PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2019, 13 August 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[By Tbbegbaph.J

Ifbom oub own ooebespondknt.] WELLINGTON, August 12. The reductions at present being made in the Civil Service on all salaries are carried out strictly on the ten per cent, scale all round, and have taken effect from August Ist, pensions being included. This will be wholly irrespective of the saving which is hoped to he effected during the recess by amalgamation, consolidation, and reorganisation generally. There is much dissatisfaction at such large reductions being made on small salaries, but Ministers consider themselves bound to take this course. Still greater dissatisfaction exists at the ten per cent, reduction applying to pensions, which is condemned as amounting to distinct repudiation of contract and gross breach of faith with the pensioners. Members now seem quite determined not to remain in Wellington longer than the end of the current mouth. At the same time it is quite impossible to get through the indispensable business by that time unless it is rushed through unconsidered. The report of the Commissioners appointed to investigate the ciroums.anoes connected with the death of the prisoner, John Wilson, in the Invercargill gaol, about which so much has been said, was sent in to the Governor to-day. The Report of the Commissioners (Messrs Strode and Simpson BM.) states that although the deceased prisoner had been entered on the books as a malingerer, he was not treated as one or forced to work when he complained of illness, but received kind and considerate treatment throughout, both from the officers _ of _ the gaol and the medical officer ; that while it is possible that, had he complained earlier, his life might have been somewhat prolonged, it could not have been saved. They acquit the medical officer of blame in not detecting the disease from which deceased was suffering, as unless he happened to be present during an actual paroxysm, its presence could not have been ascertained. The Commissioners, however, comment strongly on the fact that the Visiting Justices did not visit the gaol between January 27th and April 27th, and previously had not been there since September 1879. The Commissioners submit that this tended to open the door to laxity of discipline. Copious evidence accompanies the report. Mr Pyke’s Education Act Amendment Bill is just circulated, but of course stands not the remotest chance even of considerotion. It provides that in order to extend the benefits of the Act to elementary schools maintained by private bodies or individuals, every school conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act of 1877 and the regulations thereunder, in respect of the qualifications of teachers, course of instruction, attendance at school, and inspection by the Inspector of the Board of Education, shaikhs deemed a public s school within the meaning of the Act, and i every such school be entitled to receive the same capitation allowance as granted to the , public schools established under the Act; provided that no school shall be entitled to share

the funds unless the average number of pupils be twenty-five or more. On the motion of Mr Tole, the report of Mr Mitchie, Y. 8., on pleuro pneumonia has been laid on the table. The inspection relates entirely to Auckland, and shows conclusively that pleuro existed there in a_ very severe form, and had evidently been introduced from New South Wales, and that it would take some time and much trouble to eradicate it. Mr Mitchie says that there could not be a better man than Mr Naden to stamp out the disease. The Cattle Board are said to be working energetically in that direction.