PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1847, 22 May 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From our own Corkbbpondent ) Wellington, May 21 Here Is Bomsthing which will Inter .«n tho«e who care about V'llage Pottle ments. A deputation contesting c.f Majo Steward, Messrs Perceval, Pearson, Turn boll, Buiton, Cowan, Walker, Duncan O'Oaliaghan, Lftwry. and Taylor waitec upon the Minister for Lands thla motninj with refprecc 'o the proposal to devot* the whola of the part of the uaallottac ta'ance.of the now lom to the purposes establishing labor settlement in a^rica Itural settlement*. Mfjor S'ewatd, intrcdnced the deputation, Btated that Di Etodgkinson and Mr Dodeon would bav( been present, bat bad not received tH notices Bent them of the hour fixed. Hi explained that there was no unsold Grown lsnds in many of the asrlcaltural districts *nd that land situated ml!e3 away from available employment waa unsaltable, indeed, useless for the purpose la view There were now lots of opportunities ol acquiring suitable land in the right situations at a low price, »nd he urged that ii blocks of Buch land were judiciously choaen numbers of respectable laboring men, who must otherwise leave the districts In which they now ware, would take up sections. Nearly every member of the deputation spoke to favor Of these views, Mr O'Callaahan suggest . Ing that the Government would escape • any suspicion cf favoritism in the selection of blook* of land by calling for public tender! or offering of land from owners Mr Richardson said he fully understood the Whole bearings of the case, and would lay the same before the Cabinet, ucdertaking to advise Major Steward as tc how far the Government would be able tc support the proposal submitted. There is considerable discussion over the leader in to-night's "Press" in regard to the Loan Bill, but it is, however, very much doubted After referring; to the unprecedented position of the Bill, which was asked before any disclosures had been made a? to the true position of the colony, the article says ;— " The opponents of borrowing nevarrhe'ess rapidly determined on a Hoe of ection, though there Was no time for proper concert. Mr Scobie Mackenzie gave notice of an amendment on the second rending of the Loan Bill, and a large body < f members. who had previously supported the Government, resolved to support his amendment It: was deemed only fair to Government, however, to acquaint them with this resolution, and accordingly Mr Fulton, member for Taieri, one of Sir H. At kin son's oldest and moßt intimate political associate*, sought an interview with him, and Informed him that he most not count upon bib suppoit on the Loan' Bill, or that of the other members who shared his views. Upon this the Premier requested Mr Fulton to come into bis private room, where he was engaged in convaraation with him for about a quarter of aa hour. It is probable that all particulars of what passed there will never be made publicly known, but there is no violation of privacy, or confidence in stating the following facts. On emerging from the Premier's office, Mr Fuiton at once communicated with those who had determined to vote for Mr Mackacz'.e's amendment. He told them that the Premier having bound him to the strictest seoreoy had made a disclosure to him which convinced him that the immediate passing of the Loan Bill was a matter of absolute necessity. He told the members that he was pjwerleaa to open his lips as to the natcre of the disclosures which the Premier had made to him having pledged bis word not to do •o, but he affirmed thit after the disclosure be felt compelled himself to vote for the BUI, and be enjoined them to be guided by him in the course they should take. He mentioned that the Premier had made it a qaeation of personal confidence, and bad appealed to the cordial, •nd long standing relations existing betwern them, and earnestly dwelt on the consequences to himself-of being abandoned at a most critical moment by his old e tit and most trusted political friends. Mr Fulton acknowledged that he had been unable to resit t this appeal and with characteristic lojaltyand generosity, he pleaded the Premier's cause for him with the ether members as warmly and eloquently as he could have done himsalf. So successful was he that without the slightest inkling of the nature of the disclosure which the Premier bad made to him but upon the faith of his word that it would sufficiently convince them it they knew it they oensented to support the Loan BUI. It was BUggstted to Mr M«okecz'o that be Bhould withdraw his amendment. He, however, having given notice of the amendment, and been assured of support for it from various quarters, felt bimaolf bound to proceed with it, although without the assistance of some twenty members on his own side, whom he bad previously counted upon." It is indicated that the subject matter of the article will be brought up la the House, and an explanation demanded of Ministars. Undoubtedly the great event of to-dsy waa the wedding of Mr Valentine to M'ss Llnck, wbluh took place at St. Andrew'e Church. The whole aflair waa a surprise, as no one was aware of it until a few days ago, when It waß announced that the bride would arrive by the Tongariro, and consequently all arrangements were very