PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH.-SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2167, 29 May 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH.-SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

A Counter Move. Wellington Thursday. The Premier's motion to-day for the introduction of the Civil Service Reform Bill came with considerable surprise on the House, and there is no doubt that in bringing 1 down the Bill he accomplished n smart stroke of policy. I sent you yesterday a rumour of a motion for the reduction of expenditure, and to-day it was generally talked of in the Lobbies, the idea being that a reduction of a lump sum of £50,000 would be moved for off the ordinary estimates. In order to counteract this motion the Bill was hastily decided on today, and although it was formally introduced in the House, I hear it is not even drafted as yet. The Premier explained that if his Bill were carried it would result in a saving of £30,000 or £40,000, and he added that it was framed on quite a new principle, being brought down in pursuance of a promise made in _ the Financial Statement. The proposal is evidently a most popular one in the present circumstances of the culony, as the Premier was cheered by both sides of the House when he explained the object of the Bill.

The Premier's KnighthoodMajor Atkinson did a graceful act this afternoon in reference to the Premier's knighthood. Shortly after the Housr mot he roso and aaid that, assuming the newspaper reports to be orrect, the Premier had received the honour of knighthood from Her Majesty. He desired on behalf of the Opposition to convey to the hon. gentleman their hearty congratulation*. Many and fierce battles had been foMght with the hon. gentleman on the floor of the House, but he rejoiced to be able to say that notwithstanding that party feel in? has occasionally run very high, there had been no interruption of friendly communications with the Premier. The congratulations which he wished to convey to the hon. gentleman were no idle compliments. He felt he spoke for the House and fur the country when he said that honour had been done to New Zealand in the appointment, because the hon. gentleman was a type of colonist of whom any country might be proud, possessed as he was of great abilities, and, what was of still greater importance in * public man, a high personal character. The hearty cheers which greeted this speech proved conclusively that the leader of the Opposition had done the right thing, and aUo that the congratulations offered by the House were earnest ones. Mr M.icandrtw ref-rred to Major Atkinaou'tt remarks and said he felt exceedingly gratified at the position taken up by the hon. gentleman. He felt that a great compliment w.w paid to the colony, and he hoped it would >w .in incentive to the rising politicians in Now Z -aland, whose name was Legion, to devote as much brain power to the public service a* the Premier had done, if they had it. The Premier rose to reply, but it w.is only to say that he felt deeply grateful to the House for their kindness, and asked to be excused from saying more. His voice was scarcely audible, and he evidently spoke with the deepest emotion. At a subsequent stago of the sitting he laid he desired now to thank the House heartily for their congratulations. The honour that had been conferred upon him by Her Majesty was, he said, unsolicited and altogether unexpected. He hardly knew any<)ne at all iv London, and could only attribute it to the position he held in the colony. He regretted that others who had a better claim to the honour had not received the distinction which had been conferred upon him. The House would understand who he referred to. It was a gentleman who had held the office of Premier of the colony before him. His remarks were also received with cheers, and the House proceeded with the other business.

Retrenchment. Wellington, Friday. There is still a rumour afloat that the Opposition will move in the direction of further retrenchments, notwithstanding the Premier's statement yesterday, and a further rumour is that an effort will be made to limit the borrowing for theJ!year to one million.

The Public Works Statement. I hear that the Public Works Statement will not be brought down- for a fortnight. The chief part of the Statement having been anticipated by the Budget speech of the Treasurer, the disappointment as to its non-delivery is not very keenly felt.

Civil Service ReformIt has transpired that the Civil Service Reform Bill is really an enlargement of the scheme that was in contemplation by the Atkinson Ministry before they were turned out of office in 1884. That scheme was the outcome of the labour of the Civil Service Commission which was appointed by the late Ministry with this object in view, but on the present Government coming into power all traces of the papers in connection with the matter had disappeared. The affair caused considerable comment at the time, and it is surmised now that either the the missing documents have been discovered or that the new bill has in some other manner been framed in accordance with the recommendation made by the Commissioners about three years age. I understand that under the Bill all permanent officers of the Civil Service, are to be taken

from the control of Parliament and placed under the category of civil hit appropriations.

Railway ReformIt may bn interesting to you readers to stito that the Minister for Public Works has consented to receive this session the petition presented last y«ur from 7000 Auckland residents on Mr Vuile's proposed system of railway management. The motion for the app xntment of a committee to consider the petition is now on the order paper.