POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2502, 24 July 1888, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(BT TELEGRAPH—OWN COHRF.SPOKnRN'T.) Wellington, Monday. THE NATIVE BILLS.

The Committee appointed to report on the four native Bills have now concluded their labour?. In addition to tlio oilier amendments which I have already sent yon, the Committee propose that a copy of any application to tho Native Land Court for investigation of title, partition of succession, or other business shall, prior to coming before the Court, be forwarded to each native committee within the district concerned, and should n report he mado upon it by any committee, it shall bo considered before tho application is dealt with. It is fully expected now that the Native Bills will Ro through although tho Maori members will no doubt Rive some trouble before they allow them to pass. The chief objection taken to the Native Lund Bill is that it affirms the principle of taxing native lands, and although the clause provides that no such taxation shall have effect for two years, the Maori members are naturally averse to any provision of the kind having a place in the Bill. Mr Carroll contends that when power is granted to natives to di?al with their lands, taxation will follow in tlie ordinary course of tilings, but is of opinion that tho inserting of a taxing clause in the Bill will have the opposite effect to that intended, as the Maoris will, under those circumstances, be in no hurry to individualise their titles. I understand that the Native Minister was inclined to give way on this point but the Premier insisted on the taxing principle being affirmed in the Bill. It was recognised, however, by some of the Opposition that Ministers have shown every desire to meet the wishes of the natives in other respects, so that should there be any attempt at stonewalling on tho part of the Maori members they are not likely to receive much sympathy from the House. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. The Statement, I understand, is nearly finished, but it will not be delivered till Friday next. As I informed you some time ago, the amount of money proposed to be expended on railway construction this year will be les.H than in any other year since the initiation of the Public Works Policy. THE MINISTERIAL UEFKAT. The Opposition are now giving out that the defeat on the question of the legislative estimates which the Premier counted on Friday night has had the effect of hardening up their party considerably with possible results at a near future. There is no doubt that two or three defeats wf this nature would seriously change the position of the Government, but the question at issue on .Friday night was certainly not worth the attention given to it, as many members considered that this matter was of very little consequence one way or the other, and the voting on it was decidedly mixed It is very unlikely, moreover, to have any effect on the position of the Government, as even Mr Hutchison, who is probably the mo.-t rabid of their opponents, could hardly seize on it as a pretext for bringing down a hostile motion. CABINET COUNCILS. Ministers had a lengthy Cabinet meeting yesterday, when the Public Works Statement, and other business, was under disOTAUO CENTRAL RAILWAY BILL. This Bill is sut down again for Thursday, but it has little chance of getting through, as some of the Auckland members tlireateu to wbstruct it, even to the title of Bill. THE PREMIER'S TELEPHONE. Rather a good joke is circulating concerning a certain high official in the Civil Service, and its substance may serve as another warning against the clangers of careless telephoning. It appears, according to the Press, that the officer in question, who is remarkable for his obsequiousness to those above him in official seats, one evening last week, while the House was sitting, rang up the private Secretary's room in the Parliamentary Buildings. Now the Premier is wont occasionally when aweary of the pointless babble in the House to retire to the seclusion which that room grants, and there lock himself in private, of course for solitary meditation. Hearing the telephone bell ring, however, he answered tho signal, and the following conversation resulted : — Civil Servant: "Is Blank there?" Answer (in the customary bluff and gruff manner of the fighting Major) : " No, he's not." "When will he be in?" Answer: " Don't know." C. S. : " Well, you're very polite, I must say. Couldn't they afford the 2d extra for manners ? Answer. "Humph, who are you?" C. S. (giving name), "And who are you?" Answer: '" The Premier." Tableau !! Down at the Government buildings where a high official in a blue funk, collapses in his chair, exclaiming " Great Scott, and I was just about to ask if the Major had got his " boots" on this evening.