PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1970, 17 June 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

WELLINGTON, Jane 16. The first Opposition caucus of the session was held this afternoon in one of the upper rooms of Parliament Buildings. It was only a very moderate success in respect of attendance, the number of members present being thirty-one; at least so lam informed on what I have every reason to believe is reliable authority. It is alleged, however, that seven other members were represented or accounted for, which would bring the number up to thirty-eight. One or two of these "represented" members were exceedingly doubtful. The proceedings at this caucus revealed an utter want of unanimity of feeling among the Opposition members, who are divided into three, if not feur, sections, and the meeting to-day was several times on the very verge of winding up altogether, indeed several members did leave the room in despair of any understanding being arrived at. Only common arrangements were agreed upon. The main question which arose was, as might have been anticipated, the choice of a leader. Some members displayed a nervous anxiety to postpone the choice of a leader and to unite in an attack on the financial policy of the Government. Mr Moss, however, objected atroDglyjtolthis course, and contended that the party must be consolidated under a recognised leader before they could assail the Government with the faintest hope of success. Mr Downie Stewart urged the claim of Mr Macandrew to the leadership, on the score of his being politically experienced, his high standing in his province, and his having been chosenleaderlaßt session, which choice had never been formally reversed. He added that Mr Macandrew was well known to have Northern interests deeply at heart-, therefore he should be acceptable to the Northern members of the party. This remark was received with a choruß of derisive laughter by the Auckland members, but was much applauded by the Southerners. Mr Speight declared that he could not pofsibly give in his adherence to the views expressed by Mr Macandrew in hie speech to his constituents, especially on the education question, and while Mr Macandrew held this view, he did not see how the Auckland members could consistently follow him as leader. The other Auckland members followed in the same strain. Mr Ballauce said that he agreed to a large extent with the views of both Sir G-. Grey and Mr Macandrew, and was in favor of leaving them to settle who should assume the lead. Sir G. Grey said that he had left himself entirely in the hands of the party, as he had done last year, when on its being thought desirous that he should abdicate the leadership, he did so without hesitation, and loyally supported Mr Macandrew. He was fully prepared to do so again if the party deemed it advisable that Mr Macandrew should lead. Mr Montgomery was in favor of leaving the matter to be decided by Sir G. Grey and Mr Macandrew themselves. Mr Thomson suggested that they Bhould add the names of Messrs Ballance and Montgomery to the list of eligible lenders, and leave those gentlemen, or one of them, and Sir G. Grey and Mr Macandrew, to arrange a programme. Mr Da deinned these triangular arrangements as absurd and unsatisfactory, and altogether opposed the proposal. A good deal more discussion took place, leading however to nothing definite. Mr Macandrew took a very moderate tone throughout, and expressed himself as opposed to any attempt at present to oust Ministers, which he considered unadvisable for several reasons. The Hon. "W. Gisbome, whose name has been mentioned lalterlyeß a possible leader of the party, took a similar line of argument, but others were eager to attack the Government at all hazards. Some again pointed out the folly of planning any assault until they had a leader to head the forlorn hope, and the jußtica of this view was recognised by the majority, but many were very persistent. At last members began to go away, weary of trying to arrive at any conclusion, and as it seemed likely that the whole affair would end in smoke, those who remained came to a hurried agreement that th 6 meeting should adjourn until next day, andthat Su\G. Grey and Mr Macandrew meanwhile be requested to draw up a programme of action for the party. The caucus then broke up. Some Opposition members still profess to be sanguine of defeating the Government on the property tax, but the general impression is that Ministers have at least 46, and prob- : ably 48 or 50 votes certain, even on that question, and are quite safe. Some exception is being taken to Major Atkinson's figures by Mr Reader Wood and others, who assert that it is quite impossible that the exemption carried last session could diminish the proceeds of the tax from £470,000 to £300,060, and equally so that the exemption of personal effects should further diminish them by £40,000. They also hold that the beer tax will realise a great deal more than the estimate, and ask for fuller information on these points, failing which their action is somewhat doubtful. Many rumors have been flying about the lobbies the last day or two regarding the report of the Civil Commission, but the members of the Commission declare most positively that no information has proceeded from them, and nothing can really be known about the report, which they allege is not yet finished, and about which snme differences of opinion still exist in the Commission. Be that as it may, it is certain that some very circumstantial statements are in full circulation. It is alleged that the report will be of a very damaging character. There was a rumor to • day that the Commissioners had sent in their report, but that its uture was so serious that the Government requested them to take it back and tone it down, but I am assured that this is not tiue. The members of the Commission are highly indignant at the idea of its being supposed possible that they could be induced to modify their report, whatever it might be. It is stated that Mohi Tawhai has signified his intention to resign from the Native Affaire Committee, and that he has withdrawn all petitions from the Committee. This is said to be in consequence of the election of Colonel Trimble to the chairmanship.

Considerable surprise and gome indignation have been expressed at the conduct of Mr Hutchison, the junior member for this city, and also its Mayor, in introducing a Bill to amend the Municipal Corporations Act without deigning to consult the City Council on the subject, especially as the Bill contains a clause abolishing the present provision by which ratepayers are entitled to votes in proportion to their contributions to the municipal funds in the shape of rates. A petition was being Bigned in town to-day sgainst the Bill introduced by Mr Hutchison. The petitioners state they view with alarm any attempt to increase the taxing power of the Corporation of Wellington, and therefore ask the House to prevent its being done. They direct particular attention to clauses 17, 18, 19, and 20 of the Bill, which in their opinion admit of an unwarrantable interference with the rights of private property. Lastly, they consider that no occasion has arisen for the repealing or alteration of clause 39 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, which has been found to work very well, and meets with the general acceptance of the citizens.

It is rumored that amongst the reductions in the public expenditure contemplated by the G-overnment is the abolition of the Eailway Stores Department, and the appointment at an early date of a general inspector of stores in its stead.