PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1686, 16 July 1879, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

[PEOM OUB COBBESPONDENTS.] WELLINGTON, July 15. Tho speech was delivered to-day by his Excellency the Governor. As usual, tho Commons were crowded out, even of standing room, by the large number of ladies who wore present. The speech was read remarkably well. You will sec that the speech is a going-out one —a speech intended to show what would have been done if it had not been for that want of confidence vote which tho Premier knows is not far off. Last session, with a good majority at his back, he deemed discretion the better part of valor, and triennial Parliaments and noa-plural voting too dangerous to handle; but this year, with a feeble, disorganised following, ho can dare everything, well knowing that ho will soon be relieved from all responsibility for the non-fulfilment of his promises. Tho Government has had to withdraw its last and best candidate for tho chairmanship in favor of the candidate proposed by the leader of the Opposition, and to ask permission to second the appointment of Mr Seymour, after laying successively some four candidates against him. Many other defeats await them, unless they take the hint and retire gracefully. The Opposition are vigorous, united, and confident, and gaining strength every hour. Some of tho Otago members say that they cannot support Sir G. Grey or Mr Sheehan, but that Mr Macandrew for Otago, and Mr Fisher for Canterbury, constitute such an altogether desirable arrangement that they don’t like to upset it. An immense number of notices of motion were given to-day, and there will be plenty of work for to-morrow.

Smpending Standing Orders to rush through a Loan Bill, and avowedly borrowing money to pay interest with, are not all-assuring proceedings, but they are blunders that the Opposition will bo obliged to handle tenderly in the face of our creditors and the present depression. But whilst they show that the Government would soon bury itself, if left alone, they also show what an expensive process that has been to the country, and how it has now become a duty to terminate the existence of such, mischievous administration with ns little delay ns possible. Mr Martin will resign at the end of the session, and go to America, where he intends to reside permanently. Government supporters admit thatlparties in the House are as nearly equally divided as possible. The Opposition say their party numbers forty-two or forty-four, and several accessions are likely to occur in the next few days. Sir W. Pox has definitely accepted the leadership of the Opposition. The motion for his appointment was proposed by Mr Whitaker, who was present, and made a speech, saying that he hoped past differences would be buried, and that they would all work together for the good of the country. Mr Whitaker positively declined a seat in any Ministry on the ground of pressure of private business. Mr Hall was suggested as leader of the Opposition, but was not pressed, as his position in the Upper House renders it inconvenient to make him leader. It reminded one of old times to-day, to see Sir W. Fox jump up briskly and fire the challenge gun of the Opposition, by notifying to the House that Mr Seymour was their man, and that they intended to put him in. It now turns out that the Government did not intend for three or four days to nominate anybody, and it is said that the Opposition have stolon a march on them, but the truth is, an understanding was long ago arrived at that Mr Seymour should be pushed into the vacant seat if the Opposition could manage it. The Government are getting alarmed, and will soon be frightened of their own shadows. They will not now bring forward anyone, and Mr Bryce, through the want of an organised support, will practically be out of the running. That portion of the speech which refers to a tax on income means that, from whatever source it comes, it will be taxed, whether from land, shares, or other property, including that of absentees.

The Opposition consider they have lost a vote by the appointment of Mr Thomson, as they calculated on securing him. Mr Goldie has declined to second the address in reply, intending, it is said, not to compromise himself in any way.