PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1884, 4 July 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From oue own Oobbbbpondbnt.) Wellington, July 3 The proceedings m the Uouße yesterday ended m a fizzle after all, and bir H. Atkinson has flßßertcd his position and carriea with him a substantial majority It became known coon after one o'clock that tho Opposition had decided to support Government and go into Supply. Once | m Supply they had determined to go a little way m order to save Sir H. Atkinson's dignity and then aik hint to report progress to permit the Tariff to bo taken up The Freetraders on the other hand decided to walk out when the motion to go into Supply came up, but leaving two of their number to call for a division bo as to force tho Opposition into oating the leek, going into Supply and sabmitting to Sir H. Atkinson's dictation for fear of losing the Tariff Bill. Tho Freetraders take up tho position that as the quarrel about the Estimates and Tariff Bill ia between Government and the Protectionist?, they have nothing to do with it and will support neither Bide. Tho programme drawn up by both aides was carried out to tho letter, and the rpsult waß that during tho whole of the evening there was a wrangle between Uovernment and tho Opposition and Freetraders as to which parly was doing the correot thing, the upshot being that after wasting the whole night the House got into Bupply on a division oalled for by Dr Newman by 59 to 4. An hour or more was spent m discussing the Legislative vote, but nothing wan done, and progrens was reported without any result to the whole evening's proceedings. It is Btatcd that after having made some little progress with the Estimate?, should Sir 11 . Atkinson refuse to report progress and go on with the Tariff Bill, they will not report progress, but wi'l simply discuss to an inordinate length, so that no progress will bo made. This they can do without hostility, and can foroo 8 r H. Atkinson's hand if thoy stick to it. There Is already Home talk of a probable successor to Mr Pearson, and as a natural consequence the names of icveral prominent politicians now out of the flouue are mentioned, lnolading 81? B, Stout and ££r BoUesfcon. Toe lattqr ganfclcmnfl la 'at present In Wellington, «ip d, I eoqaired ffotn him this morning what were his Intention*. Ills reply wan to the effect \\»i he bad. vo\ yqt oven considered (he matter, iie bad ttofc been auked to como forward, Bo far as hta present intentions were cnoerned he would not do so. Of oourao (t la ratbei prematare to speculate on tho matter, but possibly Mr Rolloston may yet bo a candidate,