PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1854, 30 May 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

I • ♦__ I (From our own Cokkerpondbnt. ) Wellington, May 30 Mr Sra;th informs my that he has re. celved information to the effeot that the Government intend to reduce the amount of wages to skilled workmen m the Government shops by a shilling a day, and he will this pf ternoon give notice of a question on the subject as to whether this is correct, Of course the prinoipal topic of discufl. sion to-day is the Budget, whioh is naturally variously received. Copies were only distributed this morning, and members have hardly had an opportunity to canvass itß proposals, but so far the feeling generally appears to be adver.-e to the tariff Of courße it is partially acceptable to the Protectionists, who may on the whole be expected- to support the Government m regard to it, bub Freetrade supporters of Government are furious, and nearly all the Wellington yotee h&ve been Alienated. Tha general idea at present seems to be that the Government will carry the tar.'ff, bat that when that is done their fall will be imminent, as Fretraders will oppose them and join forces with the Opposition, who when- the tariff is passed will h»ve no further common ground with the Govern- , ment. Nothing has yet been done m the way of holding an Opposition o&uous, and th!B will not probably take place before to morrow. ' ":' \ A big rumpus is anticipated to-day over a motion of Mr Uadman's for a return m reference to the Gdvernment printing offiea. It waa over this that Mr Fergus and Mr Mitcheleon had a row as already telegraphed and Mr Fisher and Mr Fergus it appears have been going a lone hand against the rest of tbe Ministry for some time. The motion for the return was written out by Mr Fisher, who wanted the contract for a Wellington man and handed, it to Mr Oadman, who moved it wilhoat knowing the oiroumat&noes, and probably Mb Mltohelsoo and Mr Fiaher may have a "goin " m the House over it. .At any rate it la expected that there will be a burst up m the Cabinet, whioh nearly took place on Sund»y over, the tariff, and now that la fixed, things are aald to be very mixed m the Ministerial family, •■ .