Political Gossip.

Southland Times, Issue 19105, 23 July 1903, Page 2

Political Gossip.

By. Telegraph.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, July 21. THE MEAT SHOPS; An estimate of financial aspects of fitting up a depot for sale of N.Z. meat In a largo centre in England has been prepared by Mr Cameron, Produce Commissioner. The capital required for each depot would be £2000., half of which it for a month's supply of meat. The cost of conducting the business for the first year would be £1900, ami a profit Is estimated, for the first year, of £lß7i, at lowing ; (£lO9 for contingencies and £1960 for legal expenses, yor the second year the profit is estimated at £389, and for the third year at £979. .-,...;.; : - MR^ppo%R^Oßfrs. - The Pnjiniier laid !on fthe ■ table of the House to-day a •sunariarised' account of his visit to South Afrdcal and Great Britain in 1902>; The report give* ; a bare outline of the* plac«s. yiaiteo by th» Premier, the text ot M the addresses presented to htm, and a list of resolution* passed at the Colonial -Qonference. "_ AN ORDERLY yiii^GlE. The curfew bell is heard every eventag; at. "9. o'clcKki In -Aitut»lM, Cook group, after which bell all' beating of clruma and other ' loud noises cease and the villagers retire ; tc their homes, unless they have a valid excuse- for beingabroad. Playing cards f or ltiomey : is ' a punishable offence.

BATING POWER. ; \ > The Road and Town Districts! Rating Bill was read a second time this evening. Mr Seddon said local bodies found that they coulds-not levy sufficient rates t^'-meet liabilities and do all they want- : cd. This" measure doubled the existing rating power, and he was not sure that local -boriies: should; iiot, in addition, have power 1 . to" levy special rates; (<Hear, hear,); .-'■.- •;. . V : " . '-'■■■ The Weights ' an-d ' Measures Bill -was read a .secotid time. Sir .Joseph explaining that the bill gave thejQoyetTimont power to-. declare the> metric.; sysr tom in operation by, notification ' not earlier 'than lst/ January, -1906;:.. r Mr '! Jas. Allen hoped some . steps ■■ -would ibe taken to prepare tno ground for -tho metric system to ba brought "into use. We coald not do much tiU. the. Mothen Country adopted the system, and -in our schools this system should be explained to tire children. Sir rJ. "Ward said it ; was intended to allow this- measure to jbe a dowd letter. \ :'^ ; v• '; ■ ' ; ODDS AND RNDS. ' \ Sixty-otie_Union9 registered under the Industrial Conciliation arid Arbitration Act during the .past ten years ha\%, been cancelled, 28 having become defunct' and 33 being cancelled pursuant to the appH-'---cations 61 the Unions." . \-/>\--:'^Tv;v Mr McNab has presented a ■'% position from Christina . Ferguson^ Gore, -whose huaband died in. SeaclifT fn 1902 after baing corapulsorily: retired : from thb police force owjng to in-heftHh.fThe widow prays for a .compassionate allowanCe. ■ ■■■■' :'■':-■ ■'•r : :-.X:\,, '' : '-.-

