THE FINANCIAL DEBATE [BY TELEGRAPH.--"STAR" REPORTER.]

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 272, 13 June 1888, Page 4

THE FINANCIAL DEBATE [BY TELEGRAPH.-- " STAR" REPORTER.]

Wrci/MNOTOK, June 7 to 8. Thk debate wa» resumed by Mr Goldie (Auckland West), who said he had pledged himself to drastic retrenchment.. As he still considered expenditure too large, ho would endeavour to reduce fche estimates still further. The pension system must alfc»o bo cut down, and he would strongly support any proposal that might be made for a land and income tax. He approved of the larift as affording desirable pioteebion, but, instead of devoting the tea duty to subsidies he would prefer to hand over the publicans' license fees for hospital expenses. The funding 1 of the deficit be disapproved of, and he accordingly favoured the primage duty, bub before consenting to the raising of the school age ho would insist that every method of retrenchment should be resorted to. He defended Education Boards from the charge of extravagance in school buildings, contending that it w«.s necessary that they .should provide for the increasing attendance. There was no guarantee that if Boards were abolished fche administration of the Government vould be any improvement. On the contrary, the Government management of the native schools was mud) nioie expensive than the Board .system. Teachers throughout the colony ought to be classified, and a-» regards buildings-, the people of a district ought to be made to pay a proportion of any expenditure they might apply for. Though supporting the Government proposals, he would reserve the right to enileavoui to carry vecrenohineno still further. Mr Tanner (Waipawa) expressed dissatisfaction with tho tariil proposals, and thought tho coftt of government must yet be reduced by about half-a-million sterling. The solution lay in a more extended foun of local government, handing over the education system to local bodies. The piopei t;y tax could be abolished, and the money required could be iaised by local bodies much lnoie economically than by the ( Jeneral Government. ¥>• would like to see taxation placed upon all capital thut was not invested in laud. The proposed tariff allected the necessaries ot life too much and luxuries too little. Silks, jewellery, wines and spirits, and tobacco could bear much higher duties, and the totaiisator investments bhould be taxed more «-e\etely. The property tax exemption should be i educed to £240* The tarifl", though not altogether protective, was tou much so for a free trader, and lit would therefoie oppose it, but would not oppose Minister on their other proposals, and advised otheis who objected to the tarifl not to take a leap in the dark, lest, if the Opposition were placed in power, the free trader* would fare still woi se. Mr Allen (Dunedm Ea.«b) said he had pledged himself to oppose taxation until retrenchment had been carried to the utmost extent, and though the Government had already dune good work in this direction, he considered that at least £100,000 could \et be saved by raising the school age, abolishing subsiclie-, and ghing attention to the railway system. He feared that the position ot aflaiis was woito than appeared from the Financial Statement, and that the Treasurer would toon hate to ask for a duty on sugar besides other forms of taxation. He argued at great length in favour of free trade a& against protection, asdeiting that the prosperity ot Germany and America wa« due to technical education and free trade amongst their component States, rather than protection. Until further retrenchment was carried out he must oppose additional taxation through the Customs. | Mr Fish (Dunedin South) taunted the | la^-t speaker with inconsistency in not altogether withdrawing his support from a Government whose protectionist proclivities he so strongly condemned, lie then went on for upward* of half an hour in a speech which contained little ohse than pel.lonalitit's aimed at Mes* » Allen, Barron and tteobie- Mackenzie. The debate \va« interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

