POLITICAL NOTES

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2823, 16 August 1890, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES

(BY TELEGRAPH—OWN COKKESI'ONDEST). Wellington , , Last Night. THE HUTCHISON CHARGES. Another meeting of tho Roporting and Debates Committee took place this morning to institute a comparison of Mr Hutchison's proof of his speech on the noconfidence debate with the Hansard reporters' original manuscript and the report of the speech as it now appears in Hansard. I understand that so far the committee have not met with any alterations in the speech which were not in their opinion justified. The committee are to meet again on Tuesday THE VAILE SYSTEM. A lengthy discussion took place this afternoon on the report of the Select Committee appointed to consider several petitions praying for the adoption of the Vaile system of low rates on the railways of the colony. The committee reported as follows :—"Your cotnniitteo has had before it two issues for consideration, namely, the repeal of the Government Railways Act of 1887, and also the unconditional adoptien of a stage system of fares as applied to the passenger traffic advocated by Mr Vaile. The Comir.ittou is of opinion that the repeal of the Railway Board Act of 1887 is a large measure of colonial policy, involving a diversity of interests, and should, therefore, be dealt with by the House ; that the railways, being now by Act under the complete control/ of the Railway Commissioners, they are the best judges as to the proper method of working and managing, and therefore the committee recommend that all the petitions be referred to the Commissioners fin , their consideration." Mr Thompson, of Auckland North, moved that the report be referred back to the committee for the purpose of getting Mr Vaile to give evidence, but it was contended out that Mr Vaile had been before a previous committee of the House and his scheme was found to be impracticable at present. Mr Thompson's motion was negatived after a long debate.

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASK. Some light was thrown tins afternoon mi a case that has been brought before the House on many occasions by Mr Verrall. the member for Ashley. It arose by a question which Mr Verrall put to the Minister for Justice, as to whether he would give directions to Mr Graham to carry out immediately the recommendations of the A. toL. Committee on Mr C. W. Ell's petition, and to report as soon as he has sufficient evidence to decide whether any of the serious charges made by Mr Ell are true Mr Venall urged at some length that farther enquiry should be held into Mr Ell's case. dipt. Russell in replying went fully into this question, ami explained that the matter had been already enquired into by Mr Justice • Connoily before he became a judge, and he (Capt. Russell) was afraid that Mr Ell would not be satisfied with any amount cof enquiry into his case, hut the law courts of tho colony were still open to him, and the Government cmld do nothing further in the case. Mr Vm-nil! then moved the adjournment of the Ho ise, nnd a considerable delvite followed. During the discussion Mr Seymour, the chairman of the I'nblic Petitions Committee, explained that the reason why a debt of £211) appeared to have amounted up to £r>,"2,S was that Mr Ell had an arrangement with a Mr Nathan, by which he (Vlr Ell) borrowed sums of monev, for each of which Ell gave a prommissory note for double the amount for three months, and oO per cent after the next three months was charged. Mr Sevmnur went on to state that when Mr Nathan died a written agreement was found, and under it KU was proved to owe Nathan's estate £S,"AS, for an original advance of about £200. Several members urged that this glaring caso of usury should ceitainly be nnquirp.il into. Mr Thompson, the member f<.r Marsdeti, thought it was no use holding an enquiry, seeing that Nathan had evidently died of a guilty conscience. Captain Russell said that his opinion, on the contrary, was that he had died of a broken heart as he did not get Ins money. The Minister again stated that he would be most hippy to afford another enquiry for Mr Ell, if he thought it would satisfy him, but ho felt sure it would not. The matter then dropped. MR FISH'S ECOXOMV. The member for Dunedin South in his newly-awakened //sal for economy has been putting all sorts of questions to Ministers, m order to ferret out some special acts of extravagance on their part. Mr Fish's desire this afternoon was to elicit some information respecting the Ministerial residence on the Tinakme road, now occupied by Capt. Russell and his family. He asked the Government why that lesidence had not been aold, in accordance with the resolution of the House? What was the amount lealised by tho partial sale of the furuirure, and what became of the unsold portion ? And, further, has the house sinco been refurnished, and, it so, at whose cost. Capt. Russell said the reason tho properly was not sold was because when tenders were called no offer of any kind had been received. Tenders were also called for the furniture, but only £200 or £300 was offered, and it was sold for .£-1900. He said he could assure the member for Dunedin South that tha residence had been refurnished with a due regard for economy, as he (Capt Russell) had paid for the furniture himself.