Political Gossip

Southland Times, Issue 19167, 3 October 1903, Page 2

Political Gossip

(Jjy Telegraph.)

<(From our own correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Oct. 2 WRONGLY INTERPRETED.

The Southland Education Board has apparently fallen into an error in regard to tho extra yd capitation for average attendance to be paid over by Education 13oard9 to school committees. Mr Hunan expressing the views of the, Board, pointed out that under tho new arrangement the net result to tho Board would bo a diminution of its funds for administration purposes by at least £250 per annum Tho Premier, however, replied that this 9d capitation is a apociul grant und is not a payment under the proviso to sub-section d of section 5 of the Public School Teachers' Salaries Act, l'joi. It doea not interfere in any way with payment to the Hoard under sub-section 5 and thorofore the fears of tho Hoard aro without foundation. AN INNOVATION

Mr Seddon is bocomlng strangely attentive to the wishes of the House He is bending a little to tho strongly expressed will oi members. This afternoon, lor instance, bo indicated what business would be taken on Monday eveningHitherto members have, not known what was coming before them until they svero in their seats and, as the leader of tho Opposition said to-day,, it will bo a great convenience to know what to prupa'"« for. He congratulated the Premier on the innovation, as also did Mr T. MeKeuzie. who is humorously referred to an Ihe leader of tho Middle Party, with n following comprising Messrs Taylor ami Bedford. EMPTY WORDS This afternoon Mr Mutssey strongly criticised the Education Department In Auckland and other parts of the colony the bark districts were shamefully neglected and tho administration wctp bud. There was something wrong in the department somewhere, although ho could not lay his linger on tho weak spot. Ho expected improvement when the Premier assumed the portfolio, but he had been disappointed up to the present ' *v« havo had words, promises, bills, corn* mitteos, but nothing tangible " GOING BACK, TO DIXIE.

Apropos of the discussion on Wcdncs- I day over the florid advertisements in the 1 Home papers, holding out to small cup- | itaHsts irresistible iuducoments to tly hither. I hcurd of a case which precisely ■ bears out tho remarks of Messrs Mp^cy, Hogg and others. An agriculturist, iin- • pressed by the literature anel statements of nur Agent-General, was induced to comu to No« Zealand, auxiuu.s to ti'kc up some of the fertile land he had hoard so much about. He was prepared to invest several thousands and was precisely tho class of immigrant that the colony needs He discovered, however, that there wrs little first-class grain-growing land open for settlement and was so disappointed ' that he bus turned his face homewards again and has shaken tho dust of the colony ofl his angry feot. NO WOIIK NO MONEY.

There is a great scarcity of work her© just now and I believe it is general throughout tho colony. The Labour Bureau has only one stereotyped answer for the unemployed who enquiro daily : " We have nothing to oiler you." It is stated that a good many are going about the country ollering to work for ridiculously low wages* — anything for a living. Not a few of our returned troopers are " on their uppers." The Premier has no further use for " our brave sons " ; " my noble countrymen." and they consider that he has treated them shabbily. Then the financial outlook is not cheerful Public works have to be cut down by one-half and this means more unemployed. It is to be feared that the prospect is anything but reassuring. " The working man's paradise." as the labour agi-' lators are fond of calling the colony, is likCly to have less reason for the title and will not prove a happy hunting ground for the man out ot work. GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING A return of expenditure upon Government advertising and printing for the year ended 31st March was laid on the tat>l<3 to-day. Tho total sum paid was .oltf,44ii. of which £arj;}r> was lor p'ir.ting and £l 7.'< for advertising N.Z. scenery within tho colony, and £16 10s outside the colony The Auckland Star received the highest total, £1294 ; N.Z. Herald, £ I JOI : Kvening Post, £8<.)7 ; NX Times. £557 ; Lyttelton Times, £828: Press (Chrjstchurch). £710; livening Star. £444 ; Otago Daily Times. £717 : Southland Times, JCCI3 'including- printing. £219). A COSTLY BOOK

Some curosity has been exhibited in regiird t« i\ book on New Zealand. supposed to have been written by one .ticAlumui. an American It is over a year ago since this McMurrnn was in the colony and it in believed that since then uts writings have beeu undergoing drastic revision and correction. It now a|>pears Uiut I<».oi.k> copies of this book are to be printed ; that £250 was the remuneration paid to the American, and that A. 101 has been given to others to lick the book into shape. ARBITRATION.

