POLITICAL GOSSIP. Wellington. September 13. MINISTERIAL EXPENSES.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 403, 18 September 1889, Page 4

POLITICAL GOSSIP. Wellington. September 13. MINISTERIAL EXPENSES.

A return forwarded in accordanco with a motion by Mr Monk, shovvb thab between the Ist October and the 3rd December lacb travelling cxponsos and allowances were drawn bv Ministers aa follows : — Sir H. Atkinson," £16 11s 6d ; JEifelop, £13 17s; Fisher, £100 Os 6d ; Richardson, £16 6s ; Mitchelson, £9 3s ; Fergus, £18 7s : total, £174 10s.

CIVIL SERVICE BILL. Mr R. Thompson tried to draw Uio Government ycstciday as to whether they will circulate amongst member their proposed Civil Service Bill. The Premier blandly promised to con&ider tho matter and comply with the request if it is found desirable.

NEW ZEALAND CROSS LAND (! RANTS. In bhe interest of i-ome holders ot the Now Zealand Cro&s, the member for Thorndon yesbeiday asked whether the Government will now set aside laud for the recipients of the decoration in accordance with the Act of 1869. The Mini&ter of Lands said the Act empowered the Government to set asido land, but the holdeis did not want it, and it had since been decided to pay each holder of the cross ,ClO a year, which is now paid instead of piving them land.

CrVIL SEUS'ICE I< RTI RING ALLOWANCES. Due effect is, it seems, boinp given to th° piOMsion made in ISB6 for the deduction of 5 percent, fiora tho annual salary of each Civil servant, ior investment) at interest, the accumulation to be paid to the officers on their retiiement.

M AKTINMIENRY RIFLES. As a result of the representations made by Messrs ilamliu and Mills, the Defence Minister has aj^ieed' bo arrange for the sale of Martini rillos to \olunteer corps, deducting the corit from their next capitation payments.

LABOUR SETTLEMENTS. Ministers are unable to make any provision this session for the establishment of labour settlements, and for enabling the acquisition ot small agricultuial areas by agricultural labourers. The Premier has promi-cd, however, to MrJ. W. Steward that in the recess he will continue the inquiiies already on foot, and if they find it necessary ho will make some proposition next so-soion.

AUSTRALIAN RACING CONSULTATIONS. There is bho Premier no power to stop tho piacticc of sending money beyond the colony to piomoteis ol tacintr sweeps, as proposed by Dr. Newman, as the Government cannot intercept letters. LICENSING TOBACCONISTS.

A Bill providing for the imposition of a license feo upon dealers in tobacco and cigars had been prepared, bub has been crowded out this session by the pressure of other business.

BRANDING CHEESE. The Minister of Lands promises to consider during the recess the proposal made by Mv Valentine for the establishment ot a Government brand to distinguish the difteient qualities of cheese. He anticipates that the question will be diihcult to deal with, but undertakes to look into the legislation of other countries regarding it.

A PRESENTATION. Twenty-two members of the Houso attended afc a presentation of a gold watch to Mr McGregor, the senior Government whip, last evening. The Premier said he had to add his own testimony to the evident feeling ot the party as to the great services Mr McGregor had rendeied them, and remarked that the relations bohveen the hon. aentleman and himself had invaiiably been of the most pleasuiable kind. He hoped that after the next election the member for Akaroa would be found occupying the same position as ho now held. In the course of a feeling reply Mr McGregor expressed the hope that if he did come back after the next election he would be able to renew those ties of friendship which he was pleased to be able to say had been engendered. Though advanced in yeaid, he came into this House a comparatively young politician, and was pleased to say that he had made friendships which would extend far beyond the l-ange of his political life. He assured tho^e present that he had met with nothing but universal kindness, not only from the hide to which he belonged, but from all the members of the House.