EVEMXG STTTLNU On i turning at 7.30 p.m. , Mr Fifh continued to criticise the actions and opinions of the gentlemen already named in reference to free trade. He admitted that he at onetime was a free trader, and said that vuir* \\ hen he was merely a theorist, and experience hud since made him altev his opinions. tie approved generally of the action ot the Government in repaid to retrenchment and the tariff, though thinking the latter susceptible of improvement. Subsidies would more fairly be chargable upon property than upon a tea duty, and the proporty tax ought to give way to a progie.^ive land and income tax. If, however, it. were retained, properties worth more than €1,000 should be allowed no exemption at all. He approved of raising tho school age, but would retain Education Boards. ThePremievshowed a laudable desire fo inaugurate a system of hound finance by declining to pay interest out of loan. Alluding to the defections from the Go\ eminent side, he said ifc was time that parties should be ranged on lines ot free trade and protection. After j directing tome abuse at Mr Menteath, the i speaker concluded an address which had ! lasted two whole hours by expressing his intention of supporting the Government i policy, and thanking the Premier for the measure of protection he was offering to the country. Mr Scobio Mackenzie (Mount/ Ida^, who was greeted with cheers, expressed his intention of defending other members and himself from the vials of political vilification which had been poured upon them. Having dealt with the personal aspect of the debate, he proceeded to say that he had foreseen the protectionist policy towards which the Premier was tending, and had halted mid- ' wav in following him. All that he and his friends now asked was that a Government which on undated a policy of protectionism should be supported by protectionists, and not by fvee traders. The Cabinet ought to be reconstructed, by the admission of two or three prominent protectionists into it, so that free trader*; might have a chance of going into recognised opposition. For his own part he would always beafree trader, and would endeavour to ward off unnecessary taxation from the people, and he was right glad that, those who also thought as he did had now a com' mon cause. Tho Minister for Education (Mr Fisher) chaffed Mr Mackenzie for the attitude he had taken up with regard to the Government, and said his real complaint was that of a man who fell out of a balloon — viz., that he was not in it, and his friends had had various names applied to them, but had at last been denominated the " wobblers." Ah for Mr Menteath, that gentleman had been long slipping and sliding^rom eno party to another, and was now sliding down the slippery slope of obscurity into the dark abyss of nothiugness. He was willing that the electors of Wellington should deeido between his own honesty and that of Mr Menteath, and he intended to pursue the matter to the end if he lived. He had ceased to have any respectfor cither j[Klr M^ckenzieor l\lr Menteath (laughter), and the conduct of the latter

