POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 381, 3 July 1889, Page 6

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

, Wellington, June 27. At present there is only a Government party in the House.' There is no organised Opposition, though the inoinbers opposed to the Government are well known. This is a matter of some incdnyenience for the working of the political machinery of the- House. Dr. JTitchett, who was one of the whips of the Opposition last year, is again acting this year, and it is rumoured that Mr Walker, who was the other one, aspires to the leadership of the Opposition, lor which Mr Ballance has been reported also to have a hankering. Something definite will be known about the position of affairs in a day or two, 'as the party ' purpose holding a meeting to-day or to-morrow. At present, the Opposition , are only carrying on a species of guerilla warfare, and that on a very small scale indeed. As yet, nothing has come up to provoke any decided opposition.- ,

. OPPOSITION LEADERSHIP. A large meeting of the Opposition was held this morning. There weie 32 present and apologies were received from 7. Mr Lance wa,s in After considerable discussion on the motion of Mr «f. Mackenzie, seconded ' by Mr Fraser, it was resolved to lequesb the Hon. Mr Ballance to accept the leadership of the Opposition, and after consideration to give a reply on Monday. Sir George Grey, Messrs-Moss, Cadman, Fraser, Taiwhanga, and Kelly were present.

POST CARDS AND POST MOTES. The Bill which the Attorney-General has introduced' into the Upper House under the title " Post Office Act, 1889," which is to be incorporated with the Act of % 1881, provides for issuing post-caids for .transmission to. foreign countries, and also for issuing postal notes payable at any post office, and not as at present payable only at the post offices that are also money order offices. CRIMINAL EVIDENCE BILL. Mr Hutchison's Criminal Evidence Bill, on its second reading, met with favour in the House. The speakers, who were all lawyers, expressed their approval of its provisions and the necessity for some such Act. PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE LEGIS-

LATIVE COUNCIL. Ifc is generally regarded that the'constitufcion of the -Legislative Council needs altering, and .that .it is not in keeping with the requirements of the colony, but itisquestionable whether the measure introduced by the Government to change the present state of affairs will be successful. Sir Frederick Whitaker has charge of the measure, which is entitled the " Legislative Council Act, 1889,"' and which has been read- . a. jljrsfc time in the Upper Chamber. The Bill provides that the present numbers '-arc -to continue, but when the number of members of the Council ife reduced from' any cause below one Jia.lf < the number -for the time being of- members of the House, there shall be a vacancy to be filled' up .as specially provided. Isach member so elected shall hold his seat for • seven years, but may resign, and his seat will be vacated if the holder becomes a subject of another State,a bankrupt, an insolvent public defaulter, attainted, of reason, convicted of felony or infamous . crime. Three members of the General Assembly may nominate a candidate, and member^ will/be ele'ctedJby ballot by members "of" the^ 'General Assembly and Legislative Assembly the candidate having a majority to be elected. In case no candidate has a majority other ballots are to be taken, and th.ey-failing; then the Governor shall appoint. In case of two or more vacancies at the same time elections may be carried oh^'simultaneously, frut | separately. It is provicled that any Bill but the Annual Appropriation Bill, if rejected by either the House or Council on two several occasions at least six months apart, may be submitted to a joint sitting of the Council and House, when a majority 'of at ' least one half of the members' of' th'c Legislative body voting for it shall carry ib, and the Bill shall be deemed duly,passed, the Council and House sit&ipg separately. 1 ' One provision of the ' Bill gives power to the Governor, upon a recommendation in writing by the premier, to appoint a member of the Executives Council to be a member of the Councilj.jtfiough there be no vacancy in the number ot members,, but the person so appointed shall only continue a member so long as heholds .office as a member of the Executive Council:

APPOINTMENT OF THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS. Mr Fitzherbert moved in the Lower House for copies of all correspondence between the Government and the AgentG'eneial in England relative to the appointment of. 1 the Chief Railway (Commissioner for New Zealand. Mr Mitchelson said the Government had no objection to lay the correspondence befoie the House, but certain lottersnvere marked "confidential," and -these they could not produce. The return is to give the cost of cablegrams on the ma/ter as well.

