PARLIAMENTARY. (From "Star" Reporter.) Wellington, July 7.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 280, 11 July 1888, Page 4

PARL I AMENTARY. (From " Star " Reporter.) Wellington, July 7.

AUCKLAND PETITIONS. The following Auckland petitions were , presented yesterday : — Rev. D. "N. Boyes and 13 others for repeal of the Coutagiour Diseases Act (Hamlin) ; eiglit settlers for a sum of money to build a bridge, (Mr Thompson) ; G. E. Cooper, for employment from the Government, (Mr Monk).

POINT RESOLUTION COMMISSION. Yielding to the representation of Sir George Grey, Sir EL Atkinson has given notice to move, " That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire what were the terms upon which certain property at Point Resolution was purchased by the Government from Mr G. S. Kissling and others, and whether such terms were reasonable, and were given effect to with fairness to each of the vendors, and also whether if such terms were unreasonable or unfair what steps, if any, can be taken to remedy the same ; such committee to report within ten days, to consist of the Hon. Messrs Ballance, Bavron, Fulton, Sir G. Grey, Hon. Mr Hislop, Messrs Moss, W. P. Reeves and W. D. Stewart."

MR PEACOCK ON EDUCATION. Speaking to the tariff yesterday attornoon, Mr Peacock discussed the education question, advocating- the raising of school age to six and the charging of fees in the upper standards ; the latter however, being contingent on being piovided. Perhaps, however, a better mode of retrenchment would be the lowering of the syllabus of the finishing standards to some modification of the Fifth Standard. Hehad oppose dthesecondreadingof the Bill, but ns the House had affirmed its principle he would not vote against the third reading, though he could not support it.

THE AGENT-GENERALSHIP. JRe rumours that have been current that the Agent-General had cabled to the Government accepting a renewal of his appointment for three years, it is apparent that there is no truth in the report from the fact that the cable had not been at work ; but befoi-e the break in the cable occurred, Sir D. Bell's son in Wellington received a cablegram from his father intimating: the likelihood that he would accept. This is> the only foundation for the report.

THE COUNCIL. The only matter of general interest dealt with by the Lords yesterday afternoon was the Tramway Act Amendment, the second reading of which was moved by the Hon. Mr Sevens. The object of the measure is firstly to prevent owner? of vehicles from using wheels which would enable their conveyance to be driven on tram rails, and secondly, to piohibit smoking on trams. Naturally, Sir George Whitmore, as an ardent smoker, objected to the clause prohibiting smoking- on tram platforms, remarking that lie thought it was a little rough to compel gentlemen who were going a block or two to put out their cigars, but the Hon. Mr Waterhouse and others were of opinion that the smoker ought not to be permitted to be a nuisance to his fellow-travellers. As to the clause pre venting ordinary vehicles from being driven along the rails of the tiamway, the opinion was expressed that as a matter of justice the rights of tramway proprietors should be protected. The second reading was carried on the voices, and the committal of the Bill fixed for the following day.

THE TARIFF. The everlasting tariff debate, which has dragged wearily along for the past couple of days, and in the course of which members ior the third time went over the same ground which had been threshed out on the floor of the House day after day for some weeks past, was happily brought to a close at an early hour this morning. The spesehes have generally been ot a most commonplace character, and members have occupied themselves hanging about the lobbies waiting for a division to be runt; in order that their votes might be taken. The following hon. gentlemen spoke dux-ing the course of the debate : — Messrs Hutchison, Levestam, Izard, Fish, O'Connor, Taylor, Tanner, Reeves (St. Albans), Newman, Pyke, Marcbant, McKenzie (Mount Ida), Peacock, Buchanan, Taipua, Menteath and Moss. The best speeches were undoubtedly those of Messrs Reeves, McKenzie and Menteath. The two last named scored heavily off the Premier and the Minister for Education. The third reading of the Bill was carried by 45 to 22, and the measure was finally passed.

