Political Intelligence.

Southland Times, Issue 9542, 11 June 1887, Page 2

Political Intelligence.

[By Telegram.] (fbom our own correspondent.) f Wellington, Jane JO. The curtain has dropped upon a eeesion which has been unique in many w»yp. The closing scene was dismal, as all prorogations by commission are. Moat mom berß are already on their way home, eager to woo the suffrages of their several constituencies, many, perhaps, to woo ia vain. The Government have had an anxious time, and have suffered ma^ hamiliationa, and it is doubtful if under any circumstances whatever the preseat Ministry will ever again hold the reina of offic-. There is bouod to be some radical chango in the personnel of the Government, for a Ministry so disunited can never carry on in tho new Parliament. This afternoon thoro was a sort .of free and easy debate upon Ministerial t-xpenees during the recess, and the Government got 80me hard knocks over their lavish nese, but they had a good m&tiy f riendd to uphold their action, among tho strongest boiDg Messrs [I -itch, Guinnes?, and Ljvestarn. Mr Hatch w=3B twitted with using his free puss on tho railways when h/) travelled about his on own b^ineis, and boldly acknowledged tho soft impeachment. He said if be did not people would say he did, and therefore he m>giit as well give colour to the accusation — " in for a lamb in for a sheep," he remarked, and tha House roared. A list of securities he'd in the colony on behalf of the Government gives tho total amount belonging to tho Government Insurunoo D -ptrtroent as L 914,730 ; Armed Constsibulary fund, L2OOO ; Not on rifls prizes firing fnni, LIO.'O; Commissioners of the P.iblioDnbt Sinking Fund, L 190.140, Post Olfico, Ll,104,4l0; Public- Trust Office, L 129,500 ; Pub i(; G-.'s deposit in Public Trust Office, L 71,800; Public Works Fund, L 106,952. The annual report of the Commissioner of Police, laid before Parliament yesterday, shows tho strength of the force on tne 31st March last aa 502 aa against 494 lsst year. The casualties in iha force amounted to 32 aq against 24 the previous year, There were 13 resignations, 5 dis-* charged ou compensation, i> diemiesale, 1 superannuation, and 4 deaths. Tho criminal statistics show a decrease of 417 in the Nortb, and 403 in the South Island of the more serious offences, \yith regard to drunkenness, there have been decreases in tho following provincial districts -.—Auckland, 280 ; Taranak', ?6; Wellington, 152 ; Qiago, 55 ; Canterbury, 317 ; WeHtland, 1 ; Nelson, 10 ; ar.d aa increase in H iwkes Bay of 117. With a view Qf improving th§ effiyieaoy. oil the.

force, the Commisflioner proposes to institute a' 'system of examination, somewhat after the Victorian method, by which any man in the police may claim to pass an examination which shall qualify him for the rank of sergeant, viz. — (1) General knowledge (4th standard, public tohools) ; (2) statute law ; (3) criminal law and evidence. The general conduct of theforce has been^satisfactoiy, Thapfopor- "", tion of police to population is 1 to. 1265, and the cost per inhabitant 3s 2£d. In Victoria there is one policeman to every 774 of tbe-populatian, and^the^cjostis 4a.^^ 4(1 .per bead of the pepalation \ ia new South Wal^a there' ia .one policeman to every 655 people, and the cost is 5a ll^d ; - in South Australia, one policetban to every ,. .760 persons, cost 6a o|d ; to Queensland, one to every 349 peraons, cost 9s.Ofdfier s : : inhabitant. ; - A return was to-day laid on the table of tho House showing the amount of travelling allowances and expenses drawn by each Minister and his attendants daring tbe~ year ended 31st March last. The, travelling allowances (omitting shiliiDgi and pence) were-^-Sir R. Stont, L 239 ; Sir J. Yogel, Ll5B ; Hon. J. Ball ance. L 268 ; Hon. B. RichardsoD, LBB ; 'Hon. W. J. M. Larnacb, L 361 ; Hon. J. A. Tole, L 17 6; Hon. P- A. JBuckley, L 12 1; Hon. W. H. Reynolds, L79.— Total, L 1493.. Tho amounts paid for fares and travelling expenses were— Sir R. Stout, L 416 (inclining amount drawn during attendance at Hall's trial) } Sir J. Yogel, Ll3 ; Mr Ballance, L 276 ; Mr Richardson, L 177 j Mr Lirnach, L 214 ; Mr Tole, L2l ; Mr Buckley, L 10 3; Mr Reynolds, Ll.— Total, L 1023. The total amount paid for travelling expenses and allowances toiattendants (including private secretaries) was JL96I. A foot note states that a large portion of this expenditure was incurred before tha 1886 session bet was spent during the last financial year.