gentleman was a poor requital for the service which he (Mr Fisher) had rendered in securing his return. (Cries of "Oh !") The Minister argued against early education, and said that the Government did not propose to abolish Education Boards this eespion, but would deal with the question next year in a comprehensive way. It was quite possible to reduce the expenses of the, Education Department to even £300,000, and this he expected to do, but the Government would stay their hand at anything that seemed likely to endanger the system, and they thought the constituencies should have an opportunity of being heard before any alterations* were made. He maintained that the Ministers had accomplished a herculean task in the retrenchment which they had already accomplished. They had done all that was in the power of mortal man, and it was a poor reward for their exertions to be now grumbled afc for not having done more. But for the falling off in the railway revenue, and the necessity for finding interest on new loans, there would have been no deficit this >ear at at all. Wo would like free tradeis to answer two poignant questions— (l) How was it possible to apply a system of fiee trade to a country which was already forty millions in debt and iiad to provide two millions a year for interest, most of which must b<; rahei through the Customs '( and (2) what would they fcay as to the benefits of circulating the money in thy country for employment of industry. The fact was that free trade, as applicable to any civilised country, did not exist. Replying to Mr Menteath's accusation of inconsistency in now supporting duties upon imported fabrics, whereas he had formerly ridiculed Sir Julius Vogcl for ha\iug done tho same thing, he pointed out that the present Government proposed to exempt from duty all stuffs worth less than 5d per >ard, whereas their predecessor.had desired to tax all kinds of calicoes and shirtings to the extent of 20 per cent., ami had proposed to raise -C 102,000 by imposts upon the commonest materials. The tea duty was optional with the House, and need only be imposed if subsidies were to be continued. He denied that the position of thf. colony was so bad as was represented, and said that, the Government had justified their position with the House, and had no fear as to what the result of the debate would be. Mr Walker (Ashburton) complained that Mr Fisher had not made such a clear state ment on the subject of education a& the House wad entitled to expect. Last year the House had decided not to raise the school age, and it was nob likely to altei that decision. Touching upon the fiscal question, he asserted, a& one who had lived in agricultural communities all his life, that, such communities derived the greater amount of benefit from a policy of protection, because it gave them marketsnear home for their products. All sides of the House ought to co-operate with the Government in the difficult task they had to perform, but he reminded Ministers that their predecessors were entitled to part of the credit for the retrenchment, because they had begun before leaving office. On the motion of Mr Duncan, the debate* was adjourned until 2.30 next day. The House ro&e at midnight. In resuming the debate on the Customs Duties Bill, Mr Duncan (Waitaki) adversely criticised tho tariff proposals a» tending to cast heavy burdens upon the people, who were already suffering sufficiently from the depression, and being especially harassing to the agricultural industry. After reviewing the financial policy in detail, lie expressed a hope that the Bill would be thrown out on the motion for second reading. Mr Jones (Heathcote) denied that the agricultuial districts would be injuriously affected by the tariff, and considered that they, above all others, were exceptionally well treated, He approved uf Ihe financial proposals and tanll, but hoptd that the iatter would be amended in some -directions. Major Jackson (Waipa) aaid that, though a free trader, he wwea c albO a New Zealander, and considered that, the re-establishment ot trade and bringing expenditure within revenue was- the first consideration. The. Government had, in his opinion, begun at the wrong end, and the estimates might just have been reviewed with a view to possible further reductions, but under the. circumstance*- he would support the secoud leading. At the e\enhu' fitting Mr Kerr (Motif eka) hoped the House would pass the Bills as the country wanted protection, and he considered that great benefit would result from its adoption. Mr E. Withy (Newton) failed to see in what respect a new country wanted protection more than an old country, andhisexperience of reading taught him that «a new country required it lebs. He believed the Ministry had done good service to the country by the manner in which they had carried out retrenchment. He agreed with them that the deficit should not be funded, and thai we should return to an honest way of living. Tho proper way was by taxation, tie agreed with the abolition of the Public Works Department and the amalgamation of the Native Department with that of the Colonial Secretary. He also agreed with, tho tax on tea, and did not see much objection to the primage duty, as it. was only a temporary taxation. Greater letrenchment might be made in the Education Depart ment, and he would assist everything tending km ards decentralisation in theadminis- | tration. The property tax had none of his sympathy, but in the face of falling revenue it would be injudicious to shift it. To substitute a land and income tax would be inopportune. While he was willing to assist the Government in extending the free lisb as much, as possible, he would oppose every increase of duties that was at all protective in its character. He did not. think the prosperity of the country depended on either free trade or protection, and it was pure assumption that protection would improve trade, raise wages, or give constant employment. There was no growth in the principle of making a levy on consumers for the sole purpose of giving employment. The speaker entered into a lengthy argument on the questions of protection and free trade in f he abstract). It would, he thought, be a good thing if they could appeal to the country before they took this step of imposing heavy new duties, which would be irrevocable. Mr Downie Stewart (Dunedin West) complimented the last speaker on his intelligent and dispassionate speech from his own point of view, but said if Mr Withy had carried his heads still further he would have found that protection was absolutely necessary in a young country. He would have been glad to see the Goveromeut bringing down a still bolder measure of protection, so that the tariff might be settled for some years. He adduced the Victoria^ and American examples of tho results qS protection in opposition 1 to Mr Withe's contention, to show how it had increased hafch imports and revenue and maintained wages. The colony was in a> serious position, and the time had come when . it must bo faced. Tho cause of the depressed condition of the colony was the extravadant misgovernmenb of past years, and for thai reason lie was sorry to sco Civil servants made the victims of our own infamau-