THE AUCKLAND MEMBERS. Ifc is hoped that the session will be finished on Saturday, and the Tarawera leaves on' that clay. The Auckland membeis or the majority of them purpose going overland to Napier and picking her up there, reaching Auckland on Tuesday.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The thud readings of the Public Works Act Amendment Bill and North Island Tiunk Railway Loan Application Bill have been assented to by the Legislative Counoil. Considerable opposition was shown to the Naval and Military Settlers and Volunteers Land Bill, the principal objectors being lions. Ci. McLean, Dr. I'ollon and Miller. In moving that the measure be read a second time fchatday &ix months, MrMcLean cbaracteiiscd it as an electioneering measure.

RETIRING ALLOWANCE. Ib seems that the reason Colonel Roberts did not leluin his compensation of £805 11s on receiving the appointment of K.M. at a salary of t!350 as the law provides, was bocause the difference between the former salary and his present one (£5OO and £350) was .~o considerable that the (Government did not think ib fair, and because they know the question of compensation would again rise when Colonel Roberts retiied. The reasoning applies to the case of Major (lascoigne.

OUll UNEMPLOYED. ]\h Goldie yesterday brought under the attention ot the Government the disparity of the aid given to our unemployed and that of tho other provinces as shown by a recent return, lie said that the other provinces might well say thero Avas no depression when they received such assistance. The Minister of Public Works said the Government were quite willing to make the proportion between the provinces equal. The reason why Auckland had not obtained such a large amount of assistance was that the gumticlds had rendered it unnecessary. While he had been in power ho had not known of any legitimate appeals for assistance being refused. This Mr Goldie strenuously denied, in which I think the Auckland public will bear him out.

JOHN LUNDON'S PETITION. I am given to understand that there is no hope of Mr John Lundon's petition receiving favomablc consideration,

OUR CUSTOM • HOUSE. The following question has been tabled by Mr Monk:— To ask the Minister for Public Works if it is true that because of

the soft bricks used in building the CustomHouse in Auckland the Government are now spending a considerable sum to koep out tho damp.

THE HONORARIUM QUESTION. Tho following is an amendment bhab Mr Saunders inbended proposing in Sir Harry Atkinson's honorarium quetbien :—": — " Bub in any such Acb no provision bhould be made for placing the members of bhis Hou3e in any different position wibh regard to bho payment of their lawful debbs to thab occupied by obher Now Zealand bubjeebb." Mr Saunders was ruled out ot order when he attempted bo move ib, as he had spoken iir&b. Mr (joldie then offered to do it, but the Speaker again ruled ib irregular, nnd the bhi owing out of bhe Bill by 59 bo 13 rondered bhe amendmenb needless.

THE HONORARIUM DIFFICULTY. The honorarium difficulty which arose this week through the service of a Supremo Court charging order upon the Paymasber(Jcnoral to intercept a member's honorarium, came up for discussion yesterday afternoon. The Premier proposed to get over it by bringing in a Bill of a retrospective chai actor declaring the honorarium snould be unassailable by law as in equity. He moved that leavo be given to introduce such a Bill. Mr Seddon moved, as an amendment, that the report ot the Committee which had inquired inio the matcer bo adopted, that the Speaker's order for payment be given eflect to, and that in order to ensure it a Bill be brought in to deal with the question. The Premier was of opinion that the report of the Committee was aheady against the law, in which opinion he was borne nut by various members oi the legal piofession in the House. A long discussion took place, and ultimately the motion for lea\e to intioduce the Bill was lost by 59 to 13, it being generally felt that to have such retrospective legislation would not meet with the approval ol the country. Mr Seddon's amendment was also lost, so the matter is in slalu quo.

MOTION FOR DISSOLUTION. On the House sitting ye3terday Mr Ballance gave notice, amid cheers, That he ehould move on going into supply, that in the opinion ot this House it ig expedient that there should be a dissolution ot Parliament after the termination of the piesent session, that the new I'ailiamcnt should meet for the despatch ot tauainess a 5?a 5 ? soon as possible after the expiration of the present financial year.