■At the end of 1903 there" were - -107 ■ Maori schools, aa against W at the end of the previous yetfcr. The iumber . ol children attending was 3742^ an ina*easa of 469 - over 1901, <«!nd- of these- 81.32 pcr -cent; were; Maoris, B^9B half-castes, and the balance. Europeans[.-;\ -- -'A return ,: of "stock condemned and Blaug*teredX : : iand • corapphaation , paid - horses, 2316 -cattle, and 59 swine vt'ere v -slaughtp^wl,- for which£4tss cotnpenSatidn.vrais "paid. r ..-■;■ ■ Thei number f of sheep in the colony on 30th April was. : ;i9>pp2,o49; a decrease " of 1.340.G78 aßrictnnp>i.red with the previous year: iTh&yftterboGa is accounted , for bj* '■'£. export -of muttod «n* lamb and thn export of live v sheep; : "Up to 31st Marcsh last 12,922 aidvances, aonountine- to -£4.316^940 had been- made by the Government Advances; to J Settlers (MHce. The securities offered; •were valued at £7,849,728, and the ' Sinkinff fund anioTints to: £125,867. " A reiunn of pupilaf attending secondary schbblis . at - the cud of 1902 shows a"., total of 3072, ' of whom .1639 are between the ages of 15 anil.. lß^ years, 1139- between 1 2 «md 15. aiid 137 "bver .. 18 .years. .■•.■■■•.■■■:•>•-■ , ; -\ : >;w--V " ' ' :- ■ •'■■• The' total aiHount adviahcea to local bodiosl up to 31st March was £1,581,898 The amount bonrowed" was £2 ,022 ,100 , and £80,800 was repajd to the Public Wtorkif Fund: .^w\: - : '' ' The neb cost of the La>nd Departnvent' last year was £10,978. .■ • ; ..Tha.. total riumlier of v njquiberjs iii t r n»ons reirfptered .] under ithe. Industrial Conirfiiationv and : iArliitnatioii "- : Act is

.Mr HanaiV has placed it 1 long question on tho Order I?aper -owitu a -vtfew of protecting ; ctolontal vpol-growera from unfair competition l by the introduction of shoddy unless , purchasers are fully awara of the quality of the latter. ■ Tbq Ships and Offices Bill was read a second time pro forma, ftn<T referred to a couTjmittee." r * :j ; ■-.-■■.■■• The Inspection, of 'Machinery Act Ainendmenf and Gold Duties Biils were vad jx second, time this evening, and the House adjourned a few minutes after midnights ■'■<'. ■■--■''■■: - . -: •-■■'

■ 'r: '"■"::■■ :'^ . •■', ■ July 22, CRIMINAIi STATISTICS.