TOWN AND COUNTRY. A deputation corisisting of about 20 nfembers who are opposed to any increase of the quota waited on the Premier at 3.30 yesterday in accordance with a resolution passed at ameeting held on Wednesday. j^irT. Thompson, as Chairman, stated the object the deputation had in view. The Premier replied thafc he would consider the matter after ' having heard the views of both sides, and that the Government had no intentipn "of proposing any alteration, and he was n6t prepared Vo say what action the Government as such would take if a proposal to increase the quota were made by a private member. Probably members of the Ministry would oe found \oting on either side. He would consider the matter anxl state later on what action ohe Government intended to-take.

SIR GEORGE GREYS BILLS. ' Sir George Grey gave notice yesterday Of his usual batch of private Bills. These are : Wine-growers Distillation Act, Law Practitioners Bill, -Repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act, and Special Settlers Relief Act,.* designed 'to. amend the-con-ditions on which Crown lands are held, by special settlers, v• ' »*» * ;

the v estimates, ', • • ■ i The Government had an Imprest-Supply-Bili passed through all its stages author-* ising £200,000 for a month's supply. In the atterrioon the House went into' Committee of Supply,>when the- estimates were again taken item for- item. Th 6 Colonial Secretary's Department was- continued. £765f0r Registrar-general's Department passed without comment, and £4,170 'fortheAgent-General'sDepartmen'tmetwith n'dopposition. Charitableprovisionsamounting to £1 \ 179, being a reduction of £771f rom last year, .were car-ried,-and an attempt' by Mr Monk to reduce'the Rotorua Sanatqrum vote of "1862 by £100 v exD.ericnced ; after a long fight over p'ne^ite'm^ £olf*6'64 J for the lunatic asylum_B!iWas,<paBBed.»^ Printing, and stetion^ei'y/ftfJdKjrt^^jOOSJ and^ wa^s passed.' Sir George Grey then returned to' the charge on the matter of the Attorney-

General "bfeing paid for residence and living out of Wellington, -moving to have £200 struck off ;£26,304 foi? miscellaneous services. Sir Harry Atkinson said this was not the way in which* to attack thematter, as the Government would not accept a resolution of the' House on ~ the present matter, 'as effecting the vote for the residence of the Attorney - General. It should ( be attacked by direct motion,, and ho would put no obstacle in the way of lion, members moving in that direction. Sir George Grey offered to discuss it by motion. Mr Turnbull said it might be talked out, but the Premier said he would give his assistance to see it was continued. On this Sir George Grey withdrew his motion. On the vote £26,304 foy miscellaneous sorvices, the House had a laughable natural history discussion. Mr Kerr ( Wai mea) objected to £150 for the importation of chamois, an animal he didn't understand or want. He finished by reading Mark Twain an the subject, the fun of which those who have read the " Tramp Abroad " can understand. A motion by him to strike out this item was lost Some discussion on tho £10,000 for the Dunedin Exhibition was interrupted by the adjournment until today. The Government are considering the matter of offering a number of mining scholarships for competition. Juno 28. '

THAT CORRESPONDENCE. Mr Fishkr rose in the House yesterday ["afternoon and solemnly stated that he had asked for correspondence between himself and che Premier to be laid on the table, but this had not been done yet. When it was laid on tho table he intended to move for a special commission of the House to inquire into the whole matter, or he would allow the Premier to tako the initiative in thatf direction. The Premier replied he hoped the correspondence would be on the table next Tuesday. He mentioned that whilehe was preparing the Financial Stai'Sment he received a letter o£ sixty-eight pages of foolscap irom Mr Fisher, and had not had time even to read it, but he would cive the hon. member a reply in a couple of days.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION, This is a subject on which Mr Wilson (Fox ton) has given notice to ask the Minister of Education on Wednesday next : —(1) If he proposes to take anystepsto carry out any suggestions re technical education which are made in the report on that subject by Mr A. D. Riley upon the technical education of the Australian colonies in the appendices to journals of the House of last session. (2) If he will cause a manual of agriculture to be published for the use of country schools.

