PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1971, 18 June 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[By Telegraph.] [pbom oub own coebkspondent.] WELLINGTON, June 17. The adjourned Opposition caucus was held in the Parliamentary Buildings at noon today. I hear that thirty members were present, and eight more alleged to be accounted for. By this time the Opposition members had become aware of tho fact that the question of the leadership had been practically settled for them by Sir G. Grey, who had quietly seized it for himself by introducing his Property Tax Repeal Bill, whioh was down for tho second reading this evening, because that must necessarily bo taken by the Government as a no confidence vote, and if they were beaten on it, Sir G. Grey would as a matter of course be sent for to form a new Ministry. Thus ho was now Opposition leader to all intents and purposes ; and the members of the party finding they had been completely ovor-reaohed by him, as in 1877, had to swallow the pill with as good a grace ne they might, and make the best of it. So it was agreed that Sir G. Grey should be supported in his Bill, and that the question of tho leadership should be postponed. At tho same time it was agreed that Mr Macandrew should still receive a sort of promise as to the leadership, by being associated with Sir G. Grey In drawing up a programme of action. In this shape the matter was finally left when the caucus broke up. During the afternoon it was rumored in the lobbies that a surprise of some kind was in contemplation, and that a mine would be sprung under Ministers. On tho House meeting in the evening the surprise and the mine proved mild—a very mild and harmless affair. On the Premier moving the postponement of the earlier order of the day in order to allow Sir G. Grey to move the second reading of his Bill (after a long adverse speech from Dr. Wallis, who wanted to get on with his Women’s Franchise Bill, which ho deems of infinitely more moment than dull questions of firanoe) Sir George Grey asked the leave of the House to discharge his motion from the order paper, in order that he might instead move a resolution condemning in general terms the financial policy of the Ministry. Mr Hall declined to agree to this, but offered if Sir

G. Grey would go on with the Bill and let it go to a vote at once, then to more the postponement of all other Orders of the Day and at onoe move the House into Committee of Supply, which would enable Sir G, Grey to move his resolution as an amendment. After a considerable time this was agreed to and Sir O. Grey moved the second reading of his Bill, which was very short, the whole text being as follows :—“ A Bill, entitled an Act to Bepeal the Property Assessment Act, 1879, and the Property Tax Act, 1879. Be it enacted by the General As-embly of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: —l. The short title of this Act is The Property Assessment Act and Property Act Repeal Act, 1830. 2. The Property Assessment Act, 1879, and The Property Tax Act, 1879, are hereby repealed,” Sir G. Grey simply moved that the Bill be now read a second time, without making any remarks, on which Mr Beetham moved that it be read this day six months, and the amendment being declared carried on the voices a division was called for, and resulted in Sir G. Grey being beaten by 12—the numbers being 41 and 29. By this time the House was crowded in every part, all galleries being packed to suffocation, and the interest was very great. Directly the division was declared Mr Hall moved the postponement of the other orders of the day, which was carried nem. con., and then the Treasurer moved the House into Committee of Supply. Sir G. Qtoy then rose, amid great cheering from the Opposition benches, and commenced one of his usual speeches. Ho made a few amusing hits, but as a whole his speech was miserably weak, and many of his most solemn appeals were received with roars of laughter. He actually enlarged upon Mr Stout’s absurd blunder regarding the operation of the property tax, which was completely exposed and mercilessly ridiculed—that I mean in which he made out that the same wool or other goods would bo taxed five or six times over. Sir G. Grey evidently had not soon the refutation of the mistake, and apparently trusted to the figures, and appeared immensely surprised when ha made a pause for the dramatic effect, and looked out for the cheers, to find none come. Then what he intended for a warning was received with undisguised merriment from the Government benches, and with unreatrainable laughter even among his own followers, who looked horrified at the blunders into which their leader had fallen. He next lot off some clever rhetorical fireworks of a personal nature regarding Mr Hall and hia Leeaton speech. Sir G. Grey is still speaking (10 p.m.), having spoken an hour and a-balf, and apparently is good for an hour or two longer. He admits that the Government have a large majority, but talks about placing on record a protest against their policy. The Ministry are considered safe for a majority of at least ten, and probably twelve or fourteen. It is impossible to tell at present how long the debate is likely to last.