PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2009, 2 August 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[Br Tbleoeaph.]

[kbom otjb own cobbbspondbht.] WELLINGTON, July 31,

There is no particular Native news to-day, the arrest of another quartette of fencers being no novelty. The Hinemoa is now on the way to New Plymouth to piok up prisoners. She is going round by the North via Whangarei, but by coaling at Kawakawa she will save nearly the whole cost of the trip. The "Times" this morning says that the Public Works Statement will be brought down on Monday, but I am assured that this is very improbable, as it is not at all likely to be ready earlier than Tuesday, as I telegraphed before. The Estimates now being all practically dealt with excepting the Public Works Department, which of course follows the Publio Works Statement, the Government will proceed at once with the various Revenue Bills, including a Bill to amend the Property Assessment Act, 1879, by introducing the modifications announced in the Financial Statement, namely the exemption of personal effects from the property tax and a simplification in favor of the returns required. The Beer Bill also will be proceeded with at once, as also the Rating Amendment and Local Publio Works Bills.

I hear that the investigations of the Commission appointed to report on the Government printing establishment have brought to light instances of reckless and culpable waßte on the part of certain Government Departments. For instance, there has been outrageouß extravagance in the printing of forms, which are turned out by thousands, and often so careleßßly drawn up at starting as to require reprinting more than once, the condemned ones being useless except for waste paper, of which an enormous quantity is exported yearly, consisting almost entiroly of these spoiled forms. It is stated that all this labor and material is sometimes wantonly sacrificed by the Government officers for the most trumpery and inadequate reasons. In one case it is alleged that 25,000 forms which had been printed at considerable expense, were rejeoted and condemned to the wastepaper bales merely because they were printed by mistake on blue instead of white_ paper. Sometimes expensive returns are printed in full, although only three copies can possibly be wanted. So far as the actual management and working of the Printing Offiee itself is concerned, I understand that the investigations of the Commission have resulted most favorably for Mr Didsbury and his subordinates.

The Representation Bill is still in the hands of the Solicitor-General, but some authentic particulars to be obtainable next week. Statements that have hitherto found publication are merely gueßses.