WELLINGTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 185, 5 August 1881, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(From our own correspondent.)

[By Telegraph.]

Thursday, I! p.m. It la now understood that the Public Works Statement will not ba made earlier than Tuesday next. This is to enit the other Parliamentary arrangements and not because the statement ia behindhand, for I have reason to believe it i3 quite ready for presentation, if cot actually printed. I hear it is somewhat full and exhaustive in character, and will occupy abojt sixteen pages, the tables and appendices being very copious and filling c early 150 pages additional. Tomorrow night ■will bo devoted, as I intimated yesterday, to the financial debate, the whole policy of the Government in this respect being discussed on the motion to go into Committee of Supply. I understand that Ministers will be attacked on all the details of their financial policy, for instance, for proposing to reduce the property tax ; for not abolishing it ; for reducing the Customs duties 5 for not reducing them more ; for not increasing them ; for not restoring the tea and sugar duties ; for reductions in salaries ; for not making larger leductions, and for the manner in which the reductions have been made, &c, &c. However, no organised or combined onslaught is probable from what I can gather, although there is sure to be much detailed skirmishing. On Monday the Estimates will be gone on with if the House consents to it on that day, and the Government propose to take the Estimatei on every foliowing Monday evening until finally disposed of — The Railway Construction Bill is cot yet ready. A Wellington deputaticn waited en the Government to day to suggest various alterations in details and the introduction of certain new provisions. The Bill is not likely to be out before Monday or Tuesday next. The second reading wiM come on after the Public Works Statement, when the whole question will be discussed. There is as yet no sign of the Representation Bill, although there are small private caucuses held daily to consider Bugge6tions as to district boundaries. There are now at le^st a score of different plans before tha Cabinet and plenty more yet to come.