NATIVE LAND COURT BILL. The House sat until 2.45 this morning. The Native Land Court Bill in Committee took sorao hours, and was linally agreed to with inconsiderable amendments, but progress was reported prior to dealing with coi tain new clauses. The Land Tiansfer Bill was committed, repo) ted, and passed its final stages. September 14.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council had a very lengthy sitting yesterday, when they mot at 11 o'clock in the morning. The Public Health Act Amendment Billpab-=ed through its final stages. The Public Works Act Amendment Bill was consideredin Committee. Clause2o, imposing a penalty on persons failing to screen machinery elected within 66ft. of a public load, was struck out. Clause 22, giving to the Railway Commissioners power to compulfcorily lease lands for twenty years, was also struck out. The Hon. E. C. J. Stevens moved the insertion of a new clause, enabling Harbour Boards out of their revenues to contribute in conjunction with local bodies towaids the construction of streets over reclaimed land agreed upon by local bodies. This was agreed to at the afternoon sitting, and the Bill was reported with amendments, but was ordered to be committed to-day with a view to reconsidering clauses 3 and 14. The Volunfceeis and Military Settlers Land Bill was brought down from the House of Representatives and read a first time, the second leading being iixed for next day. Progress was madewithquitea large batch of Bills, many passing their final stages, including the local Bills sent up from the Lower House. Amonjr tho a c read a second time was the North Island Trunk Railway Loan Application Act, the third reading of which has been made an order lor to-day.

THE TOBACCO TRADE. Ifc will be remembered that the tobacconists in the large centres of population had frequently called for the imposition of a license to regulate- the tiade. Mr Hutchison now intends to ask the Commissioner of Customs whether he purposes introducing legislation to '"mpose a fcmall license fee on retailers of tobacco and cigars with the view of assisting the rex cnue and regulating the trade.

OUR DAIRY INDUSTRY. Mr Valentine intends to ask the Minister of Lands, who is also Minister for Agriculture, whether he will, for the protection of tho dairy industry of the colony, take into consideiation during 1 the lecess, tho advisablene^s ot establishing a Government brand to be placed upon all cheese shipped from the colony, setting forth the vaiious qualities of manufactiue such as a quarter, half, thice quarters, and full skim.

LABOUR SETTLEMENTS. The following questions have been tabled by jSJajor Steward Lo ask the Premier :— (1) Whether he intends to ask the House to make any pi o vision this session for the establishment of labour settlements, and for enabling the acquisition of small areas of land by agricultural labourers. If not, will the (Jovernment fully inquire duiing the recess a& to the localities in which it is desirable that facilities should be afforded for the establishment of such settlements or the acquisition of such holdings? ("2) Will the GoAernment, having made such inquiries, submit a proposal to Parliament early next session with a view to the establishment of such settlements and the affording of such iacilibies ?

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. In accordance* with hi" promise, the Premier yesterday made a statement as to the business tli6 (Jovernmctib propose to go on with. The Bills he enumerated were as follows : — Westport Ngakawau Railway Extension Bill. Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act Amendment Bill, West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Suspension Bill, Land Transfer Act Amendment Bill, Native Land Court Act Amendment Bill, Property Tax Bill (second reading), the Annual Taxing Bill and not the Assessment Bill, the Public Health Bill, Licensing Act Amendment Bill, Lincoln College Bill, Ratine: Act. It was also intended to bring in a Bill in place of the Public Revenues Bill, now before the Committee, to simply provide for the appointment of a Deputy ControllerGeneral, in case of the illness of the Assistant Controller-General, this being necessary in order to prevent the treasury machinery from getting altogether out of ordor. In conclusion, the Premier said he saw no roason why the Bills should not be disposed of by to-night.

THE 'FRISCO MAIL. The Premier is in hopes of reaching the resolution dealing with the mail contract at 7.30 this evening. It is probable that their consideration will monopolise the major part of the evening sitting.

