PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1989, 9 July 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[By Tbx.bqea.ph.] [PBOM OUE OWN COHBBBPONDBHT.] WBLLINGTON, July 8, Very little was done in the House to-day ; only private members’ business, and that of an Uninteresting nature. There was a iong and dreary debate this evening on Mr Hutchison's Chinese Immigration Bill. Dr. Wallis was remarkably complimentary to the Chinese, whom he appeared to think the Europeans in many respects might advantageously imitate. The whole affair, however, is dreadfully tedious. It is understood that the debate on the estimates will be resumed to-morrow, and that Ministers will then bo prepared to announce their intentions generally as to departmental reductions. I believe it will be proposed to effect a complete amalgamation of the head office of the Postal and Telegraph Departments, so far as regards the management at headquarters, the two being under one permanent head and one staff. This will produce a considerable saving, and whereevor practicable a similar plan will be adopted in country towns and villages. It is fully expected that this will elicit strong opposition on the part of places which will be the subjects of this retrenchment, but it is absolutely necessary, this being one of the most prominent extravagancies, I believe also that a large reduction will be made in the vote for volunteering purposes ; in fact that this expense will be almost done away with, excepting in the disturbed districts of the North Island. The extra capitation allowance of 10s, under the education vote, is, I hear, likely to be discontinued, and savings made in other respects to a total amount of some £32,000. It is a matter of firm policy with Ministers not to interfere with the present education system in the direction of reducing the efficiency, limiting the scope, or making it lees free. On those points they are quite resolute, but the necessity of economy in this very large and increasing item is recognised, and will bo acted upon. I understand to the extent above indicated, the present cost of inspection and departmental administration in regard to education is deemed altogether excessive, and reductions will be made so far as possible in these respects, rather than in curtailing the salaries of teachers already none too largo. The Teachers’ Pension Eund scheme appears to meet with as universal condemnation among the members of the House as it has throughout the colony. .It is looked upon as a complete farce and worse than useless. This measure is not at fll likely to come on this session. I hear that a reduction is talked of in the meteorological vote, also that it is proposed to amalgamate the weather reporting department, over which Captain Edwin so ably presides, and which he in fact has wholly founded, with the regular meteorological department under Dr Hector, which only records statistics. I fancy this will bo opposed, as Captain Edwin’s work has boon directly valuable, and practically so, to the colony, while the sister department has merely compiled a vast mass of observations which may or may not be useful, are of little practical value to the country, and a luxury which might be out down, if not dispensed with, for the present. Captain Edwin has achieved remarkable success in weather prediction, not so much through all his storm warnings being realised as in the much more important respect that not 1 per cent, of all our storms has come on without warnings being givan by him. So I expect to see this proposal considerably criticised, if not negatived. It has been ascertained that a rigid allround reduction of 10 per cent, would press very hard on some officers, such as those in the stamp department, involving an absolute reduction in salaries to that extent, while in some other offices, such as the Public Works, the whole 10 per cent, could probably be saved out of contingencies and allowances, leaving the actual salaries untouched. Special attention will be called in the House to this anomaly. I have reason to believe that the full report of the West Coast Native Commission will be laid on the table early next week. I learn that it is an enormously bulky document, containing an analysis of all tho proceedings of the Native offices in connection with West Coast affairs during the last twenty years. It is rumoured this evening that Mr Oliver will probably make his Public Works Statement on Tuesday evening next. Both Bngi-neers-in-Ohief and both Commissioners of Railways are now in Wellington and hard at work preparing returns, &0., and it is reported that some information has been obtained from the Public Works Commission as to tho direction which tho recommendations in their coming report will take, so as to guide tho Government in preparing tho statement.