THE ABOLITION QUESTION.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 394, 16 September 1875, Page 2

THE ABOLITION QUESTION.

From a Correspondent of the Press. Wellington, September 15. Last night Ministers again met the Opposition chiefs, and the only question remaining open—that of the time when the Act should come into force, as well as the process by which it should do so, was fully discussed. Ultimately the whole matter was settled on the following terms :—l. The Abolition of the Provinces Bill to come into operation on the day after the last day of the first session of the new Parliament. 2. The details of the Bill now before the House shall be fairly considered in Committee, and settled in the usual course, without unreasonable opposition. 3. That Provincial Councils shall not meet again ; that departmental appropriations shall be provided for by Act of the Assembly, at the rates now voted, until close of the next session, the Administration as already established being carried on. 4. That from the present dale no contracts for works upon which any public money may become payable shall be entered into by any Provincial Government without the consent of the Governor. The Opposition entertain Sir G. Grey at dinner on Monday night, [The following is the text of a telegram which reached us last night. Not being in confidence of Mr Macandrew, we cannot vouch for its authenticity, but as we suppose it is intended for publication, we give it exactly as it reached us :—J “ Newspapers put altogether wrong construction on conditions agreed to by Opposition. What is done is simply that we abstain from factious opposition, the quid pro quo being that Bill shall not come into force till a given date. All other considerations such as Provincial Councils not meeting and such like we protest against and will oppose, but must submit to if forced upon us by majority. Bend to papers. “J. Macandbew.”