POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 16 August 1880, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(by thleqrafh.)

(from our own correspondent.) Wellington, August 10.

Important rumors are rife in the lobbies. It is said that at a Cabinet meeting held on Saturday the Ministry resolved upon the following programme : —The land fund, saving effected through non-payment of subsidies and the reductions in the Estimates, beer tax, and additional income from increased railway tariffs, will, it is calculated, make a total of between L 700,000 and LBOQ,OOO, It is also proposed that the deficiency and Treasury IJills having been paid out of the loan, shall bo charged to tho loan, and thus do away with tho necessity for levying tho property tax. It is surprising that tho Government did not soe that tho course tlicy now propose to adopt was open to tliein at tho commencement of the session ; but if it be truo that they are, even at the eleventh hour, recognising the necessity for pursuing a courso that has repeatedly been indicated by the Opposition, they are acting wisely. It is contemplated that by adopting tho now programme, it will bo possiblo to prorogue on .Friday next. A speody prorogation would suvo tho Government; the prolongation' of tho session would mean discussion that could only terminate in disaster to tliein. Tho action of Mr. Roes, who intends to woo tho electors of Waikaia has precipitated their change of programme. It has also been rumored that Government intone} to abandon their local Government proposals and to distribute tho land fund amongst tho local governing bodios, iSut this is doubtod by Homo of tho knowing ones and ministers arc relic out.