POLITICAL ITEMS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1221, 24 July 1885, Page 3

POLITICAL ITEMS.

(Through our Exchanges),

The “Evening Star correspondent says ; —On my mentioning to Mr Stout to' day that there were appearances of the session being brought to a close within six weeks, he shook his head, and ‘ said, significantly “ We have plenty of measures yet, and are not to be hurried. Why, Major Atkinson suggested that we should take away one private member’s day per week, bub we decline to do so.”

MrPyke’s motion re nominated immigration is likely to be opposed by the Govern, ment.

Mr Hobbs’s Gaming and Lotteries Bill passsed through Committee without amendment, was read a third time, and passed ; but it is anticipated that serious opposition will be raised to it in the Legislative Council.

Mr Dargaville has given notice of his intention to move a new clause in the Licensing Amendment Bill by establishing as uniform throughout the Colony 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. as the hours within which a publican’s license shall authorise him to do business.

Mr Hobhs has given notice that when in Committee on the Local Bodies’ Powers and finance Bill he will move an addition to the first schedule that L 3 to LI shall be paid by way of subsidy to all local bodies in country districts where roads are not metalled and when their rates do not exceed L 250 per annum. The Charitable Aid Bill is likely to cause considerable trouble to the Government. A caucus of Canterbury members was held, at which the feeling was shown to be against the measure, and it was informally agreed to endeavour to induce the Government to withdraw it in favor of embracing endowments ou a system similar to that of Mr Stevens’ Bill, which was passed in the House of .Representatives in 1879, but was lost in the Council. The feeling against the Bill was bo strong that several powerful Canterbury Ministerialists said they would go into Opposition rather than support it. It was shown that in respect of the boroughs of Sydenham and St, Albans, the charitable aid subsidies would more than swamp the general vote. Mr Pyke pointed out that the amount of subsidies to he granted could not be awarded in Committee. He would make this proposition to the Government: That they should adjourn the debate to enable their friends to see whst proposals they could to put their Pills, into proper shape. The towns would bo suddenly called upon to make a threepenny rate if this Bill wore

adopted. He agreed with the proposal that all parts of the community should contribute, but he believed that many of the sick and maimed drifted from the town into the country. The Otago Benevolent Institution bad in the past got £ for s, but if the subsidy would now only be 10s for £1 the result would be the closing of the doors of that place. The Otago Board would consist of twenty mayors, ten chairmen of county councils, and ten Government nominees. Forty men would thns be called together merely to deal out charitable aid. This seemed to hies to be a bit of farce. He could have understood it if they were entrusted with anything like local government functions. He stated bis intention of endeavouring in Committee to secure justice for the Central Otago district. He recognised that under this measure voluntary subscriptions would cease. In his reply on the Local and Finance Bill Sir J. Vogel gave the following interesting statistics regarding Now Zealand’s financial position:—He had taken out the balance sheet showing the actual position of the Colony, which was said to be overburdened with debt. The assets on March 31, 1883, were : Real property, exclusive of Maori land, LI 10,000,000; personal property, L 64,000,000 ; public works, including railways, telegraphs, harbor works, etc. (an under-estimate), L 16,000,000. That made the total amount of assets to be L 181,000,000. The debt of the Colony in 1883 was 127.785,000, and the local bodies owed L4,197,000j foreign mortgages amounted to L15,000.0C0, and debts outside the Colony amounted to L 7,000,000, making in all L 54,000,000, leaving a surplus balance to the wealth of the Colony of L 127,000,000. The average wealth was L 227 per head, making this Colony almost the wealthiest country in the world. Great Biitaiu’s wealth per inhabitant was L 249 ; France’s, L2lB ; Germany’s, Ll4O ; Russia’s, L 53 ; Austria’s, L 95. The Australian 0010 ■ nies-are put down at L 197, New South Wales leading with L 231, and New Zealand was 'put down at L 205. But the statement he had made was absolutely correct.

The State Currency Bill, which Mr Brown aaßed leave to introduce to-day, will not be printed or circulated for some days. So far as Government payments are concerned, it is intended tint in future these shall be made by notes instead of by cheque. These State notes will be convertible a'id be a legal tenter within the Colony, but the issue is not to exceed a year’s revenue. Five per. cent, per annum will be payable every six months. Thus, if aLI note be issued in January, on July 1 it will he worth LI 0s 6d It is not proposed to do business aa a bank, and the hop, member introducing the measure thinks that hanking institutions wilnot therefore think the new arrangement an infringement of their rights. Under the Bill the Government, at their agencies, will be prepared to buy gold at the rate of L 3 18s an ouuce, or 3s more than can at present be obtained for colonial gold. The gold will then bo smelted and assayed, after which it will be converted into bai s, and people wanting to leave the Colony can get these in place of notes if they so desire. There is now not the slightest doubt that Major Atkinson is unwilling to take office this session The proceedings in the House last night clearly showed that he was striving to sustain the Government, whose weakness is generally admitted. The “ Evening Star” correspondent says : From the report of the debate on the Charitable Aid Bill, it will be seen that the Government, in deference, no doubt, to the determined attitude of their Canterbury supporters, have made considerable alterations in the principles of the measure. As I mentioned yesterday, the Canterbury members had threatened to withdraw their allegiance it the Bill was not altered or withdrawn.