POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), 20 July 1883, Page 2

POLITICAL NEWS.

[BY TELEOEArn.]

[from oun own correspondent.] Wellington, This day,

Perhaps the ablest debate of the session took place last night, whim the annexation question came on for discussion. The element of personality was wanting, and tlieroforo the usnal amount of acrimony was extended. I confess that I was charmed •with the tenor of the debato all through. Members seemed to rise to their proper height when the question was not a petty provincial one but the Parliament of a great nation debating tho future of a number of less civilised States, and what action they should take in regard to these latter. Parties, of course, were hopelessly mixed, tho question being debated from a non-party standpoint. It is wonderful how readily tho Colonial Treasurer adopta this view when it suits his purpose. Much can be said on both sides. we certainly have not the same interest in. New Guinea as Queensland has. Of courso, if we join the Australian colonies hi tho matter, wo shall have to help to pay the piper-j but, on the other hand, should New Guinea and the other islands become possessions of some foreign power, it would not only be a standing menace to those colonies, but we run the additional i-isk of those island being used as convict depots, in which case wo should have a class of very undesirable colonists at our doors, ever leady, eager, and willing to swell our population. Tho debate was adjourned.