Tbe report : qi the Commissioner o f I'puce, .laid on the table of the House this afternoon, is an • intencfltinß document. 'On, >31st March the strength <>r the^pohee force was 613- ami increase of the year. 'Within the - 12 months ., 1 5 members . were retired under the ; provident fund, "14 rosignedv M= died, 4 were dispensed with, and" 2 were dis-missed^-total, 39. :• The criminal static tics; dealing with all offences reported to the, police during:; the year show an aggregate net ; increase of 384 on th© figures of 1 901. The principal iricreasea were-^Arson 38; assaults (c&tiim&i) 49, burglary, breaking into ■ shops; dwellings, etc., 135. cruelty to animals 28, "desort-! ing amd failing to provide for "wives and chiMrer. lt)7. riiaobeyinc ov«ht& on board 6lups 46 , drunlenness -21 2 , • false declaratfons 32, galming offerees 153, irideceh* exposaro or~ behavio\n»^s«, ; obscene and protene^ language 70^ obstructing thoroughfares 2& i; theft oi: cattl« ; amf hbrees S3, trespass 6©; 29, The principal , decreases' are»— Assaults (indecent)" 35, breaches of the peace 138, deserted and stnogglers frbm .H.M. ships 39, di»orderly .and riotous conduct 35, f aaling to support parents and near relatives 89, illegally s/hootitig gaTaer24, obstruct^ ing aniiv :;■■ resisting- tlie pbUce 28. sly. gTQp-sellinff 26, '- stone throwing' 72, Irof^^pf : sheep 20, theft from dwellings 08, theit- from the -person 40. ; ' Ccfmraenting on these figures; the Conxmii*sioner says that ".upon a population basis there has . been no increase of crime. In 3901 the proportion of oflenc«s rto population was 2.36 per cent., and in 19Q2 it was 2.39 per cent .ThY iriccease, of prevmtißle dffencea-Jburßlary. etc.~-from 3432 "in'-1001-..ta S47T is not in proportion to the increase "of popu-" lation, and sbow^ that there .has beenno cKjterioraition. in the efficiency of the 1 fonce. The percentage of arrests to the( number of offencSs reported 'rbsd ifroto' 98.55 to 99.49 in l^egard to offencea r against the person; a«a from. T0. 98 .. : to 7!b.02 in regard to offences aßainst <pro- t perty, the. last percetttagfe beitfg *h* hiffhest yet attained. The, number : of : indecent: ;«na sexual offences rose from ?315 to 818, but the revolting crime of incest, shows ian increase from. 4 in 1901 to 7 .■•in 11902: "Tlie •• incrwse in arson l ir.oon 26-to 66- appears alartning; .but ia f attributable to the action o f two boys, j who. roarocd; ; arouna r AwWatxd and seb I fire to : -A2?r places^for the amusement twey : derived from seeing ilia brigade turn out :~ they received eight: years' imprisonment each. The fire-raising mania [ is becoßnn^: common, and in .t>vo;-«ase3 recently -th« culprits wore comoUtted to asylums. There were '8269 -persons chairged 1 with <lrunVonne&s;-7405 males «nd 964^11(10109,- against 8057 f97G of whom _were females) in 19Q1V This is accounted for by an increase of 568 in Wellington, the other chief centres show-, ing decreases. There wer© SS5p prpsecuI «OnS against : publicaavs,i 94; jjohvictiona , being J^hajpe^waa 1 11 prosecutions and 4 convictions. Durthe year, thei'e were 122 proseßutions for :SJy grpg-sDlhng, resultihg, com^c&2Ss* '•■" 1 *« ttKgfegftle &nes imposed brittg £760, arid direct cost pf detecting and prosecuting £578; The Coiinmlssibnen reiterates tl»e . difficulty -in sheeting hoaie guilt for sly grog-Selling and in deallttg with i!l?g«l " tot* " betting. • The conduct of the force was good, although it had been found necessary to impose a. larger number , pf : punishments than previous yoars^ Six jpen .were convicted of oOenCea connected with drink. Owiug to the increase of- poputathju aiid the gradual opening up or" back country on. augmentation of at least :25 constables was necessary, and this- would represent an increase of 3 d per head of the population. -: : The. post of the 'police woujd then be 2s ll^d ;per head, still touch less than' in any Austtalioa State, wheno 4h 2*d was the lowest, aad lls 10^d thehighest cost per head.. . ;:. Jnspecton Mitchefl (Southland) reports that. two aaditional' constables 'are required E to,:aßftrd ., the necessary, protection after darki^ 0 •; -.^ ■■ „ / \, v '- ' ' :

•The ■ House was again prevented- this ■atternoon from" imaking inroads upon a cr^veded Order Paper by a discussion springing 1 : up upon the question of Vhat. allowance', should bo . made to oißcetia Xvho serveti under tha old provinc:ni 'governinmits. In this case a petition was bcfoi<e the " House and a member ..-:-. wished to add to the cpianiittee's i '■:-.**• •'.., por.t a> tag that the , reconunemlfttiqii bo : • given effect to. This Would, have iiifiaJit-- : that the atlo^ance was practically - \jjted by Parliament, and the : ■Premier said if this \yere dPne.it would inaVo : the colony responsible for other amounts, '; amounting to nniny- thousands.^: lt T 6pettT ' eft "the whole qwestiou -of what t*eatment- - should be meted but to ■ officers, : . who were elthen tataen over by -^ the ■; Qofc ! crntfreat ■or rtrans/erred. to : . btlier^ bodieSf. : .Several members said these"" officers* lia« riot-been fairly; deal^ wito.caiAi^adecision shoukl 'be arrived: ax, fixing :.-:"tho basis on which ivll such claims should be corisiilered. After- 'discuasibii,; tho tag was Yot^l .but, Tapii rtho 'petition .went oh to tho Opvornment with; the briglaaV ' recontnioiidatiou - thnt : -it r be' favourably considered/. .. r -" '■ ■A-.-.-.-:* ■■'■\'..^.;. ':^i(^i~-y -....-.■.. ;_;;;■ ::;; : ' :VKIIAEB:.B^;;T/a^. :: :y-;.-^ \. • ' The othei' half of the^ aftei>^6ncs' )t\,«aa -. •p«nt in a fli3cus3ion : ol potftiou»; Jriom AViellington, • Christchurch; and ''UVuntcMa City CouncilH, which; wish to hay? the ■.'■- diity remoy«d*i ftainJilavgo.: tmpoT.tq.tibns of machiiicry' theyi will ;ha*vo s itp; uiake in conncsction with tho instalVatibn: of electric tramwayis. Vho comiuitteo r^c<Mttmffladed Hno i«jtitions to" tho lotvoumbla cbttsWer&tion, pi tup aqv^ramcwU &^

