POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2594, 31 July 1882, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

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[FBOit THE “ PBB08.”] WELLINGTON, July 29. The Colonial Treasurer has presented a return showing the cost of the Colonial Government offices in liondou, famished by the Agent-General. The comparative totals are as follows : —Canada, £6593; New South Wales, £4250; Victoria, £4775 ; South Australia, £4198 ; Queensland, £4833 ; New Zealand, £3395. Of these totals the Agents-General (or in ease of Canada the High Commissioner) are paid as follows : Canada, £2BOO ; New South Wales, £2260; Victoria, £2OOO j South Australia £ISOO, and assistant £500; Queensland, £1500; New Zealand, £1250. The public petitions committee havedeolined to make any recommendation on the petition of the Dunedin Freethought Association that no alteration be made in present unseotarian system of education in public schools. With reference to the petitions of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association of Auckland and of several other petitioners, who pray respectively—(l), that the Licensing Act may be amended ; (2), that it may have a fair trial and remain for a time unaltered; (3), that it be not amended; (4), that it be amended, the committee state that as the matter is under consideration of the House, they deem it unnecessary to make any recommendation. The same committee also reported to-day on petitions (I) of the Auckland brewers, (2) of the Otago brewers, (3) Nelson brewers, all praying that the beer duty may be repealed. The committee oon. eider that as the question is one of public policy, it would nob be proper that they should make any recommendation to the House on the subject. That much vexed question, the removal of the Native Land Court Offices from Auckland to Wellington, is the subjaofc of a report from the Native Affairs Committee.

On Friday Mr J. A. Tole and 403 other! petitioned “ That the House will use its host endeavors to prevent the proposed removal from being carried out.” The committee decline to express any opinion because the subject matter ot the petition must come up for discussion in Parliament, The Select Committee on tho Trustees Executors Agenoy Company Bill report teat they have conridered the question of the “ expediency,” as directed by the House, and find the same proved. The Council of the Law Societies, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, having petitioned Parliament not to pass Sir G. Grey’s Law Practitioners Bill, the public petitions committee refuse to make any recommendation because the subject is still under the consideration of tho House.

An important return was presented on Friday by the Minister for Public Works (it having been moved for by tir J. Hall), showing the apportionment between the respeotive provincial districts of the amount appropriated out of loan for the last financial year. Those amounts are as follows, shillings and pence omitted : Appropriations Auckland, £381,725; Hawke's Bay, £54 976; Weilington, £162,626 ; Taranaki, £120,999 ; Nelson, £76,41.8 ; Marlborough, £41,022 ; Canterbury, £273,911; Westland, £73 742 ; Otago, £380,713. The following was the respeotive expenditure during the year: Auo'< land, £201,264; Hawke’s Bay, £15,362; Wellington, £84.335 ; Taranaki, £32,154 ; Nelson, £29.145; Marlborough, £14,592; Canterbury, £124,423; Westland, £63,424; Otago, £181,761. The liabilities on March 31st were—Auckland, £98,135; Hawke’s Bay, £26 276; Wellington, £64,231; Taranaki, £29,680; Nelson, £30,776; Marlborough, £12,792; Canterbury, £68,769; Westland, £15,532 ; Otago, £187,719. Mr Pilliot’a letter to Mr Hubbard is republished in extenso by both the local papers. The “ Times ” to-day comments on it as follows : —“ The letter from Mr Pilliet, member for Stanmore, to one of bis constituents, published in one of the Christchurch papers, and ro-produoed in our columns to-day, gives an astonishingly correct view of the condition and prospects of the Opposition. It says not a little for Mr PiUict’s shrewdness that he was able immediately on his arrival to gnage the political situation so accurately, end it says still more for his courage that he so resolutely withstood tho solicitations with which be appears to have been plied to aid the Opposition in attemp s to displace the Ministry without a leader having first of all been agreed upon, and his Courage has in fact been greater than appears upon the surface. Beading this letter between the it is perceivable enough that his constituents have been communicated with for the purpose of arousing their prejudices against him and constraining him perforce of popular displeasure to vote contrary to his conviction. This species of occult endeavor to subject a man to the sway of terrorism cannot be too strongly condemned, and strictly viewed is a most reprehensible violation of Parliamentary privilege. The obvious rule which all honorable men are bound to observe is to allow every member to act according to his sense of responcibility, and to account to the constituents at the proper time for the course he deemed it his duty to take. Mr Pilliet is deserving of all honor for his resolutely putting down bis foot on all encroachments on his liberty; and while not committing himself to the Ministry, to make it plain to all observers, either in Parliament or elsewhere, that be will not be a more tool of dictation, or lend himself to the carrying on of tactics which in his opinion would only terminate in political (chaos. If we were at all disposed to find fault with Mr Pilliet, we might refer to his apparent inconsistency in first declaring for measures and not men, and then avowing hia willingness to follow an universally recognised leader of the Opposition, whithersoever he would, without respect to policy ; but wo take it for granted that he meant, though be does not say it, that along with the leader he would demand measures also, as the conditions of his support. At all events he has for the present given ample proof of his independence and of his determination not to allow himself to be bullied by parties whose sole estimate of a person’s rectitude is based upon his yielding to their coercion.” The “ Post ” eays— “ The letter written by Mr Pilliet to one of his Stanmore oenstituents, and publicised in our last issue, has excited a good deal of attention os undoubtedly giving a very shrewd and accurate view of the disorganisation of tho Opposition. It is to bo hoped it may have tho effect of stirring up the leaders of the latter side to rectify the unsatisfactory condition of affairs so pungently described by Me Pilliet. July 30