agement. He would prefer to see them retained at low salaries until they could obtain employment, rather than dismissed wholesale. Very great credit was due to the Government'for the retrenchment they had been able to effect, but^vliat appeared to be a having might in the lung run prove not to be &o. asinany of the expenses not provided tor might yet appear on the Supplementary Estimate.-. He deprecated . the Premier's 'satisfaction at the extent of the Sa\ing-s Banlo deposit?, a-> he considered that if the people had confidence in the colony they would hav?in\e»tcd their money in* other way«. It was. he observed, an unhealthy state ot things to lind Mich a large amount in the Savings Banks of a young country. Though he did not agree with the w hole of t he Hill, he \\ ould Mipport it. His only ropier «as that tlio Go\emment had not adopted something like the Victorian tariff .-o a? co settle the question for ten or fifteen year.-. The result of tin*, he wa-sure, would lme been the lasting pvospc ity of the colony. Mr .•. MeKen/ie (Chitha) piefaeed hi^runarks bv sa\in<; that tin- member ot Ounedin W'e^t* had p»o\ed lii- inconsistency by expie^ing dr-.atiMaction with rho < io\'ermiient iv» 1 enrhment proposil- and at the -rune time denouncing theire\tra\a- j •^ance. A»» to the statement (hat things j \\eie cheaper in Victoria than luve, the speaker mentioned that when in Melbourne a couple ot month- ago, he paid C 3 more for i< >uit 01 clothe^ \\v\\\ it would have .•o^t him here. He admitted that tiv(.o veinmcnt desened the heattft-H thank- of the people for ha\inu-iaetil the dithciilty. and expie^eu snrpn>e at the <-\tcM ot the retrenchment they had succeeded in effecting. In his opinion. howe\er, further .-avmr?- ueie possible, oairienlaily in ie<pect to the education -\ote. and the cu-t of the dne<-t mail -erxic^s. The taiiff now belore the Hou-e «as tar in e\ee?s of that demanded by the Stout Vogel Government, and theiefoie. as a *uo tiadcr, it nould be bis duty to \olc a^avi-t the second \fading of the Custom* Hill. Mr I'eacock iPon»onb\ ). its u.\ving the financial propos.xN vi Government. - uJ he thought the Treasurer wa- tv be congratulated on th? clear and umcist manner in which he had placed betoie the eoluiu the position of its ailiii>. Vow people, he thought, \\ ere surprised at the deficiency in the re\enue. but th' 1 colony had plenty of elasticity and means of netting over its difficulties. Before long, thete would, he was satisfied, be a run of prosperity which would obliterate from our tecollection this present hard and tr> ing time. The sa\ ings already effected weie h'ighh creditable to the Government, nnd hi- only regret was that they had not been allowed to rai-e the school aore, and cany out thtir educational leioinis which they had advocated. The pi image duty was quite warranted by the circumstances, and lie n a? firmly convinced of the m\\ hableness of raising the school age to m\. It Mould be necessary to introduce school ices for education beyond the Fourth Standard, and he I'ooed the Hou^e would ha\e an opportunity of expressing their opinion on this point". Alluding to the North Wand trunk railway, Mr i'eacock achouated the extension of the line from Te Kuiti as far at lea,-t a- the Porotaiau tunnel. Though belies inL r in free trade, he thought it desirable thatln a young country encouragement should be given to the esfablisliment of new industries, -so a= to bridge oserthe unproducti\c period which was inevitable with all new undeitakings. He would not, however, b^ a jiarty to duties extendinu- fco high as 25 percent, a-, these were really protective, and if it wera granted the protectionist would not be Satisfied, but would aim at tic absolute prohibition of the impoitation ot certain articles, buch a taritl was bound to produce e\il lesult?, and he could not possibly support it. On the motion of Mr McGregor, the debate wa& adjourned at 11.30 p.m. until Tuesday atternoon.

