POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2963, 11 July 1891, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

[BY TELKOKAI'H — SI'KCIAL KKI'Ol; 1 Kit. ] WkLLINUTOV, Ij i-st N'lgllt. A CURIOUS POINT. Shortly after the Mmivj una afternoon the Speaker read a letter which ho had received from the Railway Commis moners enclosing two hitters forming an essential part of tho correspondenci on the manufacture of locomotive boilers which they said hud been omitted ftoiu those forwarded by them to bo laid on the table of the Mou.se by the Minister for Public Works yesterday. The Minister for Publie Works quoted one of tho latter?, in question to show that it. had reference only to the vot6 for expenditure on opened lines therefore it had no bearing upon the matter of boilers, and the chief Commissioner on his attention being called to it concurred in its suppression. Tho second letter was actually laid on the table as a separate paper and this being so he protested against the complaint made l>y the Commissioners as being unfair to himself, for he had always endeavoured to avoid any conflict with them. The Hon. John Bryce thought it was clear that a breach of privilege had been committed by somebody, and he would revive the matter at some future time. On the motion of tho Premier it was decided that tho Commis sinners' letter to the Speaker be returned to t'lein, together with the Hansard report of Mr Seddon's explanation. The matter will come up for discussion on Tuesday. MR W. S. ALLEN. The petition in reference to the removal of tho disqualification of Mr W. S. Allen was reported on to-day by tho Public Petitions Committee. The report was to tho effect that as the acts which led to his being disqualified were those of an agent committed in Mr Allen's absence in England and were of a technical nature, any stigma resting upon him should be removed, and that a Bill be introduced for tho purpose of removing any disabilities, as was done in tho case of Mr Pilliet (Stanmore, 1881). The report was referred to the Government for consideration. TAXATION BILLS. According to tho Press to-nieht, the Government liavo prepared three successive drafts of their Taxation Bills, and had to throw them all aside, as they did not seem safe to lay before Parliament. Even their own whips, it is said, have not been allowed to see the draft, which they n-jw have under consideration. The opinion is rapidly gaining ground that the Bills will not see the light of day this session. MAJOR MAIR'S PETITION. A petition was presented to-day by Mr Kelly (East Coast) from Major Gilbert Mair, late judge of the Native Land Court, setting forth that ho served the colony for many years during the New Zealand war, and that his office was lately abolished. Major Mair urged that as he would be entitled to a pension in 18!)2, the House should grant him such relief as it thinks expedient.