THE PREMIER IN REPLY. The Premier took the opportunity of leplying to the attacks of fretradevs on the taritF. He said he was neither a free trader nor a protectionist as terms were generally under stood, and he denied that his tanfi was a protective one. His action was the same as that which hejtook in|lB79, putting on duties as he thought the circumstances of the colony seemed to demand. Mr McArthur had no right to say that he had thrown himself into the arms ot the protectionists. There was no ground whatever for such a ptatement. He would never agree to impose duties simply for protective purposes. The revenue might not rise for the first year or two, but it would be bound to do so ultimately, following the analogy of other countries. It was objected that protection would start industries for which the country was not fitted, but he would ask for which manufactures this country was unsuited ? A& soon as the colony began to manufacture it would be necessary to°legislate the regulation of factories, for he believed that New Zealand was destined to be a large manufacturing country. No protection scheme had been proposed in lieu of Government policy, but every member advanced some little proposal of his own which received no general support. RAILWAY EMPLOYEES' WAGES. The question of railway employees' wages in Victoria was raised again last nighfc in the tariff debate. Mr Pyke said porters there were paid 5s a day. Mr Moss said he was in a posibion to deny this. Porters were paid 5s a day while on probation after entering the service, but after a short time were laised to 6a 6d or 7s 6d per day, which wa.s the proper rate of wages there. Mr Moss again took exception to the method of retrenchment adopted by Government, and said what we wanted was not retrenchment so much as reduction and reconstruction.

BIBLE IJST SCHOOLS. The Bible in Schools parby met this morning in Joint Committee&' room, when there were present : — Hons. T. Menzies (presiding), Brett, Baillie, Holmes, lleynolds, Messrs Fulton, Hodgkinson, Allen, Rhodes, McKenzie (Clutha), Fish, Buxton, Joyce. Several apologies were received from members unable to be present, but who were in favour of the movement. It was resolved that a motion be tabled in both Houses of Legislature affirming the principle of Bible-reading in public schools. The meeting then adjourned for a week.

ST. ALBANS AND HIS PRICE. Mr \V. P. Reeves informed the Premier last evening, as a matter of personal ex- ( planation, that he had entirely misconstrued his remarks with regard to his attitude towards the Government. Sir Harry Atkinson accepted the explanation, but said tho form of Mr Keevos's speech "sras such as to demand the position which he (the Premier) had taken up. There were, ho added, statements in circulation that the honourable gentleman in question had been intriguing to obtain office, which apparently implied that he had been in communication with tho head of tlu Government. To this he must give an emphatic denial. Nothing had occuired which could even give grounds for suspicion on the question.

THE DAIRY FACTORY INDUSTRY. A meeting of members interested in the support and establishment of dairy factories was hold yesterday morning in order to further the work undertaken by Mr McCalluai, who has been temporarily appointed as inspector in dairy factory Avoik. Air \\\ C. Buchanan was voted to the chair. Captain Russell, and Messrs Ormond, Graham, Hutchison, Wilson, Monk, Marchant, R. Thompson, Whyte, Jackson, Lawry, Anderson, Moat, and Tanner were present. On the motion of Mr Anderson, it was resolved that the Government ue requested to communicate with the Chairmen of County Councils and other local bodies by circular, or otherwise, to the effect fcha'; Mr McCallum has been temporarily appointed for the purpose of giving instruction in the establishment of' dairy factories, and also in the art of manufacturing dairy uroduce, etc.; the Government to invite leplies from such bodies as to the prospects of such factories being required or instructions desired in any district. The route most desirable for Mr McCallum to take was next considered, and on the motion of Mr Lawry, a committee, consisting of Messrs Tanner, Hutchison, Whyte, Anderson, R. Thompson, and the mover, was appointed to meet Mr McCallum and to confer with him as to the best route to take, and the district it is deshable to visit first. The Committee will meet for this purpose this morning at halfpast 10 o'clock.

LIPSEVS PETITION. Mr Caclman brought the matter of Lipsey s petition, relative to moneys for land at Te Aroha, under notice of the Government yesterday. Mr Richardson said these moneys had hitherto been at the disposal of the Wai den, who paid them over. If the money had not been properly paid in this case, it must have been through some mistake. He would make inquiry and would communicate the l'esult to the honourable gentleman.

TE AROHA DOMAIN BOARD. Mr Kelly brought under tho notice of Government yesterday the informal action of the Governmenc in dispensing with the services of Mr Gwynne trom Te Aroha Domain Board. Mr Richardson said the reason was that it had been represented to them that Mr Gwynne had left the district. He agreed that it wculd only have been courteous to have informed Mr Gwynne that such action had been taken.

THE GOVERNMENT SAVINGS. Mr Moss has been endeavouring to find out what proper- ion of saving-*- of £'<d 33,000 claimed by the Government has been made from salaries, wages, contingencies, and other items. He asked for a return of each vote yesterday, but the Premier opposed it on the ground of expense and the great trouble involved. Mr Moss said he would be content with the lump sums under each vote, but the Premier said the labour would still be too great. The motion therefore could not be put by the Speaker, and is very unlikely now to come up again during the session.

