PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6241, 18 May 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

♦ [pKOjSI OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON; Mat 17. THE OPPOSITION. There is no doubt that several members who held carefully aloof from the regular Opposition last session, are inclined to harden against the Government now that Sir J. Yogel has disappeared from the scene. Messrs Samuels and Downic Stewart attended the caucus this morning, and Mr Moss has definitely announced his opposition to the present Government. Of course, it will take much more than a few loose recruits like these to alter the balance of parties. FINANCE. Two or three questioas were put to-day with the object of eliciting information as to thß financing that had gone on from last session to the present one. The Premier smilingly refused to be drawn. The debate on the Loan Bill, however, drew him effectually in the evening, and he explained how he had raised money with the kind assistance of the Colonial Bank. He refused, however, to say what loss the country had suffered through the hitch in the Loan Act. He said he might ba able to show that the country had made a considerable gain, at which statement hon members smiled incredulously. The Premier explained tbat if the loan had been placed on the market directly after last session, the price gained would have been much worse than would probably be the price now. If, however, it had been negotiated somewhat later on, after Mr Goscben's conversion scheme had been made public, the price would, of course, have been very much better than at any other time. AT DAGGERS DRAWN. A savage altercation took place this evening between the Premier and Messrs Downte Stewart and Hutchison. The latter accused Sir Harry of a direct and flagrant breach of faibh in connection with certain reductions made in the schedule to the Loan Bill last session. The House; it may be remembered, struck out two items from the schedule, one of £70,000 for Immigration, the other of .£9OOO for the Picton-Awatere railway. A week before the Bill was discussed, the Premier had promised that a vote to strike out any amount should ba respected by the Government, and that the total sum of one million would be reduced by such amount. If he had kept his promise, the million loan would have been nine hundred and twenty thousand. He did not, however, strike out the seventy-nine or eighty thousand pounds, on the ground tbat it would be absurd to reduce the Bill by that comparatively small amount. He furiously retorted on Messrs Stewart and Hutchison, and, in my opinion, would have done better to keep his temper. An examination of page 668 of the Hansard volume of last session, will show how plain and distinct his promise was; and though he, no doubt, thought he would only be taken to refer to a very large reduction, the House most certainly understood him differently. The dispute grew very warm and complicated. On other points the Premier came out a winner, but on that particular point I must cay that I think he got the worst of it. THE ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS. Mr Mitchelson ato humble pie this afternoon. In answer to a question relating to the grant of free railway passeß to the team of English footballers, he admitted that passes ought not to have been granted, but excused himself on the ground that he did not know at the time that the ti ip was a commercial speculation. Had Government known that earlier, the team would not have got the passes. This is ail very well so far as Mr Mitchelson was concerned, but the Hon Mr Stevens presumably knew all about the commercial speculation, and it was he who got the team its exceedingly improper concession. It transpired to-day that the Ofcago Eugby Union strongly protested against the grant of these passes to a team that was, _ collectively, professional, though individually amateurs. Mr Mitchelson promised that such a thing should never occur again. Let us hop«j it will not. Mr scobie Mackenzie's bombshki.l. Mr Scobie Mackenzie dropped a bombshell into the Ministers' camp this evening, by moving an amendment to the Bill repealing last; year's Lo3n Bill. Hia speech was eloquently delivered, and consisled of a strong appeal to the House to insist on the borrowing and public works policy being wound up, and no new burdens being placed on the country. He wanted material guarantees given that this would be done. He showed that it was nonsense to suppose that the Ministerial policy was in any sense a winding up or tapering off borrowing and railway makings The Public Works scheme did not propose either to finish railways or carry them to a paying point. There was no finality about it whatever. Mr Mackenzie spoke strongly, but much on the lines of his speech on the same subject last year, and exactly on the lines of