PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 9138, 15 June 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[ By Electbic Tbleghuph. ] i (fkom oob s,p|cial cobrespondent.) Wellington, June 14. The Government have expressed a desire- that the Auditor-General should put in force the powers vested in the Audit Office by the Public Revenues Act to recover £300 paid) Mil Rfe'eS/ a late member, for professional services rendered on the responsibility of the Ministers of the Crown, but the AuditorGeneral says he cannot proceed against Mr Rees, and points out that Mr Best, cashier of the Treasury, is the only person responsible, and adds that, as it would be manifestly unfair to hold that officer responsible, the only course open by which the cashier can be relieved of the debt are — (I) By Parliament voting the]money ; (2) by recovering the money, under the process indicated in the 20th and succeeding portions of the Public Revenues Act, from one or all of the late Ministers, and paying it into the credit of Mr Best's imprest account. So much for another of the many queer legacies left by Grey and Sheehan ! The Public Works Statement is expected to' be made in A fortnight, and will have to be made without the assistance of the Report of .the Railway Commission, which will riot be ready for a month. Mr Bryce will deliver himself of what he has to say on Native Affairs when moving the second readings of Native Bills introduced by the Government, making, however, no formal Native Statement. Rumours are current that the Government is uot unwilling to reduce the beer tax, and make up the deficiency by the reimposition of tea and sugar duties ; but there is no truth in the report. Judging by the legislative work that is being forced on by Ministers, there is every probability of ,a short session. Nothing further has transpired regarding Vogel's reported resignation. It is pretty .well understood that, if the Government endeavour to effect a reduction in the Civil Service expenditure by abolishing offices and dispensing with officers, they will enconnter very stormy opposition from members who are personal friends of the officers, and Government are therefore still undecided as to how to overcome the difficulty,