RAILWAY SAVING IN AUCKLAND. Mr Moss has received a letter from the Trade and Labour Council respecting the alleged savings of £1,266 in Auckland by the reductions in connection with Mr Elliotts dismissal, which, I observe, is published in the Star. He has seen Mr Mifcchelson, who explains that the £1,226 re ferred to are savings in the whole colony, namely, Auckland £185, and £1,281 in the rest of the colony. In Auckland, before the set of changes which included Mr Elliott, the salaries were : Coom, £500 : McLean, £210 : Elliott, £275 : total, £955. They are now : Coom, £500 ; Jackson, £300 ; and the claim of saving £185 is made by amalgamation. The savings in other provinces, are said to be £1.081, made by similar amalgamations at the same time. i Mr Moss has telegraphed tiie reply to the r Trade and Labour Council.

'FRISCO MAIL SERVICE. I advised you last week that the neb cost to the colony of the 'Frisco mail service last year was only some hundreds of pounds. The actual figures are now available. I find that the cost was really only £729. The gross cost was £30,501, comprising- ; £23,333 paid to contractois as subsidy, £1,537 as bonus, and £4,967 for interpro- , vincial fen ices, mail agents, etc. On the , other hand, the receipts from postages from London were £7,968 ; postages paid in the colony, £16,844; leceipts from noncontracting colonies, £4,958, making up a , total of £29,771. The cost of conveyance of the same amount of mail matter by the , New Zealand Shipping Conn any would , have been £20,155, but again, £2.386 would ; have been paid in the United States on coirespondence from that country.

POINT RESOLUTION LAND PURCHASE. The commission proposed by the Premier to inquire into and leport on the terras on which certain property at Point Resolution was purchased by the Government for T. S. Kissling and others, and whether such terms were reasonable and were given effect to with fairness to each of the venders, and also whether such terms were unreasonable or unfair what steps, if any, can be taken to remedy the same, consists of Messrs Ballance, Barron, Fulton, Grey, Ilislop, Moss, W. P. Reeves, and W. D. i Stewart. , The Premier said that the object of the Committee v. as to see if any action was necessary and what that action should be. Mr Ross asked if the affair had any connection with the Devonport torpedo. • The Premier replied in the negative . and declined to allow this matter to be relegated to a committee. What they wanted to find out was not > whether the Government purchased the i land, but whether a third party got an i undue interest at the expense of the public.

THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR. It seems that the special train which con1 veyed the Hon. R. Oliver from Dunedin to Bluff was unnecessary, inasmuch as the Te Anau was delayed at the latter porb for a couple of days, owing to the excessive gales which prevailed. Thehonourablegentleman 's ' lu &gage came down by the Penguin, and • there was every reason to believe that it i was nob sent on from Dunedin till the ■ following day's ordinary train. It would i not have reached the Melbourne steamer. The cost of the special brain i from Dunedin to the Bluff was £20. I learn from Mr Oliver that in consequence of his non-arrival inSydney till the Conference had

closed its sitting, this colony is not bound by the Bill passed there, and one of which he entirely disapproves. Had he been present , at the Conference, he would have tried to got less restrictive legislation passed, and would have asked the Conference to propose to the Home Government the establishment of a similar treaty with China as exists between that Einpiro and the United States.

RAILWAY EMPLOYEES 1 WAGES. j Information has reached Mr Moss from time to time that the men are being taken on in Anckland at 5s a-day instead of 6s, and at 6s instead of 7s. He intends vo ask Government if any alteration has been mado in the scale ot wages for employees on railways as authorised by the official scale, date 12th June, 1885, and if so what the alterations avo, and whether the scale has been amended accordingly.

EXTRAVAGANCE IN PRINTING. Attention is constantly being drawn to the shocking waste of public money in printing returns and uninteresting evidence, and fresh instances have occurred in connection with the evidence of the Seaclifle Asylum Commission which has just been printed. It consists of nearly 200 foolscap folio pages of closely printed matter independent of a large number ot lithographic plans. Notice has been given of several questions volative to the cost of this useless printing, which I am informed amounts to £126, independent of plans. A movement is also on foot to have plinting done in the districts where it is required instead of a Government printing office.

REDUCTION OF LABOURERS' WAGES. The Minister of Public Works denies the statement by Dr. Newman that he had authorised a reduction in the wages of day labourers except in the case of gardeners at the Ministerial residence. The reason ot the reduction in this caso was that he would have had to dismiss two of the hands if he did not reduce, and he followed the latter course as the most satisfactory of the two.

ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOOLLEN FACTORIES. It is not the fact, as some lion, members think, that volunteer unitorm clothing has been inadvertently excluded from the freo lists in the Customs Duties Bill. The Cabinet, after considering the matter, decided that there was a large quantity of very fair cloth made at various woollen factories in the colony at very reasonable rates, and they did not see why an exception should be made in favour of the impoited volunteer uniform. i

RAILWAY CHARGES ON MILK. i An unsuccessful attempt has been made by Mr Pratt to get a reduction in the railway charges on milk sent to cheese factories. The Minister for Works points out that it is only a short time ago since tho milk rate was reduced, so the Department cannot see their way to make further concessions. THE MOKAU COMMISSION. The Mokau Commission has gone to Otorohanga, and the Native Minister has received a telegram from the chief, Wetere te Rerenga, to the effect that all Mokau natives concerned in Jones's case will be there prepared to give evidence. The Government hope that the Commissioners' report will be ready for presentation to Pailiament before the end of the session.

MR D. A. TOLE'S RETIRING ALLOWANCE. Ministers have been interviewed repeatedly during the last day or two with respect to the retiring allowance to be paid to Mr D. A. Tole. late Commissioner of Cro-m Lands at Auckland. He claims a pension, while the Government will only give him retiring compensation of £800, and they will only pay that on condition that a clear receipt is given. The matter is still under negotiation.

RETRENCHMENT DIFFICULTIES. A shaip struggle is expected to take place over the proposal to place the Parliamentary officers under Government control. This will be opposed by some membeis who aie staunch supporters of the Government in other matters. It is rumoured that Ministeis intend, if they can carry this point, to employ Parliamentary officers during the recess in c'encal and other Civil Service work, thus obviating the need of engaging extra clerks as ab present, and so effecting a considerable economy. This, too, will be strongly opposed by an important section of the House, as an encroachment on Parliamentary pri\ ileges and independence.

THE GOVERNOR'S SALARY. The Premier says the Government do not intend to introduce a bill amending the Governor's Salary and Allowance A t of 1887, by which tho Governor's salary was reduced. The lion, pen tlem in added that His Excellency had requested him to state that whatever course the Government decided upon must be without reference to him personally. If Sir William Jervois were re-appointed at the end of his present term of office, it would be at the reduce i salary, but the House will be informed before any action was taken.

\Y OMEN'S EIGHTS. The Premier asfeurecl Mr Pyke yesterday that so far us he was concerned, he was in favour of giving voles co the women of the colony, but he foared the majority of the Cabinet were against it. However, it would not do to tell tales out of school. Mr Pyke urged the Premier to bring in a Bill to extend the franchise in the direction indicated. Sir Harry, however, declined to do so unless the Cabinet were unanimous on the matter. If, however, Mr Pyke introduced &uch a Bill, he would give it his support. THE WRECK OF THE GERDA. Jt is considered by the Marine Department, that the wreck of the Gerda at Greymouth was due entirely to accidental circumstances, and acting on the advice of the law advioers, they have decided that it is not necessary to hold a magisterial inquiry into the occurrence. It is the opinion of the nautical advisers of the Department that the wreck is one incidental to such ports as Greymouth.

COOK'S STRAIT CABLE. The Premier informs Mr Levestam he ' cannot agree to consider the advisability of lifting the Cook's Strait cable, and relaying it between Wanganui and Nelson, where ' the bottom of the sea is said to be less 1 rocky, and the ri6k of breakage considerably less than between Wellington and Whites Buy. The Premier explains that the distance of the present line is only 36 knots and by the other it would be 102 knots.

[ THE PARIS EXHIBITION. The fact that this colony was only re" i presented ab the last Paris Exhibition by some half dozen exhibits has induced Mr Beetham to impress on the Government the i necessity of providing for a representation i at the next Paris Exhibition in a manner which would do the colony credit. The i Premier has given an assurance that the subject is now under ; the consideration of the Government, and he will shortly intii mate to the House what decision has beep I come to.

JOTTINGS. Mv Hutchison says that the tariff was a disappointment for the friends of the Government, a triumph for their opponents, and a surprise to both. It was the tariff and not retrenchment that Mr Moss said atoned for many past errors, of the Premier. For the remainder of this session Mr Fish intends to give Governracub a cordial general support. Mr Menteath says the result of a policy of borrowing, and that of a policy of protection is the same. The effect ot both is to take out of the pockets of the masses, and to distribute the proceeds for the benefit of the few who have not earned it. Several members of the Opposition proper are provoked with Mr Fish's declaration of his intention to support the Governmont in future. Mr Pyke gives it as his opinion that the present occupants of the Treasury Benches are the most honest Government that have sat there for years, and does not see where any Government is to be found to rival them. The " Times " denounces the repudiation on the part of the Thames Harbour Board as scandalous and of serious public import, and hopes the Government will be resolute in bringing this defaulting body to a prompt and stern reckoning.