PARLIAMENTARY. (From " Star " Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, November 21 to 24.

Te Aroha News, 26 November 1887, Page 1

PARLIAMENTARY. (From " Star " Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, November 21 to 24.

Marltoto Mining Titles. Mr Cadman has been urging on thealtenof Uie Minister of Mines the inconvenience arising from the delay in issuing titles to claims at tho new find at Maritoto, Hilcutaia. Mr Richardson says there must be some misapprehension in the matter, as he is informed that all the titles Avere issued last month. There is now only one applicant, and he is at woik, pending the case being consideied. He believed there were several appeals against the Warden's decisions, which could only be heard in due COdlV-t.

Crown and Native Land Revenue. It ha«> been asserted that local bodies in tlie North Island have received the lion's shaie of the taxes paid on Crown and native lands under the Act which is about to be repealed, but tho return propaved show sit is not the case. Auckland receives a total of £7,860 , Hawke's Bay £2,297, Taranaki £2,098, Wellington £6,711, KeUon £10,284, Marlborough £541, Wetland £7,358, Canterbury £1,561, Olago, £1,841, Southland £2,094. It is woi th mentioning that the 'Westland County Council gets £7,382 per annum from this source, Inangahua County Council £4,118, and Grey County Council £3,611.

Equality of Races. The petition of Te Hcuhcu Tukino and others relative to the proposed resolution of Mr Cart oil, that there should be only one law for both races, has been under the consideration of the Petitions Committee, which has decided that a-> neither will bo before the House by motion, the Committee have no recommendation lo make. Judge Williams's petition, which has been referred back to the same Committee for reommendation. comes up again to-morrow. The iudge i> in town for the purpose of giving evidence.

Land Settlement. Land settlement appears to be still going on stendiU , no fewer than 1,252 peisons bein£ settled on sections in six: months., from March till September of the present year. The>e were distributed over tho provincial districts as follows: — Auckland, 387 ; Taranalti, 55 ; Ilawke's Bay, 123 ; Wellington, 141 ; Nelson, C 5; Marlborough, 2 ; Canterbury, 141 ; Otago, 251 ; Southland, 64. Of these 497 were settled under the village homestead special settlement system ; 211 on ca c !i hvuls ; 184 on deferred payments ; 101 on deterred payment village settlements ; 70 as a special settlement association.

Two Policy Bills. m \vo oi; the policy bills of the Government were- cii culated last ni^ht. The first ie ducea the honorarium to £100, with an e\tra allowance of £'50 additional expense necessarily incurred by members, .such additional pum of £50 to be rcduceable in cases when two sessions are held in one year. The other bill is the Gcncrnor's Salary and Allowances Bill, It is introduced for the purpose of giving effect to the 1 eductions shadowed in the Financial Statement. It p'ovides that the measure will come into foice when the next Governor embarks from England to assume the Government of this colony.

Cancerous Cattle. A question of some interest to the farming cla^c^ has been given notice of by Mr Marchanl, who in tends asking if Government; will make inquiry as to whether the existence of cancerous cattle is dangerous to health, and if medical men arc of this opinion -whether the Government will consider what steps should be taken to deal with the question. Tho following figures in reference to the matter may prove inteiesting :—ln: — In 1886 there weie 214 deaths among cattle in the colony from cancer. The proportion of deaths )>fT 10,000 during the last few years has hw •in 1879, 2-63 ;in 1880, 2 'Bo ;in 1881, 2-69 . i ■ ir !H2, 2-89 ; in 1883, 2 -99 ; in 1884, 346: in L ,>, 313 ;in 1886, 3 - 68 ; showing an increase of 40 per cent, since 1879.

A Close Shave. The Wanganui Havbouv Bill, which was repeatedly talked out during the late Parliament, has afc last passed the Lower Houie. It- asks the sanction of Parliament to the borrowing of £30,000 for haj-bour improvement purpose-;, and was strongly opposed by a lai'ge section of the members who think that borrowing for harbour purposes should now cease. Dr. Newman, as a final protest against the bill, moved — "That it be read a third time that day three month=," and was defeated by the barest majority, viz., 37 to 36. The Young New Zealand party voted together with the Ministry. The bill then passed, to the evident delight of Mr Ballance, whose persistence in this matter has at last been rewarded.

