POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2472, 15 May 1888, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent,] Wellington, Monday. THE NEW RULES OF PROCEDURE, Thkhk is considerable difference of opinion amongst members, as to the wisdom of altering the Standing Orders in the manner proposed by Ministers. It appears to be tukan for granted that the portion of the new rules relating to day sittings will be allowed to have a trial, in which case tho House will meet on Tuesday at 10 a.m. and sit till 10 p.m. only, with thu usual adjournments for lunch and dinner. It is proposed to meet on Wednesdays, Thursday's and Saturday's to 10 a.m. and adjourn for the night at G p.m. On these days the House would meet on Fridays at 10 a.m. and sit ae long as it pleased. One great objection made to the change is that it will greatly interfere with the sitting of select committees which constitutes large portion of the legislation of each session. The Government propose in their new rules that committees should meet on Mondays and Saturdays, on which days the House does not sit, and also on Wednesday and Thursday, the evenings when the House, if the alteration is agreed to, will not sit. It is needless to state that the proposal to adjourn at G o'clock on two evenings in the week is warmly supported by the press representatives, many of whom think the protracted sittings of the House, night after night, absolutely injurious to their health. A great many members also are strongly opposed to continued late sittings so that there is evory probability of that portion of the rules being allowed a fair trial. The application of the eloture to debato will, however, be strongly resisted, not only by members who habitually weary the House by their intermittable long speeches, but by others on the ground that it would put almost unlimited power in the hands of the Speaker and Chairman of Committees for tho time being. The whole, question, however, will elicit a lonsthy and probably acrimonious debate. THE PRISON DEPARTMENT. The report of the Inspector of Prisons deals at some length with the working of the First Offenders Probation Act, which came into operation in October, 18SG. Captain Hume says that since the Act was put in force 121 persons have been placed on probation. Of these 58 have been discharged on fullilling the conditions of their licenses. Fifty-three are still on probation, nine have been released, and one has escaped. The report shows that 103 offenders were treated under the Act during 1887. The approximate cost of keep ing these, if they had been imprisoned, would have been £2,000, which, with £320 payable by the offenders as costs, represents the total saving to the colony. Tho chief danger to bo guarded against is the idea that a person mii;ht deliberately commit a crime for the first time with the certainty, if detected, of suffering no further punishment than being placed on probation with an opportunity of absconding ; but the fact

of only one prisoner out of 121 bavin? succeeded in getting away virtually disposes of any such supposed danger, and when it in further considered that 53 first-offenders have actually come back to society without being feub.ificted to tho contamination of prison inHuoncss, such a result must bfi recogniseu as most gratifying, and will prove a valuable aid in removing the Btigma of the original connection in those cases where an intention has been shown to do bettor in future. Monday. PUSHING ON BUSINESS. Ministers evidently intend losing no time in getting the Home settled down to business, the Chinese Immigration Bill and the Electoral Bill both being on to-morrow. The latter is certain to be debated at great length, involving, as it does, somo important changes in the electoral law of tho colony.- I understand tlus Government do not intend making the Bill a Ministerial measure. THE MEMBER FOR KUMARA. Mr So Idon is said to ba on the war-path this session, and promises to make things vary lively for Ministers, over tho Greyinouth Harbour Board and other West Coast matters. THE GOVERNOR'S RE-APPOINT-MENT. Tho Post says :—" The news that His Excellency Sir Win. Jervois is likely to be re-appointed to tho Governorship of this colony is almost too good to be true. In saying that we most heartily desire that it may be correct, we are simply expressing the unanimous feeling of tho people of New Zealand. The colony has never had a Governor who was personally more popular, and his popularity is shared by all the members or his family. His removal weuld ba deeply deplored, and all will rejoico if he is confirmed in the appointment for another term." OPPOSITION LEADERSHIP. A meeting of the Opposition is to be held in a day or two, for the purpose of choosing a leader for the session. A rumour points to Mr Walker, member for Ashburton, as being likely to be accepted by the party. Mr Walker held the position of whip for the Stout-Vogel Ministry for two or three years, and last session was generally referred to as Sir J. Vogel's whip. Although a strong party man, Mr Walker is not by any means an aggressive speaker, and he would probably lead the Opposition as well as any man whom they could select from their ranks. RABID PROTECTION. It is reported that four of the Auckland members who have hitherto supported the Government will join the Opposition ranks unless thoy are satisfied with thu tariff prop-sals in the direction of encouraging local industries. It is further rumoured, on the other hand, that two of the Southern members, who have since their election steadily voted with the Opposition, intend changing side 3, and may now be reckoned amongst the supporters of Ministers.