tie Premier was opposed ; to' auch a course being adopted, sine*; other local bodiw would want aimllar treatment m liard to any public worts. Msmbwrs from the cities interested urged that th e petitions were just; the councils were carrying out m- work which in a sinse was relegated to them A rota the Government and they . should hav e the same facilities anh privileges that the Gover«mont would have in undertaking such a work.T Country members were generally opposed to the idea. There were many in the country, they said, who would never see* .these trams, and why should they have to suffer so that these materials could be brought, in tree pf duty? They doubted if the fares would be aiy lower if ;the duty was remitted, end thought there was no occasion her? for .special 'treatment. At 5.25 P m JUr cussion was prolonged, but he tely proceeded to talk, -out .tune, .and tne question was interrupted and Killed by the 5.90 p.m. adjournment. - : MUTUAL FITO3 INSURANCE. -This' evening tMt Kirkbrido moved the secoild' reading of the Mutual Fire InSnce Bill and -said it was necessary 'bv^Sou^of >,«xdrbitaat made by Jnsurance M--mpanies, .tfJjP*"™: ed^ st^ strong d combine, and the i osuit ••■■ fe^tbat; many farmers i£t *».»- "sure vat: all- This measure iiroVKletl that ■>.- o^%utrdwd; or: more^ people; could; form, - a ; mutual^ fire-insurance : ussociation-v toi the^So^^ of ' -: insuriiiff- tlitmfly es the agcregate; of nofrless than £.20,000. The /oSfect-;^^-j6»© was t* TOfej means for isolated -farmers: to Uisia'anc-a at-rtaeonable rates-^- HimUar assoml^S^e^d^ra^S St. because the buildings were not clustered together. There vvas therefore no necessity for it large capital at * back of these associations. In Delano these -bo4ies; were ;.doing extent of iifty milUou. dollars,— Sir Jos. Ward - approved - of ; the qbi^ts vi the m?m J§iougßt;it -required, further con, slderationi. ; He. suggested that it be I^tk'a: committee :: - ioc revision, was^ difficult ,to- see how rc-msurances Sd : be%flected;in * Zealft^ d^ v n?o-neHhought-it -would ■M& »*:essary to . ga4^wmbCT^f those -^ associations eacfri with a limited a vt^.. He believed r such ; associations would not r -\ Sli :r agftinst °sarge. J^J s *^^ that there was room , ior . both £tem=?.— Mr J A. Millar- objected tJ.at this* VK9posal amounted, to the formation. of companies %ith limited: -., lability, L Ihe: -scope was too wide ; ; . only . farm pro-perties-should be insured.--Mr W. Iraierl^mpathetically touchfed on th» T Ko.od pofnta of, the bill, and : said it could b« Z made an of value ta :furmer3.-Mr Buddo criticised the. linancwlr stability "; of 4h© proposal.— Messrs .aj&asey, Hogg, Jennings^ W T: ; -Mackonzie^ ' strongly supported the / measure, nnd believed that in Committees it oouid!>e rut^nto workable shape/ Mr^T-ickenzie tsaid he /knew; cases, in the -country where insurance rates Vnfirst-olass risks ct-rne to the annual rental valuo.-Mr Jas. Allen doubted if the pruwiple of the Canadian - Act had been followed, i n repfr, * Mr KirkbriUe said it was jpt.,,.,„..---tended to insure any out isolated, moDerfies/ tßats±heres would: .■; \m. no ha?> ardbus rlsks^ T«e ;biH '- was :.■ ■•■read;; » second time.by~62\tb 2.-. .V» ' , : " -Mr :T. Stackehiii©; w&p: juoveil a divi^6^j ; ?explained";thak; ha n«ul -asked forme show< bbw^jjm^nwnpu^ the ; H6u?e was in: favour cv the bill.

