelligence.

Southland Times, Issue 4413, 31 August 1882, Page 2

Political Intelligence.

A W -^ [By Telegraph.] (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.^ *' ; Wellington, Aug. 30, Tq-nighr, on the motion>for J_e7secoflfq reading of the Rating '_.ilj,~ Mr Joyce spoke strongly in favor of the principleyof rating on the capital value of. property, alleging that tbe annual value-to-let system had been, , frequently . abused by property holders in luvercargill. jSuch unqualified approbation of a Government measure at the hands of "the member for- Awarua is quite anovelty, and it ie diflicultTto say whether the7, government or Opposition", were most surprised. .. As lit was, Major Atkinson's,'* hear, hears.w ere rather pronounced. ' v ■>.■.■-' y .;•..'•■ Today Mr Joyce fabled a question relative to the letting of a certain railway sleeper contract to a 'DutKidih firm in breach of a 'distinct understanding with phe Southland ihethbers. It appears that three months ago tenders «vere called -for Supplying 50,000 creosoted sleepers. The notice given- was short, and the object of the contract was ostensibly to ascertain the cost of creosoting the softer timbers of the colony, obtainable from the sawmillers at from a third to one half the priced of totara and black pine. Represahtatibns were made by the Southland Sawmillers' Association, through : tbe members, that, instead of being let in one, it would be better for; all concerned to divide it into twb parts, viz. :— for supplying the sleeper^ and for the creosoting alone. The Government professed itself willing to adopt that course, but in breach of that understanding the entire contract was recently let to a Dunedin firm as stated above— hence the tabling of the question. The Public Works Estimates are promised on Friday. It is now tolerably obvious that the session will last through next week. The Government, however, are making good progress with their policy bills.