hurried. There waß nevertheless a large attendance of the general public, in addition to members of the Houso, who were present almost to a man, and the affair wbb a moat brilliant one, the galaxy of female beauty present being unusua 1 , evea for Wellington. Mr Loughvay, member for Linwood, filled the onerous poet of bridegroom's man, and the only bridesmaid waß Miss Lee, of North Talerl, alstei-in-law of the Minister of Justlos, at whose house the wedding breakfast was held. The general feeling now appears to be decidedly adverse to the Electoral Bill, which many members think will never be popular, as it will never be understood. J£ven members of the Government party •re crying out about the complex nature of the system proposed, which I confess 1 should not like to explain, and it is openly stated on both sides of the House that it will be thrown out, -. Members appear to be In an niter fog as xegards the Hare system provided for In the Electoral Bill, and there Is some talk of appointing a deputation to Govern* ment to ask Ministers to hold classes In the lobby to explain its - provisions to members prior to the debate ooming on. All day yesterday small knots of members were to be seen about ths House discussing the matter, and trying to solve problems as to quota aad quotients, &c , but no one seems to be able to get to the bottom of It, and the general idea is that Ministers will all give different explanations when the BUI comes up: Wellington, May 22 In view of the diflcusslon ov.ir the Loan Bill which ia being thrown upon Government over Sir ff . Whltaksr'a epeecb, the general opinion aeem? to be that tbe Premier will have to bring down the Financial Statement as early bs possible, or tbe result will be continual nagging and distrast even amongat his 4WQ party of the Intentions of Government. Friday next Is mentioned pb the possible day, but it is more likely I think to be Tuesday next before It is delivered, A spree of the youqg New Zealand bloods was held last evening, about 16 being present. Mr Mills oconpled the chair and Mr Monk the vice chair. Speeches were delivered by the Chairman acd others, all being pervaded by a marked tone cf earnest patriotism and public duly. A good deal of discussion took place as tu the futnre action of the parly, and the general plan of operations was arranged,

There is expected to be a oonsiderab!( rumpui ovar tho Loan Bill business i:i the rTnos • ♦ -l»v, as the matter of S'r P. W,-iiuk*r\H «peech is certain to be broughl forwKrd, hn-i probably tha •' Preaa " i article m reference to Mr Falton. All I sorts of rumors are enrrent in regard to tho relations of Sir F, WhltakSr and the rest cf tho Cabinet ov^r bio speeob, one of which h that immediately on the matter becoming known Hir H. Atkinson wrote to Sir F.rder'ck Whitaker asking for an explanation or to resign. The rnmot a'ao goes that Sir Frederick Whitaker aotpa !y did writes his resignation, but upon exp'an*tlon the matter waa amicably safled. and at the request of the Premier the resignation was withdrawn. I believe there was an amusing little scene over the action of the Opposition iu leaving the House on the rules of procedure, ond the Hou6e was nearly empty of Oppbaitlon members, Mr Buxton was fitting ia the corner anxious to get out also, bat having no exonße at'laet one of the Government supporters next to him remarked that "all the Opposition fellowa had gone," upon which Mr Baxton naively remarked "By Jove bo they have, I must go and eee what's up" and his place knew him no more. His ready excuse caused a good deal of amusement. A caucus of Opposition members was held this morning, at whioh thirty-one were present. Mr Lance was In th& chair. It waa suggested that the party should e'ect a Committee of maaagftn nt, but it was deoidftd afier di?cosßion th»t as they were getting on so well under the pT£S9nt arrangement they should let things go on for the present Sir G. Grey was not present In reference to the statements made by Sir F. Whitaker, it was ag r e n d that tho Chairman should nek Government f r an explanation from the Premier as to the extraordinary statement made by th9 Attorney-General in the Ojuncll as to the probable bankruptcy of the colony if the Loan Bill were not piesed. The question of procedure rulea then came up, and it was decided tbat the name tactics should be pursued bb on Friday last. It was also agreed in regard to the Electoral Bill that on its coming up for the second reading it should be pointed out to Government that the. Bill is one of immense complexity, and that It ie quite unnecessary at the present time, and that neither House nor country haa understood or accepted it ; a*ao 'hat »j this wai not the time Jo disc ma it, it should be adjourned. It was decided that th9 party should vote against the Bl'l if necessary, and forfeit their right to bteak on the sicon 1 reading Mr Taylor will, this afternoon, - give notice to ask Government whether they thiuk they are justified in expending £300 on free railway passes for mt-mburs to hang on their watch ch tins, when eo man ; of the working-men ia the colony, are un&ble to obtain employment, and when the poorest of the civil servants has to Bubmit to a reduction in hia salary. Mr Pyke ia about again to-day, and looking none the worse for his "apouleotio' attack. .'