J i^>FiN^VNCiAli

There no chanbe of the Government bßJJg'able nbWto bring dowa the Budeet¥on '^day: -evening, '-.-as :_tt>ey heped to do; but it may be delivered on., 'lucs-da-y or jnext Friday at .atest. ■■.-■■■ - ;The *rfncipie^ ot ilrl , ittutuatf Insurance '--Bill -was'' f«,yo«U;oa by all the -members -who . spoko V 1 Ms evening, but a. number; , of them «lo>»!>ted if .-' the finaxiciairbasis bl the jeUeme could assured: ,It was: recognised that the bill was imperfect in its j resent form, but rthe idea was that the mea-, sure v co<ildV be put into. work.vble torm in Committee; aiid that it., w -uld be a boon^to farmers; many .of whb-ii at pre-. sent^tfalhW l/than pay tlie high rates ■ charg^-by; : insurance compaiiios;ijer»ot 'ii^r^:M^l.^i' : '.-?^" : :"^y:'" :''■',:^;^ -•:■-. .- CIy^^ERVICE. , ; ; -f^ ~j£t yil«f'/has jgiyen nqtiee vo Ask the i?remier it. is- U»rrect sliat chv. -'■■ culars have' '*een : issued uhder^ his authi>rltyztOr.the\'whole: of ; ».ne J^paftments : cftUtipnljag' them against giving- any In- '•-": fdri^tioia; ot'iwbateyer ; wature 6>- Kind,- ■■;■ toall-tind r ey«ry": member ;>ot Uie House ; aid it it is true, can s.e give tbe House a" promise. that Huchi*isttuct.:o^s be revoked at an early date? ■'■'■■■r.t/^;\---- : ' -. :- ! " ■• \\ a -'. '■; .:'*-M^li4-' v l*^^tiv^-'Cp"UDc'n. tins i afternoonthe Hon. J ■■- lligg moved the see- . bnd reading of the Tied Houses i/.ill, ex- - plaiiiing ■QmX its main provisions- fere similar . to those In .last jears bill. Spirit merchants and cordial ir.anuiactifrers -were- \ also Includcili xm well as theirs employes : and famiiies. He« declar'eri that' the>.cincrease invt-htf, vqto lor prohibition cX tßei ; last .poll pas the re- . suit; v^artlyj ofr thfe dlsbossipii 0u ,,. this bill' last -session. :Kefoi*m . wtvs. es-scKtial, and unless-' the ; brewers saw that ;their wholes business, >wpulil be swept away. The H6n. r r"C;-X,ewisoiti:said he nad. toped from the treatment the /bill : received last "session -that Mr Kigg -would a vc/ seen the *prbpriety ;v of leaving abe. subject^ alone. Tfee biU^amourited ulnlost to con; fiscation andj apart ;from-tHat, it would „•■ be unworkable. The brewers tn^'^elves »>} were' desirous i of untying;. the houses and -in their- loaiia>at the eaj-liest possible moment— Hon., D. Pinkerton eaid no Teform should be carried put by confiscation. 'Hon. A. Pitt was opposed to -the measure -on account of: its: drastic jiature.-r-Hon. G. Jbn«s -moved Atne adjournment of -the debate> which was carried l>y>i!BV to 14, •.; ,-■,. =;•. :..:- --= ;^ ::">;their points : op; yiraw. i^beaking bn^he Tied House Bill the Hon. H; Jfeldwiclc said that me Hoo. .<>. "Jones : : dealt with question .from a; prohibitionist's stanupoi,*!!;. This ; Mr Jones indignantly ■ ddfiied,: reauirking « that ; fie- viiewed. the. question frou-. a pub-, lie standpoint." He added : " Why does - not the" honourable gentleman -admit that he is'-ispeakihg lrom ; a rpublicans' ■ point \of view ?" "So I am," promptty- re- '■'-■:■ torted JMx Peldwicky " I admit ic. Then. ha went on tt> ask who would be Ukeiy *- ,to- advance moneyTiupoiiiJiptel vrvperty '-■'- but ; brewers '"• and" spirit merchants r :; Thm-B; was no answer to this quoiy. "■"■• : : : -;K^^^ODpS:lAiro{ißNl^C ■-• :^H^ : ' ■ to #arata'will?ast ter whether he will cause a regular sitting pi the Native Land Court to be Jield at • Waihppaiv (InVercargill) every "six- mohtb'P' - to^doaV with th.e ; nppointr "aiait'of to deceased persons •and other general native -court business affecting MaPri reskieats i.<i that vicin- -■ '. Ity? Vs^-. «?,.••', -•-^;.;--v=--: ■■.:-■, ;:>-: o-; "■:--.. - -. v ;•■;. .... -«Mr ; like L : .the;; Minister ;pf 'JBducatioh" to consider the desirableness

