POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2644, 22 June 1889, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

lllV TULKUIt.U'H.—OWN UCMRKSI'OXDKNT.) WKtxixcroN, Friday. MINISTERIAL DIFFERENCE.

An early opportunity lias been taken by llio late Minister for Education of bringing his personal grievances against Ministers before the House. Mr Fisher this afternoon asked the Premier whether he intended laying tho correspondence referring to his leaving the Atkinson Ministry on the table. Me added that he-had been much slandered and villitied over this matter, and that it was due to him that the Hrine should be put in possession of the whole correspondence. Sir H. Atkinson at once said there was no objection to this, but he thought it would establish a very bad precedent. I understand the Premier is supported in this view by a large number of members who consider that Sir Harry would be quite justified in refusing to produce the correspondence. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Tho debate on the Address to-night was in some respects remarkable, as, with tho exception of the mover and seconder, all the speakers were from the Opposition side of tho House. Mr Harkness spoke clearly and forcibly in moving the Address but was careful to state he did not consider himself bound to support every item of the Government policy. The samo remarks apply to Mr Lawry, the seconder of the Address, and both gentlemen stronaly condemned the Property-tax. Mr Walker spoke as the Opposition leader, although not yet elected to that position, and made a particularly halting speech. Mr Hutchinson, member for Waitotara, made a scathing attack on tho Premier in connection with the mistake made in the Loan Act of 1887, by which he asserted, and challenged Sir Harry Atkinson to disprove it, that tho colony had lost about £100,000. Before sitting down Mr Hutchinson said that in the inscrutable wisdom of Providence the present Premier might continue for some time longer to rule over this colony. " JJnt, sir," flourishing his hand with a melo-dramatic air, ; ' the Premier's fall will come before long, and when ho docs fall it will be like Lucifer; never to rise again." He resumed his seat amidst loud Opposition cheers and ironical applause from the Government benches. After a few words from the irrepressible Taiwhanga, the motion was carried without further debate, and the House adjourned till Tuesday. CHARITABLE AID, Tho Charitable Aid Bill is not yet cir. culated, but I gather that its many provisions are that the whole administration ot charitable aid, hospitals, etc., is handed over to tho County Councils and Boroughs. All existing bodies are abolished from Ist April next. Full power is given to the Councils to raise the necessary funds and the constitutions of local bodies are to be all the same in each district, the basis of assessment being tho Rating Act. The Government will take over the maintenance of all orphan children in Industrial Schools and the counties will have to pay (id a day for all other children except criminals committed from their districts to the Industrial Schools. Government will also establish and maintain state refuges for drunkards, idlers, tramps, and other persons. The subsidy system hitherto followed is abolished, and the proposal of tho Bill is that for inmates of hospitals, the Government contributions will be 2s (id per patient for tho first 300 days, and 2s perday afterwards, and sixpence per day for persons suffering from chronic diseases not actually receiving regular treatment. For inmates of local Charitable Aid Homes the Government will pay a subsidy of lid per day. ' THE DIVORCE BILL. Mr Samuel has again given notice of tho Divorce Bill, which is nearly on the same lines as that introduced by him for tho last four sessions. It provides that desertiou for seven years shall bo good grounds for divorce. Another ground is where either party has been sentenced to penal servitude or imprisonment for seven years or upwards. Power is given to the Court to suspend leave tn re-marry as against either party, and the wife is giveu a similar right to petition for divorce on the ground of her husband's adultery to that which the husband now has m respect to the wife. The Court is empowered to prohibit the publication of evidence until judgment has been pronounced.