The Administration Act. The Colonial Secretary has introduced a hill to amend the Administration Act of 1879. The principal clause abolishes the right of retainer in executor or administrator, and provides that no executor or administrator who is a creditor of any estate of which he is such executor or administrator shall hereafter by virtue of his office have any right of retainer in respect of any debt due to him in priority to other creditors of such estate, but every such executor or administrator shall rank with the other creditor?, but without prejudice to any preferential claim which as a creditor he might have been able to enforce if he had not been an executor or administrator. The other clauses give an executor the right to file a statement showing that the proceeds of the estate are not sufficient to meet engagements, and provides that the estate of a parson dying bankrupt may be administered as in bankruptcy.

Tho Lato Wl Tako. At the burial of Wi Tako, Arch bishop Redwood made the following observations : " Wo are met to-day in great crowds to do honour to the remains of one who has earned the esteem, admiration and gratitude of all New Zealand. The whole colonj% by our hands, at this moment de-, posit in his grave a wreath of undying remembrance, a grateful acknowledgment of the great services he rendered to all the

white population of these islands. He saw from the beginning the great advantages of civilisation and culture. He took his stand in the tido of progress, and as a citizen, a legislator, and great leader of men, he showed himself worthy of all honour from both races during his life, and of this splendid demonstration on his behalf to-day. Nor was lie less admirable in regard to his religious view. 0 . He embraced cordially the saving truths of Christianity. Ho was a good Christian, and hi^ memory will be cherished, therefore, by all who heartily appreciate those great principles of Christianity as the solid basis of true civilisation. As"a man 1 admired him, as a Christian I admired him still more ; and right gladly do I give my tribute to that of all the colony and deposit a wreath of grateful esteem upon his moital remains."

Amendment of the Mining Act. A largely-attended public meeting of miners was held in the Academy of Music last night to consider the best means of amending the Mining Act-, 1886. Mr .3. McGowan presided. Speeches were made by several miners condemning the present Act as unworkable, and also the granting of 30 acic& leaser when the Wai den had only authority to order one man to be employed to every two acre. The opinion was also expressed that companies should bo either compelled to fully man their ground or forfeit and that wages men, and nob tributers, should be considered as manning it. The following were appointed a committee to carefully consider the Mining Act, draw up amendments that wei'e deemed desirable and forward them to Wellington in the form of a petition as soon a 5 * possible : Messrs McGowan, Millet, Carnie, Harris, "White, Potts, Carpenter, and Hutchison.

Freehold Tenure for Village Settlers Sir George Grey's Freehold Tenure Acquisition Bill amends the conditions of occupation of perpetual leaseholds under the Village Settlement Regulations, and enacts that the rental to be paid in respect of any allotment in a village settlement shall be perpetually fixed at five per cent, on the upset purchasing price, together with five per cent, on such sums as may have been advanced in terms of said regulations. The bill so pro\ ides that after occupation for a certain (unspecified) term of yeais the selector may acquire the freehold tenure of hi^ holdina.

Taxing the Totalisator. The resolution moved in this direction by tho If on. R. Hart was adopted by the Legislative Council after debate. After \ iewing the position of the colony's finances at great length Mr Hart argued that it a choice were put to the public whether they would raise money to meet their necessities by reducing the Civil servants' salaiics or taxing the investments in tho totalisator, they would certainly elect to take tho latter course. It wa 5*5 * urg«cl that it was immoral for the State to pioiit by the use of a gambling instrument. In reply ib was said that n, State which raised revenue by the licensing of places for the sale of intoxicants, which brought people to such a s-tate that , they had to be placed under police protection, need not be meally-mouthed in adopting liife present, proposal. The Attorncy-Generalopposed the motion. He "tta.s not aware that gambling was taxed in any English-speaking country, and if a beginning were now made it would probably come ultimately to a system of licensing gambling houses. The Hon. Mr Sbrimski supported tho propojalthat a small percentage, say two per cent., should be deducted from the commissions received by the Racing Clubs for the use of the totalisator and devoted to charitable purposes. It would materially benefit the community, while the Clubs themselves were not likely to object to it. The total sum passed through the tocali.sator in the colony during la&t year wa-s £509,602. Tho motion was carried on a division by 18 to 16.

