POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2557, 19 June 1882, Page 4

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

[FSOM THE " PBE33."]

"WELLINGTON, June 16

I understand that the system of national insurance which, as I mentioned yesterday, ■would probably be proposed by the Governsunt, is mainly founded on the fchemo suggested by the Rov. Mr Blackloy in the ''Contemporary Review" and "Nineteenth Century."

The unauthorised expenditure account lrvid on the table to-night is as follows (shillings and!pence omitted) :—Railways, £1766, ineluding £472 " special trains and fares Natives attending Waikito meeting " ; fees, fines, and duties, £257; defalcations (B. 0. Wilkirson, Receiver of Land Revenue, Hawera), £514; and seal fisheries protection, £126; miscellaneous, £3899 (including cutlery and plate for Bellamy's, £9B) j cost of telcgram^froro Crown agents, £3l; refund of duty paid by Dtinedin Corporation on town clock, £156 ; oosts in action Wi Parata versus the Attorney. General, £46 ; salary West Coast trustee, £72 ; travelling expenses, Judge Johnston and others in oonneotion with the election petitions committee, £65 ; one day's interest on Treasury bills, £45; subsidies, £Bl9 ; goldfields, £43 ; services in excess of rotes, £51,135 ; total, £55 917 ; also publio -works fund, £2217 ; and Government insurance account, £47 ; grand total, £58,182. June 18. The financial statement is very well received, and appears to give general satisfaction on both sides o£ the House. I hear cordial expressions of admiration at its remarkable clearness and simplicity of construction. There was a striking absence of sensation and surprise in the budget, which is quite a novelty now-a-day, but whioh is, I think, generally approved under existing circumstances. The main features, both in the financial results of the year and in the Government proposals for the future, were pretty olosely arrived at beforehand, so even these formed no surprise, but people do not want surprises just now, and everyone seems to prefer a plain, praotical, business like report, suoh as that whioh we have just had from Major Atkinson. The only adverse) [criticism in independent quarters appears to be the inolusion of the lengthy details respecting the finance department and Savings Bank and incidence of taxation, and the "sting in the tail," viz., the "hit" at the Grey Government and its delinquencies. Some think these would have been better omitted, but that is simply a matter of opinion. It is certain, however, that it brought on the irregular debate, whioh is quite an unusual sequel to a financial statement, but the effect was ta score a great point to the Government. Sir George Grey's speech, after his first smart rap at Sir John Hall for his •■ flippanoy " and " Parliamentary pertness" fell very flat, as also did Mr fiheehan's stupid and irrelevant dragging in of the worn out old tale about the eastern fig seller orying out, "In the name of the prephet, figs." Mr Maoandrew and Mr Montgomery made a very weak exhibition, ■and this evidently induced Sir George Grey to rise and show how much better he could do, and bow vastly superior a leader he would be, but Major Atkinson's reply was not only 'the" speech of the session, but. also one of the most brilliant and masterly efforts ever yet heard in that House. It was absolately orashing in its exposure of the fallacies of the other side, and irresistable in its logic and olear marshalling of inoontrovertable iaots, supported by distinot references to chapter and verse. It has produced remarkable effect on doubtful Oppositionists and *• independents." They are utterly disappointed and dispirited at the miserable show by the Opposition leader. Indeed, one remarked to me that the reply of Major Atkinson had fairly convinced many of them, and had done Ministers more good than even their Native policy. He added that he and other new members now looked on the Opposition leaders and their ohief supporters as a " mere lot of wind bags."

I still believe the Publio Worka Statement will not be made earlier than next Tuesday week, the 27th inst. Mr Hamlin's Private Bills Oosta Bill provides that when the committee unanimously report the preamble not proved, and that the petitioners have been unreasonably or ▼exatiously put to expense, the opponents aball be entitled to recover costs. When the committee unanimously report that the preamble proved, and that the opposition was vexatious, the promoters are to be entitled to recover oosta. There is a proviso in favor of land owners, that no land owner who, bona fide at his own sole risk and charge, opposes a Bill which purposss to take any portion of the said petitioner's property, shall be liable to any costs in respeot of his opposition to suoh Bill. Costs are to to taxed, and recoverable when taxed. Persons paying costs may recover a proportion from other persons liable thereto. When a Bill is not promoted by a company already formed, all persons whose names shall appear in the Bill as promoting the same, and in the event of the Bill passing the oompany thereby incorporated, shall be deemed to be the promoters of such Bill for all the purposes of the Act. Next Tuesday Mr Hutchison 'intends to «uk Government if they are prepared to amend the Bepresentation Aot " In so far as to join the present electorates of the oities of Dunedin, Christchuroh, Wellington, and Auckland, joining them into one united electorate each."