PORT OF THAMES Colonel Fraser intend- to a-k the Miiiib* ter of Maiine what were the reasons which i induced the Government to circumscribe j the boundaries of the pott of Thame-, and whether the Minister i- an are that fetich action w ill ci iople there-oiu-ees and revenue oi the Harbour Ikwrd, and prevent it meeting its liabilities : base Guseinmunt any objection to allow a committee of the House to inquiie into the matter"'

THE CHIXKSK After a chequered career the Chinese Immigrants Amendment Bill has finally passed the Legi-lathe Council. The At-rorney-^eneraL made a f-trong appeal in favour of its passage, and -aid that it the Bill wa-- thrown out it would , be the signal for the Hooding of the colony with ( hinese, who would only have New Zealand out of the Australa-ian colonies to come to. The division list was a^ follows :—Ayes (16): Hon=. Barnicoai. Oignan, (irace,"'Johnson, Kenny. Lahmann, McLean. Miller, -Moni-., Richmond, Shepherd, Stevens, bwan&on, Whawha. Sir P. Whitaker, Sir (•. S. Whitmore. Xoes (9): Hons. Col. F.retL, Hyrt, Martin, Pharazyn, Di. I'ollcn, Scotland, Shriinsld, and Wilson. The amendments made by the Conn- j oil in the Bill include the e\cmption of Chinese war se=-els a- well ass Chinese leaving Hong Kong betore the 10th of June from the operation oi the Act, and the removal of disqualification on Chinese as voters, at elections.

FREE TRADERS AND MINISTERS. .Speaking of the financial debate, the " Post considers the free trade speakers " have had crood reason for the reproaches they heaped on Ministers. Government ■spill find the cup ot their humiliation is not yet full, and they will yet have to bear further reproaches fiom friends they have betrayed, and piaises from those who, though they love nofc traitor-, are quite willing to profit by treason.''

IMMORALITY IX WELLINGTON. The evidence in support cf the petition for the suppression of immorality in Wellington was concluded yesterday before the Public Petitions Committee, and the deliberations of the Committee were deferred. The majority of witnes&es have suggested that in order to remedy the evil complained of the Contagious Diseases Act should be brought into force, and the age of consent be raised to 16.

FINANCIAL DEBATE. The financial debate lias advanced another stage, and now stands adjourned till next week. There was nothing very new or interesting in the speeches delivered yesterday, and they were, -with one exception, of average merit. The exception was the speech of Mr Withy, which is considered by many to be Hie speech of the debate. It was calm and dispassionate and was full ot argument and sound reaBoninGr,and wa& a very able exposition of the free trade argument. The House was -evidently &uvpafced. and at the conclusion of the hon. gentleman's speech he was accorded a warm round of applause from well-filled benches on both sides of the House. The speakers were Mr Duncan, Major Jack&on, Messrs Peacock, McKenzie, Downie, Stewart, Jones and Kevr. It was expected that an amendment would

j have been .moved dimng the evening, and Mr Seddon was credited with being; the public mover, but the mine was not sprung and the galleries were disappointed.

STOCK IMPORTATION. The Select Committee appointed to consider the subject of New Zealand live stock has come to tho following determination :— 1. That one, or at. the most two ports be declared quarantine ports and that the quarantine giound should in all cases be on an island. (2) That the strict quarantine regulations leeotnmende-d by the Australasian Stock Conference, Sydney, in September and October, 1886, be adopted by New Zealand. (3) That Government should add to Schedule No. 1 oi the Diseased Cattle Act, 1881, the follow- i ing; diseases, viz., tuberculous cancer, ulcer, and all tiunerous sore 1-. (4) That it is j necessary to provide by legislation that e.\- \ tended powers be given to the police for the examination of .skins Mispoctod to have belonged to stolen sheep, wheresoever they may be found. It is nlso recommended thai the report of tho Imnorlation Stock Committee of las-fc session, .so tar a«= regards the importation of stock be endorsed by the Hous-e.

