PARLIAMENTARY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 136, 9 July 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

(From our Own Correspondent.), Wellington, June 4. Friday morning’s’ wire conveyed to you the intelligence that the tiresome No Confidence motion-had at length closed. At exactly ten minutes to 10 o’clock the previous evening a division was called. No proceeding could possibly have been more matter-of-fact, and less interesting. It was known that De Latour was to speak in the afternoon, and as he is esteemed a crack shot in the Opposition battery, a certain amount of expectation preceded the event. De Latour lias been not inaptly describee] the “ weeping prophet.” He has got a particularly thin, drawling voice, with an intensely solemn and desponding manner. There is, nevertheless, a calmness and deliberation, which gives to his utterances an air of ‘authority. His speech on Thursday was altogether disappointing. It was theoretical in the extreme, and

would have done justice as an inaugural address to a young man’s legal and speculative debating class. As a sessional speccli however, it did no execution beyond that of clearing the benches. The agony was prolonged by the positive „ infliction of speeches from such men ns J. C. Brown, Shrimski, kc. This had the effect of clearing out the few stragglers that remained, so that, when the question was put, but a very poor response indeed was made on the voices. “Familiarity,” we are told, “ breeds contempt,” and I am afraid want of confidence motions, momentous as they were were wont to be, now suffer from ennui consequent upon a lack of novelty. The division hell of course changed the aspect of affairs, and members, who had been doing a spell at Bellamy’s or a gossip in the lobbies, flocked in. There was the usual bustle hut no real excitement on the division, and when the result was given there was a burst of applause, but it was neither loud nor prolonged. Now we have done with this miserable abortion of want of confidence, I have little doubt but that your readers will feel relief. They have been bored with the periodical recapitulations of its developements. Still they can lay the flattering unction to their souls that they have suffered less from the infliction than the unfortunate chronicler, who has been compelled, day by day, to listen with some degree of attention, to its wretched details. The original motion, on which the No Confidence amendment proceeded was, that the “ House go into Committee of Supply.” The motion was accordingly declared carried, and the “ House ” immediately proceeded to obey its behest. By way of preliminary canter, the question was discussed, as to the principle upon which the avowed policy of retrenchment should proceed. No question of doubt was cast upon that policy, so that, we may fairly conclude, parties are, one and all, duly impressed with a sense of its importance. You cannot but know how that impression has arisen. Suffice it to say, an empty treasury on the one hand, ami the Civil Service Commissioners’ Report on the other, have been powerful factors. If ever an institution stood in need of remodelling, I think you will be with me in the opinion that that institution is the Civil Service of New Zealand. In its present state it is not only demoralising to the individual himself, but it is demoralising to the community at large. Barring one, or at most two departments of a technical character, the details of which any ordinary capacity would master in a very short time —you must be aware from personal observation, that an ordinarily intelligent schoolgirl could do the work. All that is demanded is, a moderately fair hand-writ-ing, together with the modest ability of being able to add up a column of figures. The beneficiaries under this system arc dubbed with the high-sounding titles of Chiefs, Assistant-Chiefs, Registrars, Controllers, Managers, Head Clerks, &c., with salaries commensurate, not to their work or their abilities, but to the titles by which they are named. The whole thing is a farce, and now that the public are called upon to face a direct taxation, they arc beginning to enquire into its meaning. 1 have said that this state of things is alike demoralising to the individual and the community. A man kept, year after year, as twothirds of these so-called Civil servants are, iu affluent indolence, becomes in time unfitted for the ordinary purposes of society/’ On the other hand, the really industrious member of the community, who earns his bread by the sweat of his brow, becomes dissatisfied with his lot. In that way incalculable evil is wrought, and every right-minded person must hail with satisfaction the effort now being made to checkmate it. I would strongly counsel you when the pruning knife comes to he applied, that you do not allow any petty local consideration to stand between you and your duty in supporting Government in a laudable endeavor to effect thorough retrenchment. After the expression of opinion given in Committee of Supply, Government very wisely took a few days’ breathing-time, to consider the proposals made for cutting down estimates. Yesterday they had a caucus of their supporters, at which Government received suggestions for their guidance. The meeting was adjourned till to-morrow, when it is understood a definite plan of action will be decided upon. I furnished you with an extract from the report made by the Civil Service Commission re a certain abuse of office credited to Nelson. The other side of the question is furnished by the South. Island Commissioner of Railways, It ia to this effect “ Under the heading of 1 Unnecessary Officers,’a reference is made to the traffic manager at Nelson. The Commissioners do not state that this officer, besides the management of the traffic on the Nelson line, is intrusted also with the maintenance of way as well as the superintendence of the locomotives, not only on the Nelson line, but also on the Fieton-Blenlieim. This officer is a regularly trained mechanical engineer. I submit that it would be suicidal to place six valuable engines in the charge of station-masters that know nothin" whatever of their construction or working. It- is further stated that in Nelson there is a storekeeper who has no stores and no office, and who receives £1(50 per annum. As a fact, there is an officer at Nelson who receives and issues, and keeps the account of, stores ; but the total cost of the work, salary, and all told for the nine months ending 31st March, ISSO, was under £3O. [By ! Telegraph,] Wellington, Th ursday. The last two days have been entirely taken up with private members work. The principal feature of last night’s debate was the second reading of the Chinese Prohibition Bill, which was carried, hut iu Committee it is expected to he considerably modified. Its main provisions are : Any Chinese shall not enter the Colony without paying the sum of ten pounds, and shall, besides such sum he liable to a penalty not exceeding five Founds, and may he ap-irehended and taken before a Justice of the Peace, who may take sufficient bail for his appearance at the nearest Resident Magistrate’s Court, where, on conviction, he shall he confined until the money is paid, and suitable arrangements made for his deportation. The Chinese already residing in New Zealand are exoepted from the provisions of the Act. 3 p.m. ■ The Railway report will be out next week, and would have been produced earlier, but the Commissioners are keeping up the printing of the evidence, which will appear with the report. Mr Curtis does not intend to stand at the next election, and will probably be called to the Upper House. It is stated revelations will be made on Monday, shewing the reason for Sounders’ animus against Conyers.'