Non-political Railway Boards. The now Railway Bill will bo finally before Cabinet cither to-day or on Monday. Mr Mitchelson considers that management by a board of experts will work admirably, bub thinks that there should be a commercial board of advice located in Wellington. This he intends to piopose in the Cabinet, and it may perhaps be incorporated in the Bill. The Premier said in the House yesterday that if the House passed the Railway Bill, the railways would nob continue to remain under the management of Mr Maxwell, bub would be managed by anon-political board.

Tho Apostle of Protection Baffled. Another futile attempt to get the Governmenfc committed to a protective tariff was made by Mr Moss yesterday afternoon. Seeing that they have agreed to the appointment of last session's Committee for taking evidence re encouragement to local industries, Mr Moss suggested that this .should consist of free traders, while a R,oyal Commission might be appointed to consider how the tariff can best be revised in the direction of affording protection to manufacturers, so that the Hou&o might then be able to decide which is the most advantageous policy to pursue. The Piomicr said that the Government had no intention of appointing &uch a Commission as that proposed. They were satisfied that from the information which they already possessed they would bo able to satisiy all sections of the House with a reasonable tariff. Should the Government find that they could not obtain the necessary information without a Royal Commission they would, during the recess, take the responsibility of appointing one.

Sir Julius Attacks tlio Government Sir Julius Vogel having been informed by the Premier yesterday afternoon that Government saw no necessity for circulating their policy bills till tho Financial Statement was disposed of, he proceeded to complain of the great waste of lime to which theaction of the Govornmont was subjecting the House. He said that the Premier was pursuing his old tactics "which had been -so .justly lay tho colony, of carrying on tho government of the colony by intrigues outside of the House. Members had no knowledge of what the

proposed reductions were to be in the Education and Survey Departments, and the proposal to ask them to pass the estimates en bloc was to his mind simply disgraceful. He said that Wellington members had got an assurance from the Government that the Civil seivants should not be dealt with harshly, while the representatives from other parts of the colony had been given to understand that the retrenchment would be of a radical character. Then with respect to the Main Trunk line, the* Auckland [papers seemed to bo satisfied with the assurance of the Minister for Works on this subject, while the Wellington papers had been conciliated by the promise that noalteiation was intended in the route that had been decided on. Sir Julius proceeded to say that the Government were so weak that they were compelled to conceal their policy till the last moment, when members would have picked up their portmanteaus and were not inclined to offer any resistance, and charged Ministers with dangling; before their supporters personal hostility to himself. Messrs Tanner, T. Thompson and Goldie had admitted that while the country demanded a revision of the tariff they were afraid to support a motion in that direc tion, as the carrying of it would replace him in power. To those hon. gentlemen he had to make this proposal, that at the end of the session he was willing to resign his seat for Christchurch North, and fight any of these gentlemen named in their own electorates if they too would resign. This challenge was received with applause from the Opposition benches, and it was renewed when Sir Julius said that it extended to the Premier also. Mr Seddon suggested the inclusion of the Minister of Education, which induced Mr Fisher to remark that if the challenge were made to him he would accept it. Sir J. Vogel went on to say that while he reiterated that Ministers retained their positions by intrigues and promises made outside the House, he (the speaker) wished to bear his testimony to the fact that Mr Fisher was the only member of the Government who had gained ground with the House during the session — a fact which was due to the manliness and firmness he had displayed in speaking his mind. In conclusion, Sir J. Vogel warned the Ministerial supporters that the Premier was making fools of (.hem by using them as he pleased, and that at the end of the session they would be known throughout the colony as the "stupid party." He recognised that it was useless discussing the Financial Statement at present. They were simply beating the air till they knew what the intentions of the Government were. Ministers treated this attack on them with supreme indifference, and finding that he failed to evoke a reply, Sir Julius Vogel said that he was in doubt as to how it was best to save the t^rne of the country — •whether by the Oppo.sition continuing the discussion on the question for going into Committee of Supply, or otherwise.

