LATEST POLITICAL NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1816, 29 July 1891, Page 3

LATEST POLITICAL NEWS.

[By Telegraph.] (From our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, July 28tb. After the supper adjournment on Friday night, A Deputation, consisting of Sir Geo. Grey, Messrs Fish, Rees, Taylor, M'Donald, Valentine, and others waited upon the Premier with the view of getting the Government to take into consideration the claims of Mr Farnell,of Auckland,aud the widow of the late Mr J. 0. Brown for some Compassionate Allowance from the State fov services rendered by Mr Farnell and the late Mr J. C. Brown,fche member for Tuapeka. The Premier, I understand, pointed out that he could not give any direct answer to the deputation of a satisfactory nature, as he recognised the difficulty of setting up a precedent; but suggested that in Mrs Brown's case a petition should be sent in at once, which would be dealt with by the Public Petitions Committee,and forwarded to the Government with their recommendation upon the matter. The Land Bill Debate. In my lust I told yon that the debate on the LuiJ BillVwas then i>iMciviling, and would, there is not the slightest doubt, have gone ou calmly to a finish wore it nor. for the barefaced j attempt made by tlio G-ovrriiiueuli to burke ■ discussion on one of the most important ( clauses of the Bill. > An adjournment was} asked for by the Opposition iv order to allow n number of their party nn opportunity of disouting the measure. This reasonable request rho Government Peremptorily Refused to grant, un.l decided t-> commit the Bill at oner. This high-handed treatment raised the dander of the Opposition ; and just as the S}>«aki"r \v.\% rising to put the question, the member for Tuapeka jumped up, determined to lur the further progress of the measure unless timn were allowed for its legitimate diacifcsion. For Three Solid Hours Mr Valentine gamely held to his purpose, and talked amid such :i lire of interruptions :tnd interjections and heated wrangles as I have never before witnessed in the House. At half-past two, the galleries were cleared and the reporters dislodged, on the'motion of Mr Fish, who raised the cry of stonewalling. Repeatedly while Mr Valentine spoke, the Speaker's attention was directed to the fact of a quotum not being present; but the moment the bell rang through the almost empty Chamber, there was an instant rush of Opposition members fr>)»i the direction of the lobbies and a count-out was saved. At four o'clock in the morning, Mr Valentiue sat down, and Mr Fergus Took Up The Running, the noise and the uproar becoming at times almost deafening. At times almost the entire Assembly were on their foot, wildly shouting and gesticulating ; and the Speaker was absolutely powerless to quell the storm or even make himself heard. At half-past five, the second reading of the Bill was carried, and shortly afterwards the House was counted out. Rather Peculiar. The Wellington and Ohristchurch Electric Lighting Bills were under discussion all this afternoon. Some curious divisions took place. The Wellington Bill was thrown out, it beiug introduced by Mr Ditthie, an Opposition member ; whibt the Ohristchurch Bill, introduced by a Government supporter, wus passed. Both Bills are said to be exactly of the same nature. More will yet be heard of this. The Stock Driving Bill, which provides precautions against sheepstealing by compelling persons driving stock aloug roads to have a certificate from the owner, which must be produced when called for, has passed all its stages in the Legislative Council, and been sent down to the House of Representatives. The local Press here unanimously condemn the | Raising of the Honorarium. It is considered that £50 a-month for three months, the average leugth of the session, is a very liberal remuneration, and should pay members well for their time. Among the majority of members themselves, the proposal has been joyously received, and will pass through both branches of the Legislature with flying colours. The Labour Members, it is understood, have strongly urged upon the Ministry to take the step, so as to enable them to devote themselves thoroughly to the interests of their constituents. There is not a single one of those gentlemen who could make half the money at his business *, and the fear is that such a tempting honorarium will create a class of professional politicians in the country. Mr Hamerton's Pension. The pension payable to Mr Hamerton, Public Trustee, on the lines suggested in the Public Accounts Committee's report, will be £150. Had it been calculated upon his period of service as Public Trustee as well, the amount would have been some £400. WAREPA FARMERS' CLUB. A meeting of the above named body was held in the schoolhouse, Warepa, on the 21st instant. There was a fair attendance of members ; the President (Mr W. Keys) in the chair. After disposing of the usual preliminary business, considerable discussion took place on the ADUL.TERATIOX OF 3UNURES BILL, Mr W. Christie said he approved of the measure with the exception of olauses 1 and 13, clause 1 rendering the bill inoperative this year, and clause 13 opening the door for the very frauds which it is desired to stop. He would move : " That Mr Mackenzie be written to thanking him for his efforts in aiding the farming .community, especially with regard to this bill, and calling his attention tothe above defects,"— Mr P. Ay son, who seconded the motion, concurred with Mr Christie's views, and considered the bill was very desirable in the interests of the farmers. — Several members also spoke in favour of the motion, which was carried. SMALL BIRD NUISANCE BILL. The Small Bird Nuisance Bill was next dealt with. Mr Christie remarked that the bill was very little altered from the Act of 1882, " majority of ratepayers " merely taking the plape of <{ threefourths." The tas proposed (l-32ndin the £) would raise a sum totally inadequate for the purpose designed, and if a poll had to be taken to levy the tax the large landowners who received little or no injury from the birds would outvote the small settlers. Again, if each riding only took the matter in hand, the efforts would be abortive, as the neighbouring one would do nothing. — Mr Slawson agreed with Mr Christie, and would also point out that by the bill only local bodies were empowered to lay poisoned grain. —The president agreed with the previous speakers, and thought the tax should be compulsory. — Mr Christie moved and Mr & Smith seconded : « That the club write to Mr Mackenzie with regard to the matter, and that the President, Mr J. Wright and the mover draw up the letter, with reasons." — Carried. - PLATFORM OF THE N. Z. LIBERAL ASSOCIATION. As Mr Christie was unprepared tfflead