RECIPROCAL TARIFF. The Premier states that the Cabinet have given consideration to the.question of a reciprocal tariff treaty with New South Wales, but the position of our finances at the present time was such that it was impossible for us to deal liberally with'anofcher colony in such a treaty, though we were fast getting out of such a position. Further, he did not think that at present such a treaty would be favoui ably received — on the other side at any rate. Mr Joyce has given notice to move for New Zealand to take the initiative in the matter.

CANADIAN PACIFIC MAIL SERVICE. Mr Joyce suggested in the House yesterday afternoon that it would be a good thing if tho Premier took a trip to Canada- during the recess to ai range for a Canadian Paci6c Mail Service and for a reciprocal treaty between this colony and Canada. The Premier said -he had no objection- if Mr Joyce would move in that) direction m the' House. Seriously, however, the AgentGeneral had interviewed the Canadian Com- 1 missioner on the subject, and the matter had been under consideration for the past 12 months, and at present it was impoa&ible to move any further. He would be glad to, give the House a chance to discuss the question, if someone would frame a motion that could bring the matter up. Probably this will be done, and the opinion of the House on the matter will be given exprcssfon to.

FAIR RENT BILL. I' The Go\ernmentv still have tho question i of a fair rent Bill under consideration, and during the session will introduce an Act to give relief to Crown tenant?.

SAND - BINDING GRASS. The experiments made ab Ocean Beach and the Defence Otago Heads, by Hie Government to introduce Californian sand-binding grass plants, have pioved a failure, and the Government are in communication with persons in California with a view of getting a further supply.

WINE GROWERS. Among the Bills the Government will introduce this session is one to place tho wine growers of New Zealand in the same position as wine growers of other colonies in respect of the distillation of spirits from the grape. Sir George Grey had given notice of a similar Bill, but on learning that the Government were moving in that direction he withdrew his Bill.

CIVIL SERVICE CLASSIFICATION. The classification of the Civil Service promised by the Government lasfc session is now far advanced. Along with it provision is being mace for a police superannuation lund.

PROPERTY TAX BILL. The Properby Tax Bill will be introduced on Tuesday, and its second reading will be taken on the following day and Thursday, if these days are not fully occupied wibh private measures business. By arrangement with the Hon. Mr Ballance, leader of the Opposition, the Financial debate will then be taken.

ESTIMATES DEBATE. The debate on the Estimates was continued yesterday afternoon and lasted through the evening sitting Mr Golclie was instrumental in causing several divisions, he informing the House that he would divide 6n the salary of every officer raised over £150. He was unsuccessful in r his efforts to obtain reductions, but as he enforced his principle ! on the House no doubt he was content. All the votes under fche head of the Colonial Treasurer's Department were passed' unchallenged, these amounting to £33,163. Justice Department, head-office expenditure, £955 ; agreed to. CrownLand3Omce,"£2,l3s; item parsed. Supreme Court, £7,590. This also passed, but not before the' House had had some amusement over the appointment' of the Registrar and Deputy Registrar at Wellington 1 Court. The Hon. Mr Fergus, Minister in charge of the Estimates, came in for some close and often witty cross-examination. He had to admit that the present Registrar wasthe same gentleman about whom Mr Fisher had last year asked if the Government were keeping the billet warm for him. Mr R. Reeves wanted to know if * it • was not , a family affair.- • Tfye cross - examination brought out the fact that the present Registrar is fa son of an 1 Undersecretary, and another, son had for some' months, filled the position of Deputy „ Kegis'tg^r.* ,\ £6,962. j .Great djssaVisiactibn , was, expressed with 6he extent? tb lsw!h%l $w ! h%h v legal as--' eistance is employed . by -the 'Official 'As-