All important amendment hus boon mnde in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Mill. The measure was before tho Labour Dills Committee and clause 7, which provides for stipendmry magistrates being given power to enforrp awards. was struck out It is understood that tho bill will be. reported to the Hotiso on Tuesday. WASTING TIME.

The early part of this evening wft.s dull nnd dreary. The vote for public and school buildings immediately preceded the vote for defence, uncl.it wns evidently thy desire 01 ihu Premier to stave ofl the Deff.-ncH Estimates until '.>:<<> He anticipates a particularly lively time over Defence nnd does not relish a roasting right under tne eyes of full galleries' Ino discussion, therefore. oil school buildings developed into a Hat stonewall, members airing local grievances and repeating worn out platitudes ad lib The Premier has been saved something by the absence of Mr Taylor, who is unwell Mr Taylor has been waiting for the Defence estimates, and his cutting criticisms would not have faller. pleusani ly on the ears of Mr SeddouA SOLDIER AND A MAN.

This evening Mr tSeddon remarked that you never found a soldier with , business en pacify " For administrative purpose's save me from iv soldier," he said. Sir W Uussell took the Premier to task for this. Who. he asked, was the greatest soldier in Urituin ?>— Liord Kitchner — nnd ho was renowned for his administrative ability. Who «v» tho greatest soldier Britain had produced in two centuries? The Duk.e of Wellington, who made a name for business ability long before he won famu as a general Wellington kept his uratiy in the Peninsula by his administrative ability in/ the face of almost insuperable diiliculties. HVho, wus the greatest soldier Fiance had produced '.' iNupoleon. who was ,nlso the greatest administrator that country htul wen. Von Mollke, the greatest soldier t;eriiiaiiy had known, was nor greatest administrator. These cases, said Sir William, showed that the Premier was not altogether right. ODDS AND ENDS. In accordance with the Standing Order passed yesterday replies to questions will be printed on Wednesday

You lire in the habit of straining «t gnats and swallowing camels.— Mr Hogg's retort ty Mr Flatmun, who wad maiuug a cumbrous effort to be funny.

The low railway otliees here form a ptilutitil building, elegantly curved and meed with Oojimru stone. Ml' Hogg points out Unit there is a chimney stack in the vicinity, vomiting out bluck smoke and he fours that in v short time the building will resemble a. Christy minstrel.

A more monstrous doctrine I haw never ( heard from the lips of any member. The I'romier's characteristic mildness A sample of the ruUon statements made by the Premier .— .Mr Buchanan.

The change in the system of. school stalls and salaries hns closed more schools in the buck blocks than anything elKe — Jlr T. .Mnektwie.

Tim lA-giMlative Council sat for 23 niinutos io-day. Its members can hardly complain of the ' tense political strain." The member for Waitemata says there is continuous irritation in the House, caused- by the Premier defying the wishes of members

1 thank goodness la m not a servjle (•overniuent supporter, who would vote oi.e way in the afternoon and the opposite way on the .sumo ipiestion in the evening- 1 —Mr Alison. Wo are nil endowed with common sense —.Startling discovery by the lion I. Jones. ■No doubt." hu added -'the comiuonsciise I possess is not the commoiisenso possessed by the honourable gentlemen opposite" < Hear, hears) Die wuy m which a section of tho .members of the House butters up the Premier reminds -Sir Win Russell of tho manner in which the ancient kings of muferinf' 0 ™ <UlOiate<l with tt " oleaginous

A Prime Ministerial jokelet . '• We have