No-Confidence Debate. The evening sitting was occupied with the debate adjourned from Friday evening last respecting the budget proposals of the Government. The discussion was resumed by Mr Izard, who is the possessor of a very weak voice, and was scarcely audible. He recognised that an honest effort was bei7ig made towards retrenchment, and would therefoie support the present Ministry. Mr Peacock also warmly supported the Government on account of their retrenchment proposals, and thought that as they had undertaken this great work no attempt to force their hand on the question of the revision of the tariff should be made at present. He, however, considered their proposal for a reduction of the number of European members to sixty-six of too sweeping a nature. Mr Hutchison made the best speech of the evening, in the course of which he condemned almost all the Government proposals, and declared that their native legislation would have the effect of delh cring the natives into the hands of those who are worse than land sharks. Mr Macarthur confined his attention to traversing Sir J. Vogel's speech, while Mr Loughrey earned the distinction of making the shortest speech during the debate. Pie expressed a hope that Government would yet see their way this session to the introduction of measures for the easy settlement of the land and a revision of the tariff. Neither Messrs Graham nor Blade, who followed, said much that was new, while Major Jackson, who also spoke, urged the desirability of granting facilities for settlement of land by small settleis.

Education Reserves Settlement Bill. The Waste Lands Committee have considered the Education Reserves Settlement Bill, and recommend that it be allowed to proceed with a new clause, providing that the powers of the Act shall apply only such educational endowments as have been set aside onfc of Crown Lands under the authority of Parliament.

Expenditure from North Island Loan. The following are the liabilities and expenditure from" North Island Railway loan upon roads and bridges between Wellington and Auckland up till September last : — North end : Punui cart bridge, £1,662 ; road, Punui to Kawa station, £1,007 ; Porotataroa to Te Kawa, £1,000 : total, £3,669. South end : Road, Kaiori to Taumaranui, £14,501 ; Pipiteki to Okahune, £6,872. Inland : Patea to Taurangarere, £4,300 ; Murray's track, £750 ; Huntervillo to Himtapu, £6,116 ; Wanganui River improvements, £3,030 : total, £35,570, of which £9,801 consists of liabilities.

Stealing a March. In introducing his Land Amendment Bill, Sir G. Grey certainly stole a march on both the Speaker and the Government. It is a rule of the House that no private member can introduce a measure affecting the waste lands of the colony except the leavo •of the Crown has' been first obtained ; but Six George .thinks that such a -rule ought not to prevail, and declined to ask for the necessary leave on the present occasion with the intention of raising a question of privilege as to the correctness of the existing rule. But to his surprise no opposition was raised, and after the bill had been read a fir&b time Mr

Seddon called attention to the omission. Sir G. M. O'Jlorke said that he could nob yive any direction withoub knowing vvliafe the intentions of the measure were, which drew from Sir George Grey the remark, " J have always been stopped before, sir, and expected to be on the present occasion, in which case I should have tried to establish the right of a private member to introduce legislation dealing with the waste lands of the Crown. The Speaker again said that he could not give an opinion, not having seen the bill, and Sir George Grey remarked, with a knowing 1 wink, that he was glad to see re-established a right of which members had been so longdeprived.

Unemployed Expenditure. Details have now been furnished to Mr G oldie of the expenditure of the £20,000, voted last year, under the heading of Subsidies for Local Bodies for providing' work for unemployed. The total amount spout was £21,235, and of this Christchurch benefited to the extent of £12,763 for park works and formation of new rifle range ; Dunedin Borough got £7,600 for Andersons Bay, Kensington roads, etc. ; Canterbury Boroughs got smaller amounts ; Auckland participated to the extent of £123 for gravel pit ; £477 for Wairenga forest planting, and £364 for railway fares for unemployed, the latter item nob being expenditure at all.

