PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2197, 12 August 1889, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

(Fbom oue ows Corbxspondent.)

Wellikotok, Aoguat 12 PKOGRESB OF BUSINESS.

Everything ia very dnil tMa morning, the only topic of general inleront amongst members being the probable duration of the eoßflion and ibe meauareo liko ; y to be dropped. After the want of buccspb met frith by the Government wi'h all their policy Bills this session it is rot thought likely tbty will attempt to get aviy more through, and as rmntiomd come tim 9 ago the Charitriblo Ail Bill will probably bo uamb-rtd with tbe m*B>'.rod Innocents It is asserted that \ the Government will, however, prrss tbo Bill to tha eecond reeding. Private members' bnsfneeß ii not likely to m»ke ranch fur^h^r progress, an Government will probably take Thursdays p.frer thia week. The opponenta of the Property Tax claim to have a majority on Mr Mess' amend' men 1 , ard Government also cam a jinjorly (n f*vor of tbe seoond reading of the BUI ; my own opinion ia that neither aide fans a m jonty »t present and that there are a number of wiv> rers watting to see w h t cv v ljpmer.t are likely before ommiuing themselvos. Ihe division, however, will be s fairly close ; one. The fear of a dissolution, and the red ace 3 number of membern Is a great fiiotor m the retention of < ffije by the present Government, j THE OTIOO CENTRAL. Having ca ivassed membura on tbe subjeo', M* Sm'th finds that thera ia o dear m»j rl'y m f-.vor of the proposed .amendment to tbe Otsgo Central Rp,ilwny B 11, (that ihe Bill be poatp ted In order thnt the Government may hivo an opportunity if Inoludibg m It the other anfinlebcd linrp). It is reported th>t the Government have fonnd.thls to bo the oes", and have decided to keep the BU' low drwn on tbe order paper, and eventually drop It. Th»re will bo a great row wi:h Mr Pyke and other Otago men if this turns out to be the case. I hear that all tl c northern mon, ezospt Mr Hobbs end Mr X, Thompson, who are interested m the propos d Puhi Pnhi tram way, and moat of the southern mon have promised Mr &nith that they will anpport his amendment, and m that case the Bill is doomed. It is well known that the pos-ibility of passing the Olago Central Bni way Bill is the only He keeping a nomber of the Southern members on tin Government aide, and if these leave them their position would bo very critical on a do confidence vote.