GIVING EFFECT TO THE MINISTEIUAL PROGRAMME, i \li K. Thompson intend- to iuo\e his les-olutums in ta\our ut giving immediate etleet to the piopotal ior the abolition ot the Public Works and Native Depnttmen tas an aniendmeni to the next- motion to go into Committee of Nupph. THE CUMULATIVE VOTE. The Loi'ds have again declined to follow the lead ot the elective chamber and to i give expression to the desire of jmhlic j i opinion by abolishing the cumulative \oto J 'at the elections fur .school committee*. By ' thirteen votes to seven they have declined to allow Major Steward's Educational Franchise Bill to be rtail :i s-ceond time. The meaMire merely pro\ ided ;or the abolition of the eumulau\e vote, and <i elearei j detinitiou of the term "' householder.' ' The following w/h fhe (li\man list.--For j the second reading . rlons Baillie, Barm- | coat, Hart, Lahmann, McLean, Scotland, Steven 1-. Against: llunb. Dignan, I'la^ei, Holmes, .Johnson, Miller, Phara/yn, Pollen, Richmond, Shrimski, S-w-anson, Watei- j hou-e, Wihon. Sir Geo. \Vhitmoie. The ! Council have on several previous-occasions taken a similar stand regarding this Bill, and Major Stewaid teaied. that it would share the fate which has befallen it !

TE KOOTIS "MOVEMENTS. I The Hon. Major Wahawaha (Kopata), j fearing that Te Kooti's repeated visits to j the East, Coast, especially Opotiki, would ' tend gieatly to impoverish, the resident natives, wishes the Government to lake btens to check the frequency ot the sameIt has, howe\er, been pointed out to him that the great Maori warrior, ha\ing received a pardon, is at liberty to visit all native settlement?. The Government have used per«ua-ion rather than attempting coercion, and, so tar a- possible, they will i take all nece««ary measures to induce Te Kooti to lefrain from the visitations complained of.

IXTERGOLONtAI, RECIPROCITY. Mr Joyce is moving in this direction, and intends to ask the Premier next week whether he i» aware that within the last fortnight two huge steamers left the Blurt bound to Melbourne laden with oats about 38,000 sacks ,upon which a Victorian import duty of nearly would be imposed and vail he instruct. the Hon. R. Oliver, who is en mute to Australia on State affairs, to ascertain if the Australian Governments will torfhwith consider the question ot an intercolonial tariff treaty of natural product? of the colony.

THE MIDI,ANT) RAILWAY. A committee, consisting ot Messrs Allen, Ballance, Fulton, Macarthur, E. Richardson, Samuel, beddon, Walkei, and the Pieinier has been appointed to immediately consider the pi'o posed piovi-o to the i Midland railway contract. The Committee [ wasappointeduponthePremier'smotion. Mr j Macarthur had, at an earlier stage of the < bitting, «i\en notice tor the appointment of j a committee, but his motion now consequently laps*—.

OPPOSITION VIEW OF THE SITUATION. I " The new taiilT will get, thiough safely enoutih,"' *?nid a leading membet of tlie i Opposition ye-turday ; " but it is very difficult to .-ay what will happen then. My ow ii view of thy situation is this. : The Government cannot claim a certain following of more than thirty. The free-trade party claim a strength uf twenty, while we have a party of foit). We can give tho Government an assistance of thirty- votes to carry the tariff. You ask, \Uiat then? Well, that would pu/zle the wisest man in the House, but it i.s perfectly certain that if the free traders were to make an attempt to turn the Government out we would not support them, and I am quite certain they would not give- any support to any hostile motion vvnieh we might propose. Very probably, unless -something unforeseen happens. \\C shall have u repetition of the situation in Victoria, wheie O'Loghlen was kept iv office for two or three years by two hostile parties, each ot whicli was -tronger j than his own. i

THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY. The report ot the Waste Lands Committee on the Otago Central Railway Bill recommending that the measures be not proceeded with was presented to the House yesterday afternoon. Despite the unfavourable report, Mr Y. Pyke a.°ked and obtained leave for the eommital of the Bill on July sth.