signees. Ifc'Vr^s{^ve)i in tinned (l th at some officers were in league'witti the solicitors to keep up costs. , Mr T, Thompson brought up the employment of ' a 'second clerk atj Aubklarid, and was assured by the Minister of Justice that if his services could be dispensed with it would be done^ The vote ultimately passed. ' district' Resident Magistrates arid Wardens' Courts, £43,566 ; passed. The vote for the . inferior courts was passed after some little discussion,, as also the items : Criminal prosecutions, £10,700 ; Coroners' Act, £2,500 • prisons, £30,490 (this vote, was passed after some discussion) ; miscellaneous services j £2,780. •Mr Hutchison moved to strike out the item £150 subsidy towards the publication of Now Zealand law reports. This brought about a considerable discussion, but ovcntually it was erased by 12 to 18. Postal and Telegraph, Cieneral Post Office, £8,359. Replying to complaints about raising the larger salaries, the Premier pointed out that in the whole estimates the salarios above £200 wore o.nly increased £375 in all, between £150 and £200 by €500, and those under £150 by £2,700. Most consideration had been givon the lower grades sen ices, but the estimates had beet) kept down. Considerable discussion ensued, but. in spite of an attempt by Mr Ooldie, no reduction was effected. Chief andsub-oHices, £122,595, passed without reductibn, as, did £43,099, cable estimates ; tor conveyance of mails by sea, £75,604, less £5,100 from the San Francisco service, was voted ; £29,470 for a land mail, and £1,000 for mails by railway.

NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY. A meeting of Auckland and Taranaki members interested in the North Island Trunk Railway has been ' comened for Monday next. /I hey are determined to press the best interests of their districts in this matter, and are jealously watching; the movements of the Wellington members.

SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE Ib had been decided by those opposed to the San Francisco Service to attack the Estimates for it when it came up, and a regular field-day was anticipated in the House when the items conveyance of mails by sea came up. The question was at once mooted, bub the Premier immediately put the cap upon it by stating that the item, £19,600, was made up by £16,000 subsidy duo under the contract, which expires in November, and £3,000 for letters carried for the current year, for which NewSouth Wales had renewed the contract — such letters to be carried at the same rates as for the direct service. He was sure that the mattor would have to be discussed some time or other, but he did not want discussion then. If members wanted to prevent lettei'S being carried by the 'Frisco service when no subsidy was given, they would make a great mistake, and would bo acting unfairly to tho northern part of the colony, and he was persuaded that no member would think of doing it. He had received a communication from the New South Wales Government asking tho Government to agree to a renewal of the contract under certain terms, and he would shortly bring: a. motion down on the matter. He was prepared to have £3,600 struck off the present vote and placed on the supplementary estimates. When the matter had been debated, on pressure he agreed to make this £5.100, the £1,500 added being made up from bonuses, etc., attached to the service. It shows the jealousy with which Southern mombers view the 'Frisco service, tbat even the positive assurance of the Premier that this did not bind the colony to any ronewed contracts or commit the House in any way did not for a long time give satisfaction, and for a while they wanted the whole item to be expunged for the time being, but eventually the Premier 'carried the day, though "the £5,100, on his motion, was struck out. Judging from tho tone of the House there will be another fierce and acrimonious fight over the service again this session, nnd it is doubtful if the most satisfactory conditions will please the Southern representatives.

PETITIONS. The following petitions were presented yesterday : — Auckland Gas Company to have leave to introduce a Bill (Mr Whyto). Mr F. M. P. Brookfield, solicitor, of Auckland, for relief in consequence of his being deprived of his office as- Judge of the Native Land Court. The Public Petitions Committee have recommended the petitions of various, county and road boards for an amendment of the Slauchter-house Act to permit settlers living at a distance from town and borough to kill and dispose of meat to the extent of one head of cattle or four sheep monthly, to the favourable consideration of the Government,

OPPOSITION CAUCUS. The following are the names of those who were present at the Opposition caucus yesterday morning :— Messrs ballance, Blake, Button, Cad man, Duncan, Fclriwick, Fitchett, Fitzherbero, Fra?er, Sir George Grey, Grimmond, Guinea, Hutchison, Jones Joyce, Kelly, Lance, Loughrey, McKenzie (J.), Moss, Parafa, Percival, Keeves (R.), Richardson (E. ), Samuel, Smith, Steward, Taiwhanga, Taylor, Turnbull, Verral, Walker.

