PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1883, 3 July 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

■ ■ *» „ (From our own Correspondent.) Wellington, July 2. A deputation consisting of MeiiraPyke, O'Oallaghau, Perceval j Jaokson, Hobba, Marohant, Turnbull, Fiah, Steward, and Pratt this morning Waited on the Minister of Publio Works m reference to the question of reduotion of the freight at present oharged on the railways for consignments of fruit. The deputation urged that there ahould ba a separata class for the conveyance of fruit, inai* much aa at present the fruit growers oould only take advantage of the low tariff at present existing m sending twe tons. What was wanted was that tha oharge for oonveyanoe should be at per . hundredweight, and the deputation pointed out that by the imposition of a . low rate encouragement would be given to tbe frulc industry. It was also requested that empties be returned at reduoed rates. Mr Mltohelson m reply said ha ' had had a talk on the subj aot with the Premier, who held decidedly similar views to those expressed by the deputa* tlon, and he promised to bring the matter - . before the Cabinet at onoe, and inform them of the result. • - i A good deal of diversity of opinion etlsta 1 as to what will be. the upshot of afU'rs ' . when the House resumes to-morrow. It la generally anticipated that Government will put the Estimates as the fink order of the day, and this will be virtual y ; • a challenge to the Opposition to turn the ; Government out if they so desire* Some ■■ Protectionist opposition members May that as Government made the Tariff a matter of i emergency, they mußt oarry It without tak* : logup anyother business, but aa this means jeopardising tbe Tariff, others will support the Government ln going into Committee of Supply, m the hope that the progress made will be soon reported and the amendmect. made m the Tariff considered. There Is talk of Mr Seddon trying to work up some sort of a motion 1 to put to Government into a hole, but nothing definite has yet transpired In regard to the nratter. My own opinion is, judging from all I can gather, that the proposal to ' take up the Estimates will be oarrled, and after a little progress has been made to assart the position of Government the Tariff wll) be considered, and probably tun through all Its remaining stages, Wellington, July 3. The general idea m reference to the ontoome of ovents when the House meets, seems to be that Government will not be opposed m their endeavor to go on with the Eatlmateß, but a great deal will depend on the attitude taken up by the Premier over the matter. If he elects to make a start w|th the Estimates and so establish the position taken up on Saturday night, after going on with the Tariff it is generally believed he will have a substantial majority If Indeed any oppqsltiqn (a qfferod. This wld pcotjaqly be the position, bijt if he assuinos too aggres§lve an attitude and endeavors to force the Estimates unduly, an amendment may ppssibly be moved by Mr Seddon to the effect that as the House has already ordered that the Customs Bill shall have precedence of all other bust-* ness progress should be reported so that thia order may be obeyed. In that case another tough fight would probably take plaoe, but it is believed that iti outcome would be favorable to Govern - ment, as the protectionists who opposed Government on Friday night, rather than assist lv a Ministerial defeat and possibly the loss of the tariff would feel bound to support Government . At any rate I have authority for saying that there will be no pre oonoerted aotlom, and that whatever is done by Mr rieddon will be on his own aooonnt. Information wai reoelved this morning that during the night Mr Pearson succumbed to the illness whioh he haa been suffering from during the' last forthlghj;, and on every hand expressions' bj sympathy and 'regr'ev a;e~ heard. The deceased gentleman, who was 'senior whip for the Government party, was of the most popular members of the House and holding the position he did had greater iofluenoa than tpoit members. I understand that as a mark of respeot the House will adjourn after prayers to day till the even* Ing sitting. All Select Committees thia morning adjourned out of respeot to the deceased aa soon as the news became known. The general opinion is that MiMcGregor, who has been filling the post of whip with marked ability, will take up Mr Pearson's plaoe permanently. ! There still seems to be Uttie simmering of exoitement as to what will be the upi shot of events to-night and two or three of the different sections of tfte BfqqtQ^tu holding meetings at the present time to \ consider the action that will ba taken 1 by them . Freetraders proper and Opposition Protectionists are both considering the position, but at present the Idea seema to be that the outcome will be nil. Moßt of tho tnambera who went to, Wanganui to attend "the Hon J. Brfoe-ji banquet have rethrned/and thejr apeak In high' terms of the manner In whioh thej were treated at Wangauql, Thejre Is ft rumor, thptrqtb of I have not yet beon able to ascertain, that as a protest against the manner m which retrenchment Is being effected moat of the higher officials of the Publio Work* Department have resinned.