TAXING INDUSTRIES. During the course of his speech last night Mr Withy made some strong points on protection on industries. He said he had a letter in his possession from a large frozen meat company, in which the writer mentioned that the sulphur they use, the timber, hardware, lighting,stone bottles to hold the acids, and other things they required were all subjected to heavy duty. The effect of &uch taxes was, he said, to crush rather than assist industries. Mr Withy alsogaidfchab,freo traderas he was, he had been deluged with letters and telegramo protecting against certain items on the tariff, and asking him to get other items put on.

SHEEP RETURNS. Tho sheep returns of the colony, made up to 31st March, 1887, were laid on the table of the House yesterday. Mr Walker complained of the extent to which the returns had been allowed to fall into arrear, and the Minister for Lands promised to look into the matter and endeavour to place the present year's returns before Parliament before the end of the session. Ifc appears that the number of sheep in the colony in March, 1887, was 15,165,626, as against 15,174.263 the year previously. On March 31st of the present year the number of infected sheep was 64,743, all of which were on three runs in Marl borough district.

DISCOVERER OF THAMES GOLDFIELD. I The agitation for the payment of the reward for the discovery of Thameb Goldfield is not yet at an end, for George, Clai'kson one of the original shareholders of the

famous Shotover claim, petitioned Parliament yostei day for a reward of £5,000 for having found the first payable auriferous lodes in the district. 1' j | i I i i | | j ! j

RETKENCHED POLICE INSPECTORS With respect to the petition of ex-Inspec-tors Buckley (Invercargill) and James (Wanganui) for pensions or other consideration in consequenco of loss of office, tho Petitions Committee report that in their opinion the allowance already granted to petitioners it* of a most liberal character, seeing that no provision appears to have been made by Act for retiring allow • ance to officers of police, nor is there any evidence to show that any promise either ot pension? or of retiring alloA\ anco was made to petitioners;- on their appointment from Victoria to tho police toiee of Canterbury.

' AX I-XWISE PROPOSAL. ' There is- on the Order Paper of the House a motion in Mr Crawford Andersons name which, it may safely be conjectured, tho Defence Minister will.^teadfantlj resist. It is for a return showing the number of large guns and number of lound* of ammunition tor mi me available ior defence at the diuVrent ?>orts also, how many stand of small I arms.: withthenumbor ot lounds of ammunii tion .suited to winic, are in the hands of the ! Government, or under issue to the \arious branches ot the defence torce throughout the colony. As the " Post ' points out, it would be most unwise and dangcious to make such intoimation public, inasmuch jus it would I>e of practical u^e to our enemies it the Empire should be at wai. All information legaidmg our dejoneea should be kept as ; sect et as possible, especially in the jMesent tlueatening aspect ot foieign a flair.-.

AUCKLAND PETITIONS | The following petitions- of Auckland interest were presented vesteulny :—The County Councils, tor amendment of Public Works Act (H. Thompson); Maiy tftt ndman Aldis, foi repeal of Contagious Diseases Act(Grcv); Annie .fane Schnackenberg and 51°) other-, Mime a- fniogoing (Goldie).

DAIKV FACTORIES. (io\eminent have temporalil^ appointed McCallum manager of tho Edendale Dairy Factory, to confer v.ith tanners where theso taetcuies aie .situated. MoCallum will commence bi> operation- in the North Island.

DEPUTATION FROM THE SALVATION ARMY Mi (ioidic intenicwed the Minister of Public- Woiks, on Saturday, with a major of the Sahation Aimv, with the object of iepieventing claim.-* ot the Aui>\ to lite uulway pas.-es for their Prison Gate Brigade and Rescue IJianch. ft as as Mated that free passes aie Ui\en in New South Wales 5, ' Victoria, and South Australia. Victuiia also gives an annual grant of l'soo. MrMitchelson asked the deputation to state their ! claim? in writing, and he would .submit | tb^m to the C-ibinet.

