POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2609, 17 August 1882, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

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WELLINGTON, August 16. A return presented to Parliament to-night shows that the revenues of the various acclimatisation societies in the colony during the past year were respectively as follow* (shillings and pence omitted) : —Auckland, £1486; Canterbury, £872 ; Greymoath, £162; Hawera, £lo6} Hawke’s Bay, £764; Lake County, £186; Manawatu, £76; Marlborough, £117; Nelson, £ll7 J Otago, £546 ; Poverty Bay, £56; South Canterbury, £192 ; Southland, £B4; Taranaki, £7l; Tanranga, £4O; Waitaki, £207; Mongonui, £381; Wellington, £lO4. These are eighteen societies in all.

The latest rumor is that Sir George Grey will not this session bring down his intended proposal touching the revision of taxation, as he is extremely dissatisfied with the behaviour of Mr Montgomery and his followers. It is said that there was an explicit compact between the Greyites and Montgomery sections of the Opposition that if the former helped the latter in the attack on the Government, and this proved unsuccessful, then there should be reciprocal action, and the Montgomeryites should loyally assist the Greyites in another assault on the Ministerial defences, in the shape of a motion to readjust the incidence of taxation, as reported above, its main scops being by a pro gressive land tax to " burst in the big estates,” but the compact was not kept, and is cow considered to have fallen through. However, there is some talk of Sir G. Grey shortly tabling a motion affirming the desirableness of a change in the constitution of the Legislative Council in the direction of rendering it an elective body. It is thought that about twenty members would follow Sir G. Grey into the lobby on this question, including Mr Pilliet and others, whedespise Mr Montgomery’s leadership. In accordance with bis annual rule, Mr Hursthouse has tabled a notice of motion affirming the opinion of the House that those districts through which the Government railways run should be charged with the difference between the working expenses, including interest on the cost of construction and the receipts from such railways. It will be remembered that he beat the Government on this question last year, carrying a division against them while acting as Ministerial whip at the time, a circumstance which excited a good deal of chaff. It is not improbable he may again obtain a favorable vote on going into Committee. On the Leaseholders’ Qualification Eill Mr Shrimski is to move a new clause, providing that no person shall be eligible for election to the House of Representatives if he shall have been a member of either branch of the Legislature during the previous three years. Opinions are divided as to whether this is a joke or not. It is at any rats deemed to indicate a disinclination on Mr Shrimski’s part to offer himself again for the suffrages of his present constituents. It has been matter of much regret that Mr Hamlin, chairman of committees, has been compelled to absent himself from bis legislative duties through illness for the last day or two. He has bad severe cold -and a bad throat, but is better to-day, and was in the House, although unable to resume his duties, which are still being filled by Colonel Trimble.

Ministers went through a regular catechism of no fewer than twenty-nine questions, in the House yesterday afternoon. This is the largest number of questions asked in one day during the present session. It is still undecided whether any definite attempt will be made to deal with local government, finance, and reform this session. In answer to Mr Fyke yesterday, the Colonial Secretary reminded him that one of the Government measures in regard to local finance was already down, viz., the Crown Lands and Native Bating Bill, while the Roads and Bridges Construction Bill would be down, he hoped, on Thursday. In regard to local Government it was not proposed to bring down any further measures than an Amending Counties Bill. This, however, is quite as much as the most sanguine local government reformer dreamt of being attempted this session, and I can find very few indeed who have the slightest idea that even this programme stands much chance of being seriously attacked. Most people believe that a similar arrangement to that of last year will again be temporarily made by means of the land fund, and that the final settlement of the much-vexed grievance will be deferred another year. I fancy, however, that this will not matter much so long as satisfactory arrangements are made for “ carrying on meanwhile.” It seems hopeless at present to devise a local government eoheme which shall equally suit North and South. A deputation from Marlborough waited on the Minister for Public Works this afternoon in reference to the route of the main line trunk railway from Canterbury to Cook Strait. Mr Walter Johnston, however, made substantially the same reply as he did to the Nelson deputation, viz.—that an independent Commission would be appointed to report on the question of survey during the recess. Nothing fresh has transpired relative to Ministerial intentions regarding steam communication with England. Replying to Mr Macandrew’s question as to when the Government proposals in reference to direct communication with England would be submitted to the House, the Postmaster-General said he intended to bring down the proposals in question on Friday next. Mr Coster, of the New Zaaland Shipping Company, is still here, and is understood to bo prepared to eater into an arrangement, but it is not known what are the views of the Government regarding the subsidy. Opinions vary between £20,000 and £30,000 per annum for a monthly fifty days service. Mr Bods was to ask the Government this afternoon if they are prepared to offer a bonus or “other encouragement for the production of opium ” as an industry suitable to many parts of the colony; but in his absence the question was postponed. The Native Land Act Amendment Bill (Mr Bryce) is circulated. It provides for local Land Court; registrars are to be established ; surveyors’ liens may be discharged ; also a remedy for mistake or error in the proceedings ; and gives jurisdiction to the Court in respect of joint tenancy. Mr Rolleston’s Resumption of Land for Mining Purposes Bill provides that the Government may resume] land on paying a fair compensation, assessed under the Public Works Act.

