PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1700, 1 August 1879, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS

[_Bt Telegraph.J [PBOII OtTB COBBB3PONHBN-S.l WELLINGTON, July 31. A meeting of tho Opposition was held last night, when, although no definite resolution was como to, it was generally agreed that tho party would not oppose the passing of the Loan Bill, and that they would grant supplies, pending tho assembling of the now Parliament, hut only for the shortest period within which it would bo possible to hold the elections and call Parliament together. This is estimated at about two months, and it is said that three months* supplies probably will be by tho House, but for no longer period. It is thought that this can be arranged, and both the Loan and Supply Bills passed by next week, when the prorogation would take plaeo, to be followed immediately by the dissolution, and the issue of now writs, made returnable at the earliest practicable date.

Amongst those mentioned as likely to stand for this city in the event of a dissolution are Drs. Newman, Buller, and Driver, Messrs W. Hntohison, Fisher, George Hunter, Walter Johnston, and W. H. Devin. A great deal of surprise and considerable dissatisfaction is expressed at the Governor granting a dissolution. It is not because people object to the Liberal policy, or even to most of the Ministers, but because a feeling of unminglei distrust of Sir Q, Grey prevails, and if candidates on the Grey ticket venture to contest the seats for the city after dissolution it •will lead to the development of a political activity previously unknown here. Constitutional associations will be formed throughout this district, and candidates brought forward, the distinctive feature of whose platform will be antagonism to Sir G. Grey. Should Sir G. Grey venture to address the VTellington electors, the arcade scenes will be repeated in a more marked manner, if that be possible. The more immediate and ardent followers of Sir George Grey deplore this personal hostility, but cannot ignore the fact. They fear it will be the means of wrecking the hopes of the Liberal party. This feeling has already manifested itself so strongly amongst Sir Geo. Grey’s followers that attempts are again being made to induce him to give up his position of leader to Mr Macandrew. They say openly that while they are prepared to follow Messrs Macandrew and Sheehan, they will no longer render allegiance to Sir Geo. Grey; and as for the trio, Messrs Fisher, Thomson, and Gisborne, they are regarded as nonenties. There is no doubt that Sir George intends stumping the colony and addressing all the constituencies ho can find time for. and if he should be at all pushed for time, he will not trouble much to address the people of either Auckland or Grahamstown, considering both those places perfectly safe in any case. The “ Thames Advertiser ” says Sir George Grey intends to stand for the Thames, and to visit all the chief towns of the colony to address the people prior to the elections. He intends to stand by the Thames until its railway is an accomplished fact. It is understood that Sir George Grey will deliver his first address at Dunedin. The “ Chronicle ” says that, not content with having an elective Governor, Sir George Grey •would demoralise our British institutions still further. He would introduce the atrocious American Civil Servios system, by which every official, from the lowest messenger to the Undersecretary, would go out with the Ministry. The Opposition refuse to oblige Sir G. Grey by making a martyr of him, even in the refusal of supplies, and will only insist that no unnecessary delay takes place in the reassembling of Parliament. They will pass the Loan Bill at once, with every precaution that it does not fall into the hands of a Government that would gladly rule and spend without a Parl'amont. Since this has been known many of the moat obsequious Greyits are looking gloomy. They did not mean a dissolution, but only a taunt to their opponents, and are dismayed to find they will now fight as we-.l as claw. Many members are in the same plight as Mr Carrington, with their constituents, and as cartain’not to bo returned. A portion of the Opposition would have refused to vote any supply to a Government which they had declared 80 untrustworthy, but others thought that course could and would be misrepresented. Therefore all agreed that the mis-govemment !must he continued a little longer rather than risk its serious perpetuation. Two months will be the outside time that supplies will be granted for, A stupid hoax is being circulated by wire throughout the colony to the effect that the Opposition agreed to-day to spend -£40,000 on the election. This was probably considered necessary by Sir George to counteract the rumors that are afloat as to the extensive use that ho will make of the Hinemoa and the Government wires. Several members are expected to leave Wellington immediately to make their peace with their constituents, and for all practical purposes the Government might as well be left with seven as with twenty-seven supporters. People are still studying the Thames-Waikato railway report, tut are yet undecided as to what it really means. The evidence is, however, being printed, and when that becomes public people will form their own opinion, which will be somewhat more intelligible than the text of the report. There are some very extraordinary passages in the evidence, such, for instance, ns the exclamation of one who helped to prepare the original map when he saw how it had been altered:—“ Hallo ! here’s a swindle.” But it was not Mr Macandrew they wanted. It was the old man of tha sen, as he is called here, and whom both sides are so anxious to be rid of.