of apppinting specialiists in voice culture Oand eiocutioD to give ' instructioni in such r branches to pupils . attending state \j3ChjDOJ9v. ..- , ' '.-.,:. '.:,,_ '- ■';.■..-.-■'. /,..:■ .V. ".. *-p^ T J.^ C.f^oinspnt d«sir6s;t •T'€er-' of Lands >tp 1 appoint a liiiner to the Southland TjCand iibard; seeing there is • such v a ilaree i.area ; ,.of mining jand -under Ihe^ j^iiffictipn%^^atv ; tib«y. : ■ J " V Mr^ Harding^ intmds iriier if be^hagHiafeehsteps-iopiVo effect to the yriah expressed \.v Lpin llpberts ito-:Jiave->family Bibles and- other ltfijt taken -Boersr.i«tyrned- : torfthem ? . ;: : : Mr. Parat'a' wants to •KTipw.j« hat' -action thei-uGpvemment Intends .-.: to T;aKe< lin r^ card to the refusal by tf>e Coibbuoii'■■wealth; to -perorUt -Maoris io land, unless they declared that it is* not tneir ..intention;/ to become' permanent- residents- of Australia ? ./The Maori race claim to -have bad : assured tp tjiem uTnler the " treaty.' of^'.^aitangi all the rights and --"pciyileges of British subjects resident In AustralaE^a. - ; . -.- ■'■■'.-' -Mr " -r Hahah the «Jovernm.f nt to ~recpgjai.s& j iinlueffc'e'>pf t Hfi'gri; c^uTat r **Bhpws' i?/ by n'ay^ of .prizes- "Tpr certain: exhibits/ ; ? / ••-■:-\ : - V : y : . Mr: ;T.C. Thomson is oskhig-for a re^ turiivihosPjbg: the 'area of states - acquirpd<= itt- Southland j. the price l>aid for' ea/ib, :the' of sections occupied' iarid urioccupied} the Jampunt spent by the; -Government: 1 inr ;Toading, '- ficvv rt-ntal revenue derived from ; each', tvnd the" profit 1 oy, loss on each ! estate. ;. -y