Parliamentary Notes.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4267, 4 September 1882, Page 2

Parliamentary Notes.

[By.Telegbaph.] ;y. (fkom ova, own coeeespondent.) Wellington, Saturday. Pyke asks the Minister of Defenc3 (1) what percentage' did- the police get refunded subsequent to the ten per cent reduction P (2) is it not a fact that the meu are now receiving 6d per day less pay than they did previous to the ten per cent, reduction ? (3) is it not a fact that in con sequence of such reductions of pay the police .fyave. had only five per cent, of their former 'p'ayf restoredifco them instead of the ten per cent, restored to other Departments of the public service ? (4) will the Minister of Defence take action to remove this irregularity by restoring the 6d per day, equal to the five per cent, which is still deducted from the pay of the police. While the Es'tiibiates^werebeing^taasedl the other night, Mr Allison Smith, Locomotive Superintendent of Christchurch, dropped in for it pretty warm from certain members. Mr Fergus moved that his salary be reduced. He knew nothing, personally of Mr Smith, but he, believed he was f ery unpopular. Mr Whyte said there had been a great deal more discontent in the Smith department than in any branch of the Government. It would be well for the colony if he was paid £7Coto I clear out. Mr Jojce said Mr "Smith was a bad manager, and had no control over a body of' men. Mr E. G. Wright spoke in high terms of praise of the professional ability of Mr Smith. Mr Dargaville thought it was very unbecoming of members of the House to mention Mr Smith s name. They had to decided whether such a department was to receive a certain amount of money. It rested with the Minister of Public Works as to whether the man spoken of was worth £600 or £700 a year. The Chairman held the same opinion. Mr J. 0. Brown suggested that Mr Smith should be removed 'to Dunedin, Wellington,, or a Auckland. Mr Sheehan objected'to him being removed to Auckland, and thought Chatham Islands would be a more genial dime for Mr Smith to follow his pursuits. This day. A Marked Change, A very marked change has come over the House of Eepresentatives during .the last fortnight. It has jbecome like the dyer's hand suffused with the dye in which it works. Anything that the Government asks it to pass it passes, and

almost without enquiry or demur. Sir G-. Grey has gone home, and Mr Montgomery now is the master and leader of the situation for the nonce. He can do as he pleases, and his desire is to roar, but to roar as gently as a sucking dove. And so while the leader of the Opposition struts and fumes in all the dignity of place and in all the pride of situation, the Colonial Treasurer smiles in as amicable a manner as he can, and ceases to gnaw his beard or to abuse his political opponents. Under these novel conditions of amiability, the Government crammed bills into the House ' of Representatives in the same manner as tnrkeys are crammed when they are wanted for market. But the poultry are. _ treated in a better manner than are the representatives of the people. The requirements of the birds are consulted, ~ and only those things which are adapted for fattening' turkeys are as a ' rule given to the birds sent to the sale pens. But the members of the General Assembly are not thus consulted. They have to swallow what is forced down their throats as have the fattened turkeys, but" no regard is had to their pala,te or wants, __ old nails, oatmeal, scraps of leather, skins : of parchment, bales of paper, guns and bayonets, all have to .be gulped down in such quantity and at such times as the CoU^ Treasurer orders it. It matters not. to" \p the Treasurer that the stomach of mem* bers are already distented to their utmost limits of tension, that their digestive " powers are over taxed, that, the viands pall on the palate, and are loathsome to the taste. All that he cares about is that they should ,and so have the senators " been dragooned into the habit of obedience that they will pass anything he orders from an iceberg to a direct steam servicfr. ;•: This facility, fatal though it may be, 'help* the Government to fill the statute bookr'• if the Council will only look at and' pass* the bills sent to it without consideration. This is the problem tbe Government are now anxious to solve, will the Council pass the bills the Lower House has passev? Time alone can tell. . „

Rumour hath it that Atkinson succeeds Whitaker as Premier after the session ends, Hall refusing all offers. - - ■ - -- A movement is on foot to make the honorarium 300 guineas. ' ": TTT , ' The Council talk about locking outtKe bills the House keeps forcing in.