PROPERTY TAX, Nothing would please the Auckland people better than to have the property tux repealed, and they never stood a bettor chance of gaining their wish than at the pre.sent time. The feeling against the tax has been grow ing, and, as I said before in one of my messages, the opponents of the tax are confident that they have a majority in the House, only no one cares to take the responsibility of changing the incidence of taxation. The Government organ here, in a leader on the subject, J held out tho threat that if such a majority 1 decided against the tax, then Sir Harry Atkinson would resign. The Opposition are now getting organised, and from what I can learn they are confident that Sir Harry Atkinson, if defeated on the question of the property tax, will not dare to appeal to the country, ana will accept defeat. The debate on the measure will come on over the second reading of the Property Tax Asse&sment Bill next week,, and it ' is- rumoured Chat a resolution foy the direct abolition of the tax will be then moved, and that Mr Ballance, the new leader' of the Opposition, will be the man to move it. Nothing is definite yet. but the enemies of the tax seem very confident over it. Matters will now be viewed with deep interest. • If such a' motion is not made Mr 'Barron's 1 motion anent a modified form of the tax, which he moved on Wednesday, will ' command a large amount , of support. This motion, is — " (1) That in the opinion of this House it i=i desirable that > the • property tax, unless it can ; be abolished at an' earlier date; 1 should be'anftually decreased, so that ifc shall hot' exceed three 1 ' farthings in the £'for the present 'year, one halfpenny for; 1890- one fa'rthing'fqr" 1891 I , ' after which date" it shall'entirely cease. (2) fTjiat any deficiency in the revenue occurring thereby shall "bo made up by" 1 further \c&trett'chm'snt { in the 1 public set-vice:^< 'I may say that the Opposition object tothismotion' on the score 'that while 'relieving property and aUcHVeet taxationi'if casts the increased taxation of last' year upon' the masses thereby hbV-properly'ad justing things, and in noM*ay changing the incidence of taxation and

proving adireqtjrfraud. ATbrneettheirviews it will have to bo modified. .' LICENSING. The Committee are nob prepared to rocommend fcho prayer of the various county councils and road : boards for the powers and duties of Licensing Committees.

LEGISLATIVE' COUNCIL. The Marriage Amendment Bill was' in'trbduced by the Attorney - General. It ppeks to give relief to certain persons in Nelson who wore unable to obtain proof of Jiheir marriage, owing to such proof having boon lost owing to the carelessness of the officiating minister. It passed its second reading. Tho Otago Mat'riage Bill was also' introduced by the Attorney-Genera l , and likewise passed its second reading. This Bill is to give relief to certain parties' in Otago who had been married by a minister not qualified- to form tljo, ceremony. The Vdtents, Designs, and Trade marks Bill, introduced by bhe Hen. X C. J. Stevens, was read a second time. It is intended to consolidate the existing pabonb laws, and ab the same bimo to assimilate them and also bhe trades-mark laws with those of Great Britain. One important feature of the Bill is the provision for hearing all appeals on patent 'rights at' Wellington, where the records aie always accessible.

CHITCHAT. The Premier stated in the House yesterday afternoon that the mounted police had orders bo search the beach of the North. The Government have no intention ot introducing; a Ratepayers' Mutual Fire Insurance Bill during this session. The Minister of Justice is giving consideration to an amendment of the prison regulations so afc to allow other clergymen than Anglican or Catholic to conduct service in piison. ThcG'overnmenfc do nob propose to deal with the tariff this session. The Agent-General is to supply an extensive report on llax machinery and the uses to which our flax is put in England. The Government will nob reduce the duty on saccharine. Replying to Mr G oldie, the Colonial Secretary said that if any other city besides Dunedin proposed to have an exhibition the Government wou^d "consider the advisability of making a similar grant as in the case of Dunedin of £10,000. Mr Allen wants the Government to provide fry a competent valuation oi the securities of friendly societies. The conservation of our forests is recoivine attention from Dr. Newman. Mr Mor»k. wants our early records bo be transferred' from the custody of the New South Wales Government te our own. Hon. Mi Larnach wants a lighthouse at the East Capo and one at Cape Palliser. Sir George Grey is again to the fore with his Elective Governors and Lands Settlement Bills. Mr Guinness is introducing a Bill bo amend the Workmen's Wages Act. The Premier brings down the Otago Central Bill next Tuesday. Mr Hislop intioduces the Chattels Transfer 3311 1 on Tuesday. Mr Moat is moving tho Government to introduce a measure dealing with the truck system. On Wednesday Sir George Grey moves "That in the oniniou of this House it is not desirable that the House allowance should be paid to any member who does not reside at the seat of Government.