I off a discussion ou the platform of the < New Zealand Liberal Association, it was I resolved to allow the matter to remain in abeyance till next meeting. DUKKDIN HARBOUR BOARD RATING. The President objected to the action of the Harbour Board in proposing a tax on the land. He thought that instead of countiy producers being taxed the merchants of the towns, who received the greatest benefits, should bear the weight of such an impost. The speaker, read a letter written by J. R. Scott to the Dunedin Harbour Board, which had appeared in the " Ofcago Daily Times," and said he agreed with everything it contained. As nothing definite had yet been done, they could do no more than call the attention of the various clubs to the matter. — Mr Slawson thought there were two sides to every question ; the president had taken one and he would say something about the other. He would ask, Was it io their benefit to encourage shipping to come to their ports ? If it is, they must consider the state of the Harbour. He knew that a lot of money had been spent in improving it, but he believed a lot was spent uselessly. If, on the other hand, the port was closed to large vessels they would have to \ depend on small coasters to get their ( produce away. If the Board were in j funds, would they not lower the present rates and thus encourage shipping ? He considered it was for the country to assist them. — Mr Christie reviewed Mr Slawson's arguments, and said that if the Board had the spending of all the money they could secure, they would sink it in the Upper Harbour. They already had a large source of revenue, and where did the money go ? He considered the export dues were tax enough on the country. If the motion of the Harbour Board were carried, why every other Harbour would be wanting a tax, and where would it stop? He moved: " That the various clubs be written to on the matter." — The President, in seconding the motion, compared this tax to a toll on a bridge in Londonderry, which was very galling to the townspeople, and they succeeded in getting a tax put on the country foe 10 miles round the city before the country people took any action, and when they did take action it was too late ; and so would this matter be if not looked into now. — Motion carried. I'JIEE CARRIAGE OP DAIRY PRODUCE. Mr P. Ayson called, attention to a motion by Mr O'Connor in the House of Representatives re free carriage of dairy produce on railways, land to be taxed to make up for any deficiency. He thought that this would only benefit the merchants and harass the farmers. — Messrs Christie and Slawson were of the same opinion, and it was agreed to write to the members for Clutha, Bruce, and ! Tuapeka on the matter. THE PROPOSED FARMERS? CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY. Mr Christie brought up the action of the Waitahuna Farmers' Club re part payment of expense of printing and distributing copies of the prospectus in connection with the proposed Farmers' Cooperative Society.— On the motion of the President, seconded by Mr Wright, it was agreed that the club bear part of the expense.