PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1859, 5 June 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From oub own Correspondent. ) Wellikqton, June 4. Things have been generally dull m the lobbies to-day, and members on both sides appear to be waiting the declaration tomorrow of the Premier as to what position Government intend to take up la regard to Mr Ormond's motion. It is generally understood, however, that after the representations of the Opposition members on Saturday, to the effect that a sufficient number of them would stand by the Government to he;p them carry through the tariff, they will accept this support and adhere to the policy first enunciated. It Is ttated, however, that though they have agreed to support the proposal to raise the school age, and will stand or taH m opposition to the motion for funding the deficit, the Cabinet are not unanimous as to the duty on tea, and this will be left to the House to decide. On the whole, however, I think it may be fairly assumed that Government intend to stick to their guns, and by the aid of the Opprsltion will carry though the tariff Wellington, June 5, There| ** B Borne talk of Mr Bcob'e Mackenzie having written to the Premier yesterday. I understood that Mr Maokenzie felt it soarcely inoumbent on him to give any formal notice that he could not support the tariff because it was inconsistent with his freetrade opinion. It was therefore a matter of mere courtesy that he wrote. I believe, however, he expressed approval of some portions of the Financial Policy, each as abolition of the Public Works Department ; curtailment of loan expenditure and the throwing of school buildings, and other services upon revenue Instead of loan. The determination to meet rather than fund the deficiency was also strongly approved by him even through the primage night not be the best form m whiph to do it. His opinion is that the Government wou^d have done far better to have boldly grappled with the question from the beginning rather than give way bit— by-bit as the necessities of the country drove them on. To the Protection question he ie, however, uncompromising, declaring that whatever duties were imposed should be such as could be withdrawn when the necessity for them no longer existed. Sir George Grey's Land for Settlement Bill was to have come before the Waste Lands Committee this morning, but there was not time for Its dlscusalon. It was generally alleged last night that Government would oppone all three resolutions of which Mr Ormond has given notice, 1 Mr 'Joyce, member for Lyttelton, has received an intimation that petitions are on their way from Auckland, signed by 4500 people, m favor of his Shop Hours' Bill. The Government, Ij understand, have given no permission to the Union s.a. Company, to brlDg over the ($0 Chinese, iald 'to be on' their way here In the Wakatlpu. An Opposition caucus to dlsoaßs Mr Ormond'a resolution met this morning. Twenty-five members were preeent Mr Lance being m the chair. Mr Seddon was conßpiouoiiß by his absence. It was unanimously resolved to give a block vote agaiost Mr Ormond when the question of going into Committee of Sapply came up. It was pointed out that on the Premier moving to go into Com - mittee of Supply Mr Ormond's motion must come up by way of amendment, and that the part? should then vote against him. A member stated that he believed Govsrnmflnt would, however, vote m f»vor of the debate on Mr Ormond'a r^olutioT a by way of clearing the air, but those* preaert agreed that tbe action of the Government-s hould not offoofc them one Way or the other. A email discussion then BTOB9 as to what should bo done m case they were beaten, and the debate ! on Mr Ormond'a resolutions came on In spite of them and were moved separately, One gentlemaa stated he must vote for raising the school age. Another member, a Freetrader, withdraw on the ground that being a Freetrader he could not support the ' Protectionist iactloß. All the rest agreed to oppone the resolutions separately as well as en bloc.