PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1749, 27 September 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

[By Telegbaph.] WELLINGTON, September 26. There is a safe though small majority against the Government, .with a tendency to increase.

Mr Hall chaffed the Government for postponing the debate on the reply to the address this afternoon, and assured them that he was quite ready either to discuss it or vote upon it directly. The Postmaster-General brought down a great laugh on himself by trying to imitate his chief in giving answer to Mr Saunders rc the Ingles telegram. Ho said that Colonel Whitmore had not regularly franked it, and had not paid for it, but he would have to pay for it, and it was marked “urgent.” The evasion was certainly not calculated to deceive anyone, and even Sir O. Grey could not save the Postmaster-General from the hearty contempt and derision with which such an evasion of the evident truth was treated fay the House. He tried to get up a diversion by calling the Speaker’s attention to the term “ Government organ,” which he objected to, as there “ were no Government organs ” —an

assertion that produced no faint expressions of “Oh ! oh!” from the jubilant Opposition. There is not the same expression of defeat on Sir O. Grey’s face that there is on that of his whip and followers. He evidently thinks that he has got a trick or two in hand yet, and even pretends to contemplate attempting another financial statement, although the member in the party who knows most about the present state of the finances says that Sir O. Grey has not yet even learned which clerk to go to to get a decent statement from. The same discourteous reserve that withheld the proposed reply to the Governor’s speech of last session from the House, until Mr Shanks was on his legs and proposing it, seems likely to be practised again this session, as no copies are yet circulated, though the proposer and seconder are hard at work with the preparation of their maiden speeches, which are now arranged for Tuesday afternoon. Mr Hall, on the other hand, has given

notice of his amendment to the unseen reply. This strikingly straightforward and yet courteous conduct is in marked contrast to that of his opponents, and is evidently producing a great effect on the House. Indeed the difference in mind and manner oE the two sides of the House is now very unmistakeable to the most careless observer. Mr Joseph Sheppard has forsaken the vicinity of the Government Benches, and taken his seat on the Opposition side of the House. The amendment to the reply will not bo strongly worded, and “as at present constituted’’ will probably bo introduced to accommodate Otago members who cling to the Macandrew and Fisher arrangement. The Opposition meeting this morning was fully attended. The mode of moving the want of confidence motion was fully discussed, and it was finally resolved that the Hon. J. Hall move the amendment on the address in reply to the Governor’s speech immediately after its being moved and seconded. The amendment is to affirm the readiness of the House to adopt the liberal measures desired by the country, whilst intimating to the Governor that they have no confidence in the Government] as at present constituted.