The House has been engaged all evening in committee on the Loan Bill, which got through all right, but there will be a long and bitter fight over the Three Million Bill, especially on each item of the schedule. I incline, however, to think there will be no very material alteration made. The following important report has been presented by the Private and Local Bills Joint Legislation Committee on oosts of private Bills: the committee report that they have care, fully examined the whole of the Standing Orders on private and local Bills, with the view to simplification of proceedings and to the reduction of cost with regard to the introduction of private Bills into Parliament, and also examined several bills of oosts of solicitors and agents acting for promoters. They cannot refrain from remarking that not only does there seem to bo a very largo discrepancy with regard to costs incurred in the passage of Bills of the same nature and when unopposed, but that in some instances the charges paid are, it is not too much to say, highly exorbitant. In order to show that such costs are really unnecessary, they draw special attention to the Nelson Gas Company’s Bill, which was introduced by Mr Ourtis, then member for Nelson. In this case the Bill was passed through both Houses, without costing any further sums than the Parliamentary fees

(£25) and the cost of printing. In contra to this they direct particular attention to the amounts of costs specified in the schedule hereto containing the amount of those accounts which the committee have been able to obtain, and it will be seen that in some coses even unopposed Bills have cost the promoters very large sums of money. In the schedule annexed it will be seen that in one o&eo where there was no opposition to a Bill, namely, the Christchurch Gas Company, the amount of coate sent in came to £BO7 4s, and in two other instances where Bills ware opposed the amounts are—Te Aro Reclamation Bill, £289 10s 2dj Napier Swamp Bill, £l4O, The schedule contains ten cases in which there were law charges, and the total amount it £4538 Us Bd, or an average of £453 17s 2d each Bill. It appears on examination of the accounts that the charges are prinoip !ly created for attendances by counsel on committees and foes on hearing, the actual cost in an unopposed case being really nominal, as as for instance the Nelson Gas Com-

pany’s Bill, already referred to, which only cost the Parliamentary fees. With the view, therefore, of simplifying the passage of Bills and reducing the coats, material alterations have been made in the Standing Orders, and a scale of costs has been prepared, and the committee trust that these amendments will produce the desired effect. At any rate, they trust the alterations, if carried into effect, will indicate to those who have to introduce such Bills that they need not necessarily expend more in the passage of Bills than the amounts mentioned in the schedule. The committee, therefore, strongly recommend that the whole of the alterations should be made during the present session of Parliament. The committee further report that they have carefully considered the Private Bills Costs Bill, and they recommend that the same be agreed to with amendments. The schedule of costs is :—Nelson Gas (House fees, £25) ; Napier Gas, £250 ; Christchurch Gas (or for allowance, £687 9j 4d), £BO7 4i lOd ; Liverpool, London and Globe Insurance Company (Limited), £l3O 2s 8d j Wellington Water Works, £146 17s 8d; Wellington Gas, £l7B 7s; To Aro Reclamation (opposed), £289 10s Sd ; Church Property Trustees, £440 18j lOd ; Auckland Gas, £405 10s 6d ; Napier Swamp (opposed), £l4O ; Otago Southern Trunk Railway, £1750. Total, £4538 11a Bd.