A MINIATURE STONEWALL. The Minister for Public Works yesterday moved the second reading of the WesbporbNgakawau Railway Extension Bill, providing for the extension of the railway for seven miles at a cost of £33,000. The necessaiy moneys would not come out of the consolidated fund, bub out of the Westport Harbour Fund, of which £89,600 was available. The profits of the line would be made up to 5 per cent, by the coal mining leaseholders. The construction of the Jine would open up valuable coalfield?. Considerable opposition was shown to this, and after two or three divisions the Bill was committed. In Committee, however, such opposition was shown to it that progress was reported upon it, there being in fact a miniature stonewall. The reason of this according to Mr O'Conor, who spoke strongly on the matter, was that the Opposition weredesirousto punish him for voting for the Government on the late no-confidence debate. They had declared that this railway was the piice of his support, a charge that he tieated with a contemptuous denial.

THE SESSION. A IOBTN'iGHT ago we were expecting to have the prorogation yestei day. '• Hope deterred maketh the heart sick,"and our hopes aro being stretched as the session lengthens. It is now hoped that the prorogation will take place on Tuesday. The House sits at 11 o'clock this morning, but it is hoped will adjourn in the afternoon. It will meet on Monday morning, and it is hoped that business will then be got through, and the prorogation will take place on Tuesday morning. The Council of course sits at the same houis, to keep level with the business. There can be no doubt that several of the Bills being fathered by the Go\ernmenb will have to be dropped.

DEPARTURES. Mr Withy, I believe, returns to Auckland by the Tarawera this attornoon. The other Auckland members feel inclined to see the session out to the bitter end, but both yasterday and to-day quite a number of Southern and Taranaki members left for their homes.

MINISTERS' EXPENSES. Yesterday I 3enb up a return of Ministers' ex pen fees in the way of travelling allowance, which showed that Mr Fisher had claimed over £100, while the other Ministers altogether did not take much moro than half that amount. It is now intended by several members, if they obtain the chance, to bring the question up before the House. By thirf means they hope to bring out the ibems that make up this large amount.

BUSINESS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. In the House yesterday the orders of the day we le reached remarkably quick. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Public Works Act Amendment Bill were agreed to, with the exception of the striking out of the conferment of levying power on the Railway Commissioneis, and the addition of a clause empowering Harbour Boards to contribute to the construction of streets on reclaimed land. The Hon. E. Richardson, Mr Ross, and the Minister for Public Works were

appointed a committee to draw up reasons. The Premier moved the second reading 1 of the Licensing Act Amendment Bill to enable married women who hold publicans' licenses to transfer them. This was agreed to after a short discu^on, and the Bill was ordered to be committed presently. 'llhal 1 ha motion for the second reading of the Public Health Act Amendment Bill, which, it will be remembered, originated from the late agitation about the state of the dairies and slaughter-houses about Wellington, was, after a short debate, emphaticallynegatived on the voices.

THE PROROGATION. According to a statement made by him last night, the Premier is very sanguine of having the session finished this morning. He informed the House that he hoped to get through all the Bills before the House rose at half past ten this morning. The House in Committee of Supply would consider the supplementary estimates which he last night brought down. These would be got through before the House rose. There would be no afternoon sitting, and in the evening the Appropriation Act could be passed, and the session be practically at an end. He went over the various Bills to show how easy it was to be as suggested, but there weie very ominous threats from members of the Opposition and of amendments galore. If the Premier'santicipabions prove correct, then the prorogation will take place on Monday.

NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY LOAN APPLICATION ACT. The Bill for the amendment of bins Act wab received from His Excellency the Governor with amendments, the chief of which were the striking out of all reference to land in Taranaki district, and of the provision that the third of the proceeds of land sold on deferred payment should be payable to local bodies. After some little discussion and a vigorous protest from Mr Ballance, the amendments were agreed to, as otherwise the Bill would be thrown out as a whole.