Political Gossip.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 534, 17 June 1880, Page 2

Political Gossip.

Prom our Wellington Correspondent (By Telegraph .) JOBBERY AND INOOMPETENCY. CIVIL SERVICE REPORT. Wellington, Wednesday Night. The Report of the Civil Service Commission is to be laid on table shortly. I am informed that it will recommend the instant dismissal of one head of the Railway Department, on the grounds of gross mismanagement and connection with a manufacturing company. Also the dismissal of another head on the score of incompetency. The number of Civil Servants in the cclony is about 11,000. It is proposed largely to reduce the number, and to effect reductions of pay all round to the extent of per cent. .The-'Report will be found to show that so far the Commission has only dealt with the.,, Suryey .and Railway Depart-' merits. In both‘gravexharges of mismanagement will be be made. In regard to the latter, it is stated that sor-.

veyors who have bungled the survey of large, blocks have been re-employed to correct‘their own errors, instead of competent men. The rumored reductions recommended by the Commissioners will involve a saving,'' it is said, of £150,000. The abolition of Railway Stores Department and the appointment at an early date of a General Inspector of Stores, are suggested. GAMING AND LOTTERIES. Wellington, Wednesday Night. When the Lower House was in Committee to-day on the Gaming and Lotteries Bill, the Attorney-General moved clauses giving the Colonial Secretary power, on application of any Racing Club, to grant such club a license to use the totnlisator at its meetings ; the license revocable at any lime. No more than three totaiisators are to be used by a club at one time, and none outside the race grounds. The clauses also provide that every totalisator shall be under the management of a competent person appointed by such club, and under the direct supervision of stewards. OPPOSITION CAUCUS. NO UNITY OF ACTION. Wednesday Night. The first Opposition caucus in the session was held in Parliament Buildings this afternoon. Thirty-one members were present, and a few others were accounted for. Among the former were Sir George Grey, and Mr Macandrew, The question of opposing the financial proposals of the Government was dis-„ cussed. The caucus broke up without anything definite, farther than that it was resolved to leave Sir George Grey and Mr Macandrew to draw up a programme and submit to a future meeting. MR REES. Sir William Fox gave notice this afternoon of a question as to whether Government intend to take steps to recover £3OO paid to W. L. Rees last session.