PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1968, 15 June 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[By Telegraph.] [from otra own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, June 14. The rumour that the Government intended to halve the beer tax and re-impose the tea and sugar duties proves to be merely another “ Lyttelton Times ” correspondent’s canard. At least, I am assured on authority, that the Government entertain no such intention, and that the idea has not even been mooted in the Cabinet. The Ministry hold to their financial policy, and appear to have a safe majority for carrying it out. The only danger seems to be lest absence of anything like united opposition of party may demoralise the Government side by insuring over-confi-dence, and loading to independent action at a critical time on the part of individual members. This, however, is not a very probable contingency, as it is tolerably certain that, should any real trial of strength arise, the friends of the Government would rally round them, sinking all minor differences of opinion, as they did last session when the penny pro. perty tax was restored, and the decision in favor of a halfpenny promptly reversed. The debate on the Budget commences tomorrow, hut probably will not be got through in a single day. The point to which chief objection seems to bo taken is that for establishing the Local Works Board, which has some very strong opponents. I am inclined to anticipate considerable modifications of the proposals in this direction. The attempt to get up an Opposition caucus to-day turned out an utter failure. It proved impossible to collect a sufficient number of members to make even a decent show, and so that idea was abandoned for the present. It is said that Messrs Macandrew, Montgomery, and Ballanoe all opposed the idea of any present attack on the Government, holding that it was much better to leave Ministers to face the difficulties of the existing financial tightness, and all the unpopularity of enforcing rigid retrenchment and imposing heavy taxation, there being nothing very tempting in the prospect of returning to office with an empty treasury, even were there any chance of succeeding in the attempt. Sir George Grey, however, is anxious for immediate action, and probably will be as bitter as ever in his antagonism, although his following is likely to be a small one, comprising such “ irreconcileables” as Speight, Hamlin, Da Lautour, &o. I hear that the Local Industries Commission will probably have completed their report by Wednesday, unless unforeseen differences of opinion should arise. Failing such contingency, the report will most likely be prerented to the House by Friday or Tuesday next. I understand that some very valuable information has been obtained by the commission, and that their report, as I anticipated some months back would be the case, will carefully steer a middle course, without absolute committal to either protection or free trade.