MR PEACOCK AND THE TAPJFF. Suinc ot the Auckland members eNpie-v* disappointment at Mr Peacock's expression of view* with ie»ard to the taiiff, while othoi& hold that they aie quite con-intent with his election pledge*.

AUCKLAND PETITIONS. j The following Auckland petition- have ; been lepoitefl upon :- -Ale\ander Buiee, j Chaiimin of Waitemata Count\ Council, i that it it desirable that the exchange ot lands ior loads as between local bodies and private ouneis should, if possible, be simplified, aiul thp i;o>( thoreot reduced; Joseph Cailey, Te Awamutu, mo recommendation to make; John Boute and others, Te Aroha West, recommended to the fa\ourable consideration of the '"Government ; K. M. Houston, Chairman Mongonui County Council refened to theGo\etrment for consideration; M. L. Nell}, drill instructor, no claim against the colony.

JOTTINGS. Ken «• ay ft a New Zenlander i» as good a s any two English he ever ?aw. Joyce is urumg (iovernmeut- to authorise the lion. Mr Oliu'r to negotiate for intercolonial reciprocity during his \i«it to A\istralia. A leturn has been ordered oi manufactures in paol for othci than prisoner purposes. ! The Colonial Tieasuiei ha- added a duty of 2d per 1b on honey to the new taiiff, at the loquest ot (he bfekceper?. I Despite the laughter of members, Kerr ! reiterated the statement la^-h night that [ there are rabbit factories find sheep factories | in Nelson province. j Withy says he hopes to be af Paris Exhibition next Ma\. Mokau Jones .•> ca^u in to lonu thr subject of a deputaLion to the Premiei. (Jraham is asking tor leave* of absence for ' a week on urgent piivate business. Sir (-Jeorge (irey wants depots placed at Kermadecs for shipwrecked sailois. Mr Ballaneo is" asking the <lo\eminent if they will intioduce a provision in the Land Bill to establish a special settlement in eon nection A\ith the small grazing system. . ' Mr Larnach wishes <'o\ernment to issue > a secorm edit ion of tlie TFandbook of Mines ! with latei information. > Bruce wants Tipuua, Tauianga «ii* — | ttict, us a Highland crofter*' settlement. | Mr Coldic is drawing attention to the amount of sly grog-selling going on in I country districts. Sir George (hey is moving that Mary Steadman Aldis's petition on Contagious Diseases Act be punted. Mr Ross having interviewed the Premiei in reference to the application 1? made by Hudson and Co., Neill and Co. (Limited), and Grey and Co., has been authorised to say that machinery now on the way out, and which had been ordered previously to the tariff resolutions being passed, will be exempted from duty. The Special Committee appointed last night on the Premier's motion met this morning, and on the casting vote of Mr Samuel, chairman, agreed to recommend that the proviso to the Midland Railway contract giving the Government poAver to allow a deviation in favour of the Abt system be allowed. Four members \-oted for and four against the proviso. Mr J. C. Brown is slightly better to-day, but is still seriously indisposed. I Sir Geo. Grey is raising a question of privilege that the Speaker had no right to allow the financial debate to be intercepted in the manner that it was by the discussion on Mr Macarthur's motion on Friday re the Midland Railway concession. A Minister on Saturday remarked to me that lie feared that tho tea duty would be negatived, in which case the subsidies to local bodies will be discontinued.

At the meeting ot the Financial liefoun Association to be held thii* afternoon, a report prepared by the committee will be read on the question of the proposed increase of luxation. The Shaw, Ravill, and Albion Company have instructed a firm of solicitors al Wellington to appeal to the Privy Council against the decision of the Appeal Court in the action brought by them against the Timaru Harbour Board. What bird represents a musical instrument? A "pea hen nforo tea."