IN THE LOBBY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1028, 22 August 1883, Page 2

IN THE LOBBY.

[FKOM OOR PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, To-day.

A meeting of members representing North Canterbury, convened by.- Messrs Holmes and Wright, took place yesterday, to consider the representation, made by the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce on the subject of railway charges. Ten members were present, Mr Wright' being in the chair. After discussion' Messrs Holmes, Wright, Thomson, White, and Allwright were appointed a sub-committee to investigate the matter and interview the Minister of Public Works, and to ask for an equitable adjustment. Not content with the adverse. decision of . the House regarding Mr Bathgate’s recent “ surprise ” motion lor tbe , removal of the seat of Government, a numbed,of the leading Opposition members have, put their heads together and have came to a determination to renew jthe motion in a different form on the next opportunity. It is probable that the motion' will be moved by Mr Barron, should he y able to catch the Speaker’s eye first/when supply is next put up by the Treasurer, and if that opportunity is lost, it is difficult to say whether another will preaent ftself this session. On the last occasion Mr Bathgate’s peculiarly worded motion was lost by a narrow majority of four in a rather thin house. The voting showed In the majority of cases that mambers threw aside party considerations altogether, and reduced the struggle to the . narrow platform of North Island v. South Island. It is therefore calculated that with tb» weight of the South Island Ministerialists thrown in favor of the Opposition, in such a contest in a full House, the political scales would weigh ‘ down in favor of the resolution to remove the seat of Government to some site in the South Island, probably at or near Christchurch. 5 Further development is expected in the course of a day or two.