POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3747, 19 July 1883, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[by telegraph.]

[from our own correspondent.]

AVellington, This day.

Hawke's Bay Avas to the fore yesterday on v discussion in reference to charitable institutions. Many pleasant things Avero said

about your hospital, and the manner in Avhich the people contributed to its support. At the same time exception was taken as to the manner of the distribution of the Government aid, Christchurch and Dunedin apparently receiving largo amounts from the Government, and the inhabitants thereof contributing little or nothing. It was strongly urged that the charities should be placed in the hands of the local bodies, if we Avanted them to be thoroughly efficient, tho Government granting a fixed subsidy dependent on the amount raised locally, this plan, so it was said, having worked well in Victoria. That Avould be news to Aletorians. Over there the cry is for the Government to take the charities into their oavii hands, as the abuses in connection with them are frightful. A race of professional committee men have sprung up, and in the small towns the local committee men take all sorts of care they supply tho stores, sometimes without the formality of even calling for tenders. A long discussion ensued on a proposal to make the Government responsible for the mistakes committed at elections by returning officers. This afforded Mr Smith an opportunity of detailing in connection Avith the returning officer for WaipaAva. A general laugh was also got out of the fact that a Minister objected to the fourth clause of a three clause bill, and proceeded to dilate on that subject till recalled to his mistake by the roars of the House.

Then Sir George Grey's Constitution Bill Avas thrown out by a big majority. It is a pity to see an able man introducing so many measures Avith the hackneyed expressions, (( This is a most important measure," " will be for the welfare of New Zealand," and " Avill rebound to our credit in future generations." That is very pretty, but too often repeated, and a. hen the hearers know what is coming it is monotonous. I can sympathise Avith a man;) with a fad, but not Avith one who tries to make every sub-iec-fche touches a fad. You see my personal fad is that I mado a narroAV escape from having a decent handAvriting, but I have got" cured of that. Reading my telegrams in type has cured me of that Aveakncss. SomehoAV the words seem to got slightly changed in tho transmitting. Of course my handwriting is to blame, but it has cured my fad, and so I am thankful.