Political Matters

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 7, 2 July 1889, Page 2

Political Matters

* Mr Ballance has definitely accepted the leadership of the Opposition, and Messrs Fitchett and Percival are appointed whips to the party. There is almost certain to be a trial of strength next week on the subject of taxation. Northern members are almost unanimously opposed to the Property Tax, and when the Property Tax Assessment Bill comes on for the second reading they intend to bring forward an amendment declaring in favor of a Land and Income Tax. Both Sir George Grey or Mr Withy were spoken of as being likely to take the initiative, but as Mr Ballance has accepted the leadership of the Opposition he will probably undertake the task. The Government will at once accept the gage of battle, and declare the question to be one of no-confi-dence. Cards have been pricked to ascertain the prospects of the issue of the struggle, and while the opponents of the Property Tax are sanguine | that they have a good chance of overturning Sir Harry Atkinson's pet impost, the Government reckon upon a majority of about se w en votes when the existence of tb. Ministry is at stake. — Post. The Public T jrks Statement yill, in all probabSity, Be delivered next At;*©*^ ;ting of TaranaM and Auckland membeis, the following resolutions were passed to be presented to the Premier :— (1) That no further outlay should be made at the Marton end of the proposed North Island Trunk Railway; (2) that the line should be at once completed from the Mokau river to the Porotorau tunnel.