PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 815, 30 November 1877, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

(Condensed from out Exchanges,)'

Wellington, October 20. The Financial Statement is generally very well received. There are some errors in figures in the two tables attached, and the officer who was responsible for their correctness will probably get into trouble. A correeted copy has been issued. This morning Major Atkinson called his party together and 35 attended, several others being accounted for. Considerable difference of opinion prevailed, and itquickly became apparent that there was no hope of opposing the generalising of the Land Fund, so it was resolved to leave this an open question, and to attack the Government on the details rather than tho principle of their policy. Mr Sharp left tb« caucus early, declaring that he was satisfied with the policy of the Government on the other only points really worth fighting for. Other defections are reported, as well as some from the Government side, but there is nothing known with any certainty. One section of the House is said to be anxious to reduce the portion of land fund set apart for local bodies to 10 per cent, and another to increase it to 30 per cent. It is also mmoured that Stafford is forming a third party, which will be recruited from the other sides.-. Onp thing is quite certain that Ministers intend to staird or fall by their policy, and if beiten will appeal to the country on it; They will now probably challenge Atkinson to try conclusions by moving an amendment on going into supply, or else, if he likes it belter, withdraw all fui ther objections to his bringing the want of confidence motion on. They say they have no objection to testing the opinion of tho House, now that they have had an opportunity of enunciating their policy. The probability seems to be that they will be strong enough to resist attack successfully, and it is thought that Atkinson will retrain from bringing matters to an immediate. issue. Before going to the order of the day,

The Hon. Mr Larnaoh drew attention to a few errors of figures in tables attached to the Financial Statement. The Government proposed to take the laud fund as from the Ist of Jamaary. November 21. In the Christchurch Press of Tuesday appeared a statement from its Special Correspondent at Wellington that great confusion and disunion existed in the Cabinet, and that Sir George Grey had been angry with Mr Sheehan for bis views as enunciated in the Ministerial statement on Native affairs. I have to-day had interviews with several Ministers, and am enabled to state au.ho.itatively that they are working with the utmost harmony. Sir George Grey authorises me to say that the statement of disagreeing between himself and Mr Sheehan is an utter falsehood, devoid of the slightest vestige of truth. He speaks in the terms of warmest praise of the ability, tact, and untiring activity of Mr Sheehan, and says that the utmost cordiality prevails between them. It is generally conceded that the Cabinet have done a wise thing in agreeing to the C.donia’.isation of the Land Fund, with the liberal pi ovishn for-local distribution of a percentage of the revenue. It received much discussion and deliberation at the hands of' Ministers before being decided upon, and the Otago people may depend upon it that the right course has been adopted, all circumstances considered. There is a talk of Mr Stafford taking the lead of the Opposition, hut it is generally agreed that the M inistry is perfectly safe for the session. November 22. A large amount of private members’ business was got through last night, and the House is almost sure to sit on Saturday. There will net be much private business left after this week : in fact the whole would have been done last night had not Ormond, Hunter, and others prevented the suspension of the Standing Orders. Some annoyance was expressed at this, and a warm and irregular debate took place. Mr Larnach is very unwell, and unable to attend the House. Mr Sheehan is also bad.

The Financial debate to-day was verymild until Reid got up. He was speaking

vigorously when the House rose. The who’e tone of the Opposition speeches indicates that the struggle is over for the present, although there still are rumours about Stafford contemplating an amendment to the effect that while approving .of their policy the House has no confidence in the ability of the present Ministers to administer it. The general opinion is, however, that the matter will droprwithout more fighting. November 23. Mr Ormond made .a great exhibition of himself agaim last flight, by making dis-' graceful charges against Sit - George Grey in a most cold-blooded deliberate manner, and without the slightest ground. As for Brogde i’s influence politically it may bo set down as nil, and though their representative is a good deal about the House it is certainly not for political purposes Their claims against the Colony are to be brought to trial na the Court shortly, and no (Government is likely to affect the result much. The very fact of Mr Travers’ political action this session shows how untrue Mr Ormond’s charges evidently were, as Mr Travers is Brogden’s solicitor in regard to these very claims.

Tho discussion in the House on the words taken down was a very warm and bitter one, and a great many members on both sides had to be called to order. Indeed at one time the Speaker hinted strongly at resigning his position unless the House supported him better. The whole scene was one not calculated to raise tho House in the eyes of the public. To-day has been spent over discussing whether they should sit to-morrow, which it took more than an hour and two divisions to settle, and in considering the Council’s amendments in the Education Bill. All the important ones have been disagreed with It is pretty evident that the Opposition is now utterly disorganised, and Ministers talk of proroguing next week, or very early tho week after. November 24. To day when the House met members wasted three hoars discussing things in

general, for although Mr For opened tho proceedings by drawing attention to tho •foolish speech of Dr Wallis in Auckland, this debate soon became one of things in general, and ultimately Dr Wallis and his speech were soon lost sight of, and all the old Piako Swamp business and Whitaker’s land transactions wove gone over and over again. Tho things culminated in all sorts of threats and talk about civil and criminal prosecutions. The Council has resolved on making a call of its members for Friday next. There are a large number of members absent, and the Council intends by this proceeding to protest against being hurried with the important Bills it has before it, and being supposed to be merely a -machine to register the legislation of tho other Chamber. Last night the House got through a great deal of tho estimates without very much talk.

In the short discussion which took place on the postal subsidies, Mr Macandrcw took occasion to regret feat the Colony had not long ago established a direct steam service with Europe, via the Cape or the Straits of Magellan, both for postal aud, immigration purposes.

Ministers spoke very decidedly about restoring tUo Middle Island police force to their former civil status as Well as regulating the real inequalities caused hy the professedly uniform rate of pay. It is now rumoured that the Middle Island police force will be immediately discontinued with the Constabulary and placed under Mr Weldon, of Otago, as Commissioner November 20. To-day’s proceedings have not been interesting, except a little episode in Committee on tho South Ifiakaia Road Board Bill, No, 2, when a second division had. to be taken on the motion, that the Chairman do leave the chair. The mistake was owing to Mr Fox leaving the Chamber by a door which -was not locked when the order to lock the doors was given. The first division would have shelved the Bill (Mr Evans Brown’s) by one, but on the second division the numbers were equal, and the Chairman gave his casting vote for going on with the Bill. All the detail business is likely to be over this week, but there are rumours about the Upper House being likely to turn rusty, and delay the prorogation.

The Government are now reckoned to have a majority of six pledged for the session. The late Ministers are preparing to vacate the Ministerial residences, all chance of getting hack to office being over for this session. Mr Bowen is to be provided for b*y being made editor of the New Zealand Times vice Perrier, who goes to the Argaa.