POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1847, 30 August 1906, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

the chairman sin i- ue

COMM LTTE US,

(Special to Times.) Wellington, last night. Now that tho Government havo nominated. Mr .Roderick MoKonzio for tho Chairmanship of Uommittoos his election is practically assured. Up till half-past two o’clock yesterday afternoon Sir Win. Steward, it is understood, was certain that ho would bo elected, and if_tko .Government whips were not applied ho would probably still poll a majority of tho votes. Tho Ministry having' declared for Mr McKenzie, however, will change a considerable number of votes that otherwise would havo gone to Sir Win. Steward. Tho latter at present is in-

clinod to contest the position, and no

doubt it ho does ha will t'oeoivo a siderable measuro of support, It would appear that the (Government from a party point of view adopted the best way out of a difficult situation, as Mr K. McKen/.ie had he not been placated in some way would have beau a thorn in the side of the Ministry, and also from his knowledge of the standing orders aud his. courageous persistence in debating points of order, a terror to any weak or incompetent Chairman.

THE JSUDGET AND PEEFEEENTIAL TARIFF. A member of the Government party who says that he has accurate informa* tion iuforms me that New Zealand has

got much the worst of the deal in the tariff arrangement with tho Commonwealth. When Sir Joseph Ward rose in the house last eyening to deliver his Budget speech there was a good attendance of members, but the galleries, owing probably to a rainy night, were not so full as usual, Tho ladies’ gaß lery in particular was not so full. As no Chairman of Committees has as yet been appointed Sir Joseph Ward moved that Mr McKenzie take the chair for that sitting. Someone interjected “ Mr Tkos. McKenzie i and a hearty laugh went round the Chamber. Mr Roderick McKenzie,

however, quickly found himself iu the chair, and having called upon Sir Joseph Ward, the latter, after a cordial round of applause, at once plunged into a mass of figures regarding the financial operations for the year. There was a “ Hear, hear ” from the leader of the Oppositiou when Sir Joseph Ward said that the increase of over £200,000 in the net debt of the colony for the year was undoubtedly a

large sum. There were quite a number of “ Fear, hears ” at the announcements regarding the muchneeded improvements in our defence system There were also a few “ Hear, hears ” when the Premier announced that four ounce 'inland letters would be charged only one penny as from November next. The declarations in regard to the radical alterations in the land laws wore receivod

with a good deal of surprise. The reading of the Budget occupied a few minutes over an hour.

Ia reply to the leader of the Opposition the Premier said he would take the debate on tho Budget on Friday or Tuesday next, whichever would meet the wishes of lion, members. There being a demand for Tuesday, Sir Joseph Ward agreed to that date. THE GOVERNMENT WHIP HE REFUSES TO ACT.

For a considerable number oi years Mr Flatman has worked very hard for the Liberal Government, lately in the capacity of senior whip, but his sorvices hava been passed over, first of all in the formation of the new Ministry, now in connection with the Chairmanship of Committoos. Mr Flatman is naturally somewhat sore at the turn of events, and yesterday addressed a letter to the Government refusing to act as their whip. It is understood also that another prominent member who has been a staunch Government supporter for many years has intimated to the leader of the Opposition that for the future the Government caunot count upon his support. A third Government supporter, hailing from the North, is also voicing his opinion somewhat strongly in private.

AD YE BSE OPINIONS, Mr Arnold, representing the Labor party, expresses dissatisfaction with the Budget in several respects, but is very pleased with the leasehold policy of the Ward Government, Mr Butherford, leader of the country party, says the land proposals do not give satisfaction, and will be stoutly opposed. LEADED OF OPPOSITION INTEL. VIEWED.

Hr Massey, after hearing the Budget read, said : There are several proposals in the statement of which I thoroughly . approve. For mstauc9, that with regard to placing the wholo of the departments in rogard to revenue as well as expenditure under the control of the audit department. The Opposition have struggled for this for years, and X am delighted at the admission that wo wore right, and that the Government have at last come round to our way of thinking. Tho samo with the schc-mo for annuities. We have advocated something of the sort on many occasions, and our sup port will go to both proposals. So with regard to the proposals to sot aside sinking funds in connection with certain loans, and the extension of the telephone system. Iho land proposals

are somewhat, complicated, and I am not quite certain that I have got hold of the whole or tho details, but one thing appears to bo fairly established, and that Crown tenants will for all time be under tho control of the Government. If that is what is proposed, and I believe I am right, then I have no hesitation in saying that on the ordinary Crown lauds of the colony successful settlement will in the future be iropoisiblo. The best settlers will not take up second-class bush land unless they can look forward to the freehold. The laud proposals are the most important of all the statements in the Budget, and to me they are extremely disappointing. Before they are consented to by Parliament there should be another election. Such new aud radical changes as are proposed should first be placed before the electors.

NATIVE LAND COURT JUDGES. Tho appointments of the four new Judgas of the Native Land Oomt have been made. The n6W Judges are : Messrs W. Eawsoo, solicitor (Wellington), and C. E. McCormick, solicitor (luckiand), and Messrs E. 0. Sim and J. M. Brown, Registrar of the Native Land Court at '-

Wellington nnil Anokluud respectively. Tho salary of MoaarH Buwsou and Mo-. Oormiok ia to bo J 3500 a your, whilst that of tbo other now Judges ia jG-100 ft year.

Mr Jackson Palmor, who has boon noting an Judge ot tko Nativo Land Court for soma time, baa boon appointed Okiof Judgo of that Court in suooeanion to Mr Seth Smith, who hast boon appointed pots munout prosidont of tho Nativo Appellate Court. Tho Appollato Court, whilo it will consist aa hitherto of two inomhota, will in futuro bo an ontiroly separate body, and tho moinbors of it will ooniino thomaolvoa lo appollato work. Major Mail' will probably bo tho othor Appollato judge. Thoro will now bo sovon Judgos avai.lablo for tho woik of tho Nativo Land Court, and it ia expected that tho strengthoning of tho 11 or oh will enable a groat deal of tho arroars i f work to bo overtaken before tho end of tho present year. '.L’bo Nativo Minister informs mo that tho allocation of tho circuits has not yet boon dooided upon. It ia understood that Mr Holland, at pr - sent doputy Registrar at Auckland, will succeed Mr Brown na Registrar. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAIR-

MAN. Tbo Legislative Council this afternoon ronlootod tho Hon. It. H. J ■ Hooves (Nolson) Chairman of Committees. Tho candidates wore: Hons. Mossrs Itiovos, W. C Smith, Hawke's Bay (a formor chairman), H. Foldwiok (Otago), W. M Bolt (Olago), and J. lvigg (Wellington). Tho names left in tho final ballot were Messrs Roovos and Smith, tbo former gaining tbo position by 14 votes to 12.