Political Gossip.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 531, 10 June 1880, Page 2

Political Gossip.

(From our Wellington Correspondent.)The financial proposals of the Colonial Treasurer are being keenly criticised. The resolution passed at the close of the statement on Tuesday night was necessary to enable the Government to take immediate action by clapping on new taxes before people awoke next morning, The “ poor man” found himself “robbed of his beer,” for when he turned out to get his early “ wet,” he was flabbergasted with a demand for Gd a gallon more. He protested he hadn’t drunk a ; gallon—leastways not then ; and why, should lie pay 6d move ? The landlord said he had been called up from his bed and warned that beer was to be taxed, and of course he must tax the consumer. They will have to settle it between them, and there will be as much hard “ swearing” as there has been over that precious Property Tax. By the way, the Government were in a fix over that Property Tax. Before Major Atkinson rose to make his statement, the Government were receiving telegrams from all parts of the colony warning them of an organised movement to turn them out on that “ line.” They considered, and re-considered, and they couldn’t agree what to do, nor whether to do anything. The rumour is that a portion of the Cabinet stood out against a tax on beer. Then they agreed to tax beer and relieve “ personal effects” from taxation under the Property Tax, But still there was a division in the camp as to whether they should put 2d on beer and reimpose the duties on sugar and tea, or whether they should leave these comforts alone, and put a stiff lax of 6d a gallon on beer. As they must make up their minds one way or the other, they agreed at the last moment to go in for high morality on the line of Sir William Fox, and screw sixpence out of beer, assuring the working man that this virtuous Government is only cruel in order to be kind. Will the working man sec it in that light ?

WANTED, A LEADER. It becomes plainer every day that the leadership of the Opposition has riot been definitely bestowed on any of the aspirants. We make no doubt that there are several who would be happy to accept the responsibility, each of whom is fully satisfied as to his own fitness. But it is useless for any third person to aspire to lead the Opposition whilst Sir George Grey and Mr Macandrew are in the House. Wo have no affection for cither of them, and believe that the country could very well dispense with their services, but for all that they constitute the only rallying points for the broken bands of the old Greyite party, and it would be better for the government of the colony that some agreement should be come to whereby the one should consent to follow the other, A compact Opposition is almost necessary for constitutional government, and the present state of parties in the House will, we fear, merely delay and to some extent embarrass legislation.-r-Wanganui Chronicle.