PARLIAMENTARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9140, 22 July 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

. * POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WELLINGTON. ANOTHER POLICY BILL. Wednesday, July 22.— Tho Land Bill introduced by Hon Mr McKonzto is likely to cause a split in both parties of the House, Mr Waitotara Hutchison disagreeing with the Government on tho matter, and Mr llolleston agreeing with the bill. The debate on tho bill will laßt some time, for most of tho members arc inclined to have a say in the matter. TELEPHONE OFFICE AT TARIKI ROAD. Mr F. McGuire forwarded a petition from the Tariki Road settlers to the PostmasterGeneral, asking that a telephone might bo established tlnro, and has received a reply as follows : " I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication enclosing a letter from Mr T. W. Corbett, in reference to a petition for establishment of a telephono office at Tariki Road. In reply I have to inform you that tho request of the petitioners will be acceded to, and tho work of erecting tho line gone on with as soon as possible.— J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General." LOCAL BODIES' AUDIT. Tho Local Bodies' Accounts and Audit Bill is a bill that has met with a good deal of opposition from several members acqnniiitcd with tho workings of these institutions. Complaint was generally made that no opportunity had been afforded the local bodies to peruse and report upon this important measure, which has been drafted by tho Controller-General. After a good deal of discussion, tho Premier agreed to stay tho further progress of tho bill to permit local bodies throughout the colony to be consulted. Under this bill the accounts of all local bodies' are to bo kept under a full system of accounts with separate accounts for interest, sinking f unds, loans, and general funds, the moneys belonging to each to be kept in separate accounts at the Bank, and no money to bo drawn out of such accounts except for its own apecial purpose. It is legalised to obtain an overdraft to the amount of', previous year's rato^, but if any money is , illegally borrowed, then each member of' the local body consenting is made liable to a penalty of £100, and the Audit Office is compelled to institute proceedings. Yearly ' and half-yearly balance-sheets are to bo sent by local authority to the Audit Office, j which are then to bo published in a local ' i newspaper. The Audit Office may oxamino en oath, and costs of audit may be recovered from the local authority. PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE. No indication has yet been afforded by Ministers, says the Post, of the course they intend to adopt in order to effectually cure tho tioacherous malady which has undermined the strength of what should be one of the most valuable departments of the State— the Public Trust Office. That the system of the department has been found seriously disordered, and the presence of a conglomeration of irregularities revealed, cannot be doubted, am whatever may have been tho cost or! arriving at a true conception of the condition of the department, which should be entitled to iank as one of the most vitally important factors of tho body politic, the expenditure lias been fully justified by its results. The Government aro entitled to credit for having entrusted the task to Commissioners who have bo clearly proved themselves capable of performing a very difficult and trying work thoroughly well, without fear, favour, or affection. The inquiry has been complete, the result is before Ministers, and they are in posses- ! sion of all the information necessary to enable them to determine on the nature of the remedy to be applied to cure the evils existing, and to restore the department to a healthy condition. It is essential that immediate steps should be taken to restore the confidence of the public in the institution. WORKING UP REFUSE TOW. ! Mr Buick is moving the Government to. offer a bonus for the production of woolpacks and cornsacks from refuse tow created by the flax industry. HEAD OF LABOUR BUREAU. Mr Lomas, who was the secretary to the Amalgamated Unions and Laborers' Association, has been appointed by the Government to inspect and report on all the mines in the colony. This will occupy three months, at the end of which time Mr Lomas will be made the head officer of the Labour Bureau. He was about to go Home, and had his passage, booked when the appointment was offered. SMELTING OF LRONSAND. The Government have promised Mr E. M. Smith that they will support a motion of his for the appointment of a Royal Commission witb power to spend £3000 for the purpose of testing thoroughly the smelting of tho Now Zealand ironsand, with a view to converting it into an article of commercial value. A large number of members have intimated that they will support the motion; and Mr E. M. Smith says ho has every reason to believe he will carry it.