Political affairs are very quiet since the conclusive defeat of the Opposition on Friday evening. The Native Reserves Bill was the Opposition’s last hope, and even to the last they were sanguine of defeating the Government on it with the aid of Ministerial deserters. A majority of six for Ministers was thorefore a final blow to their hopes for this session, perhaps even for this Parliament. At any rate their single chance lies in those Occidents which in politics or in cricket often reverse the fortunes of the day, and decide the fate of the game. At present there seems little prospect of such a fortuitous intervention on their behalf. Accordingly their cry is on all hands, “ Finish the session as quickly as possible, and let us to our homes.” You may remember that in the first trial of strength (last Wednesday week) Mr Seddon distinctly challenged the Government to take a stand on the Native Reserves Bill, and plainly expressed his conviction that they dared not because they knew they would be beaten. Consequently Friday night’s division was a fatal blow. It is understood that Mr Bryce was very anxious to accept the challenge on the Native Reserves Bill lust Monday, but was persuaded to test the House on 3upply first. The result proves tho prudence of the step. It is stated that Messrs J. Buchanan, Pilliot, Driver and Sutton will vote against any future attempt this session to displace the Government, on the ground that the Opposition is unable to form any stable Ministry even in the improbable case of beating, the Government, therefore such a course would be utterly useless. I hear from prominent members of Opposition that there is now not the slightest chance of a no-confidence motion this session, as they are too weak and disorganised to attempt it. The general belief is that another month will finish the session.

On Wednesday next Mr Wynn Williams will ask the Government whether they intend to take any steps for the purpose of arranging an extradition treaty with the neighboring colonies so as to remedy the evils arising from a want of power to arrest absconding debtors, as shown in the case of Harges, who was arrested at Adelaide and released by the magistrate. Mr Barron will aak the Government on Tuesday whether they will enforce sections

112, 113, and 114 of the Debtors and Creditors Aot, 1876, “so that these interested as creditors in bankrupt estates may have a more reasonable expectation of ultimately sharing in the proceeds of such estates than they now hare.” Whether they will also endeavor to enforce section 209 of that Act, “to that trustees may under its provisions bo relieved of unclaimed dividends, or the other undivided surplus or money the produce of such estates ” Upon the following Tuesday the same_ hon. member is to move for a return showing the names of all trustees appointed under the Act, and the names of those who have not filed balance-sheets and statements or paid over to the Colonial Treasurer eny unclaimed or undivided surplus in accordance with tbe requirements of the Aot. The gross receipts from railways for the quarter ended 30th nit. were approximately £260.000, or at the rate of £1,070,000 per annum. The net profits were opproximstely £115,000, being tt the annual rate of £160,000. This vary closely approaches 5 per cent, on the cost.

The following item from the Wellington correspondent of the Dunedin organ of the Opposition, also shows the hopeless condition in which the disorganised party opposed to tbe Government are now placed :—“ The fact of the Government placing the Native Reserves Bill high upon the order paper on Friday afternoon indicated that they bad secured a majority. This was verified when the division came on, and several members who bad spoken in forcible terms against the Bill were found among the “ayes.” Whan the doors were looked Mr Seddon made a scathing attack on members who had tpofcon one way and yet had made up their minds to vote another. Mr Pilliet was again found in the Government lobby, and Messrs Petrie and J. Buchanan supported the powers that be. Captain Sutter, a gentleman, who had been reckoned upon as a staunch member of the Opposition, voted for the Bill. There can be little doubt that the Government are safe for the session. They have acted with considerable tact, and have managed to estrange from the Opposition four or five of its quondam supporters. During the debate on the Native Reserves Bill it did not require much perspicacity to discern that the Ministry had a majority. The Treasurer’s face had a less sour appearance than usual, while the Minister of Mine* smiled complacently, and looked around the House with a self-satisfied air. The whips on both sides were busy gathering in their men, although the Opposition knew thot the fight was a hopeless one.