the party of economy in Canterbury during the last general election. Hia speech showed conclusively how utterly that Party has falsified its election pledges in supporting the present Mini&try. At first this evening there seemed some prospect of Mr Scobie Mackenzie's amendment being carried, and the dismay in the Government camp was considerable. If the opposition should determine to give Mr Mackenzie a block party vote, then there could be little doubt the Ministry would be beaten. But it was soon clear that the Opposition was going to do nothing of the kind. Rumourß have reached me of a hastily summoned Council of War, whereat the bolder spirits strongly urged that the Government should be struck at, no matter what the consequences might be. Advice, however, must have been taken, for Boon Oppositionist after Oppositionist was on his legs, declaiming any sympathy with the amendment. Mr W. P. Reeves, who had been described by Mr Mackenzie as the leader of a happy band of Protectionists, eaid that he gladly accepted the description, and, that being the case, he was not going to follow a rabid Freetrader in harassing the Government uselessly at the present moment, when, for all he knew, Ministers might be on the eve of bringing down a tariff of the utmost benefit to the Colony. The truth is, that unless the defeat of the Ministry had been certain, it would have been. Bheer folly for any Protectionist to join in badgering Sir Harry. I fancy the Opposition would have declined to submit to a whip for Mr Mackenzie's amendment, had any such, been tried. [fkom our own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Mat 17. THE IiOAN BILL. A COMPREHENSIVE KETURN. In accordance with his usual practice, Mr Barron is moving* for a return showing the expenditure in everyffifth year since 1860, on account of salary and allowances to the Governor, and the maintenance of the Governor's house; the salaries of Cabinet Ministers, travelling and other expenses of such Ministers, the maintaining of Ministerial residences. Legislative Council, House of Representatives, and the Department of the Colonial Government of New Zealand. SCHOOIi INSPECTION REFORM. This subject, which was considerably discussed during the last election campaign, is being taken up by Mr J. G. Wilson, in the direction of making all School Inspectors officers under the General Government, instead of* as at present servants of the various' Boards. Mr Wilson, I understand, is desirous of having the appointments rotary, and the- use of one set of books throughout the Colony, and he will move .for the insertion of a clause in Major Steward's Educational Franchise Bill to carry out his ideas. STATE IMMIGRATION. MoreStateinunigration pamphlet 3 having been received ; by members of the House from a member? of the Imperial Parliament, on the subject of State aided immigration, Mr Macarthur ihas given notice to ask the • Government •wjhether any reply has been ; made to the i letter of Her Majesty's '

Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated Sept. 1, 18S7, covering a scheme of immigration to the Colonies, proposed by Mr Henry Kimber, M.P. ; and if bo, the date of such reply, and whether the Minister will furnish a copy thereof. PROTECTION. "With the view, probably, of having all possible information, on the subject of Protection before the House, pending the delivery of the Financial Statement, Mr Peldwick has asked the Colonial Treasurer to lay on the table of the House the report presented to him by the Conference of Delegates of Protection Leagues recently held in Wellington. COPYRIGHT. Mr TV. P. Reeves has given notice of his intention to ask the Premier whether he will take steps to remove the injustice suffered at present by New Zealand authors and publishers of books containing printed matter only, seeing that such book cannot be registered under the New Zealand Copyright Act. STAMP DUTY. . An important reform is being asked for by Mr Samuel, who is desirous of knowing from the Government whether they will introduce amendments of the Stamp Duties Act, so as to exempt from advalorcm duty conveyances on the sale of property not within the Colony of New Zealand, and also so <i 3to exempt from stamp duty all Native Lands succession orders granted previously to Dec. 31, 18S5, duty on which has not been paid, and which affect lands which have been dealt with since the granting thereof. IMPORTATION OF STOCK. The reply of the Minister of Lands to Mr O'Callaghan's question to-day as to the opening of our ports for the importation of stock having been unfavourable, that gentleman is bringing the matter forward in another form. He is urging on the Government to reconsider the question, as he considers the position to be very unsatisfactory at present, stockowners being kept in doubt about what action they must take in ordering stock from Home.