POLITICAL NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1716, 22 November 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL NEWS.

(From our Correspondent.)

Wellington, November 21

The all-absorbing topio of conversation >«day hue, of course, been tha " Ball " rtSole on the drunkeonean of the New aaland Parliament, and It is felt on all anda that the matter cannot be allowed > rest where It la. The article, part of hioh I wired to yon thia morning, aaya le New Zealand Parliament is the most runken of any la the Austaalssian >lonies. This, of course, la a slander, bnt whilst it ia unnecessary to argue m what degree the charge 'a true many members feel that th*t they oannot allow themselves to remain under tho stigma, and are anxiouß that it should be re* mored even at the risk of fixing the oharge on individuals, and from one of this number it is rather expected seme* thing will fall which will have the eff-ct of bringing the matter before tho House. On the other hand, there are man} who are anxions to silence all questioners, and treat the article with contempt, and disappoint tho writer of the notoriety which he seeks. The editor of the " Bell " is Mr G M Reed, formerly of the " Otago Daily Times" and " Auokl*nd Herald " M Mitch?lson, the pnsjnt fnlnter of PubHo Works, is pan proprietor of the * Bel)," and it ia rumored this mo ning that h" bad telegraphed in*>t,runti' na to Auckland to have the d-lioqjent editor'a aervloa riiap-nabd •fi'h, and that- the paper sh<*ald make a fall »pol"gy to Pdrliam-jctin this evening's issue. If this were done, it was (nought ;he matter would blow over However true thta may be, I oannot cay, but it is andersto d that np to half-past five this evening no word had been received of any apology made by the paper, The House meetß this evening for oonaid >%. tlon of looal BiUa, and expectation I'd rife as to what may transpire Id. this most unsavoury matter. Some days ago it was rumored that Sir Q Grey intended to bring before the House the charges made by Sir J. Yogel, and there ia some sort of dread that Sir George may thia evening Introduce a diaouaaion on the •• Bell " attiole, and the oharg'es therein contained. Thla evening Mr Joyoe gave notice to move that an equal earn of money be set down for expenditure m the employment of the unemployed on publlo works ia or near the citlea of Auokland, WeiHnpton, Ohriatcharch an 1 Dunedln. Mr Levestam created some amusement by immediately following with a notice of motion for a sum of money for the unempoyed. In constructing a road near Nelsou, Later: I have just been informed thac at a Cabinet meeting thia afternoon the Government decided to take no action m reference to the "Bell" article levying charges of drunkenness against the Speaker, The direqtora of the ••Bell" Company were to meet at four o'clock this afternoon to decide what aotion they should take m the matter. The House ha« now, 8 p.m., leaohed the orders of the day, bo that it la not likely anything will orop up to-night. The Wanganni Harbor Bill Is under dlsouaßion, aud is being stonewalled by Dr Newman. The dootor has announced his lntabtlon of speaking for come tipie. It ia not likely that much business will bo done fcO'njghfc,

Wellington, November #2. A deputation re relief of Qpown tenanta and those under Sqhool Qormnjeslonerß, etc., waited on the Premier and the Minister of Lands laafc night. Present-— Menara MeuaJeo, M.L.0., Oowan Joo. MoKensle, Valentine, Oadman, Marchant, Hodgklnuon und T. MoKenzta. After the memterß had urged tha olalms of the. tenants, the Premtec said he and the Minister of IpncU) thoroughly understood the argonoy of the oase and would In a few daya Inform the deputation la what way they purposed to nce)t the,o»se