The Railway Workshops. Mr o oldie ia moving 1 for a return showing 1 the value of work porfoimecl in the Government railway workshops of Hillside, Addinglon, Pctono and Newmarket for th& two years ending 31f-t March, 1887, for districts other than those in which the aforeg iid workshops are situated.

THE UNEMPLOYED QUESTION. The problem of the unemployed difficulty continues to exorcise the minds of Ministersancl members alike. Yesteiday afternoon, in asking whether Government will give immediate eflect lo the recommendation of the Public Petitions Committee thafc the Sumner railway be put in hand, as, the best means of providing suitable work for the unemployed of Christchurch. and feubui'bs, Mr Percival said that the question was one of extreme uegency. Tho Mayor of Chri&tchurch had telegraphed to him that day that he had communicated w ith the Minister for Public Works, directinu hi-; attention to the necessity of at once establishing suitable relief works handy to Chiiolchurch. Government had already piovidcd some piecework for the unemployed of that place, including the formation oi a road near the Clarence River, but this had been found to be entirely unsuit- - able to married men, who could not save any money from it to send to their wives. The Premier said no doubt there wa& a gieat deal of distress in Christchurch, and that a great many deceiving men were out of employment. Dealing with the question presented very gical difficulties, for experience had shown that directly work was provided near the towns men flocked in fiom the country, professing to be in gieat distress. Members of Canterbury Labour Bureau, men who were appointed by the late Governme nt, and who were in every respect to be relied on, had wired as follows :—": — " Bureau finds, there is still room for fifteen men ab Kaikoura - Clarence Road, and would recommend complement be increased there to 160. To show the suitability of this employment, which men dispute, Bureau finds men there who have been able to send wives and families from £3 to £4 per month. .Arrangements — put on at stone-breaking on Monday next; all ci&e? of emergency. Bureau thinks that, considering the present dearth of employment, it might be advisable to get the working plan of a .sectioa of tho proposed Snmner railway pushed forward ; it is difficult to estimate the number of men that are really destitute, but fully 160 are out of employment. — John H. Baker." Government had contemplated at one time making the Mount Sumner railway, as they were anxious not to separate the married men from their families : but they had found this work was not authorised, and as they would be clearly breaking tho law in proceeding with it, a special Act would be required before the work could be gone on with. While Government were anxious to separate families as little as possible, they must also t>ee their way not to increase the paupers. Sir George Grey moved the adjournment of the House to draw attention to the large amount of distress existing throughout tna colony. Upwards of 1,000 people in Auckland had petitioned for employment, and they knew that there was a great deal of guttering in Christchurch. The Government had not devised any plan to put an end to this state of things, and it was their duty to do so. Before they separated some plan might bo devised to settle the people on the land. The late Government had brought forward a scheme which was spoiled by bad regulations. Mr Ward seconded the motion with the object of drawing attention to the largo number of unemployed in Southland. If the Government would reduce the price for the carriage of firewood from Seaward Bush to 5s per ton, employment to a large number of men woxild be given. Messrs Taylor, Fish, Jones, Bruce, Sir J. Vogel, and tho Hon. Mr Fisher took part in tho discussion. The Minister of Education reminded Sir J. Vogel of the fact that the unemployed difficulty existed in the protective colony of Victoria as well as here, and asked him ii he had not read of the deputation of the unemployed to Mr Deakin, who turned a, deaf ear to them. Mr Moss interjected that these people came over the border from New South Wales, and Mr Fisher retorted that this was " too thin." Ho also charged Sir G. Gicy with an attempt to misrepresent the answer of the Premier on this matter. Mr Lance protested against any system of handicapping being undertaken by the Government in giving work to the unemployed, and Mr Hobbs referred to the facfc that tho late Premier told the Christchurch unemployed that it was no part of the duty of the Government to find work for them, and ho did not think the present Government should be embarrassed in this matter. The debato was brought to a conclusion by the dinner adjournment. (Parliamentary news continued on page 4.)