Political Gossip.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 541, 3 July 1880, Page 3

Political Gossip.

From our Wellington Correspondent, {By Telegraph.)

. Friday Night. The motion for going into Committee

of Supply, which was the first order on paper for to-day, was postponed, in consequence of the party squabbling last night anent the colony’s finances. A caucus of Ministerial supporters will be held to-morrow (Saturday), to endeavor to arrive at some fixed basis upon which to act in getting the Estimates voted without risking the position of the Government, Mr Olliver is being worried with questions about the Civil Service Report, and he declares it is not expedient to have that report discussed in a piecemeal manner.

It is rumored this evening that the Opposition are likely to make a compromise, with a number of loose Ministerialists. Mr Ormond will probably bo appointed leader, and the Liberal party will make concessions and bury their differences. In Mr Ormond’s recent

speech he deliberately aimed at the position of leader of the Opposition. His r severe remarks on the Property Tax, his critical exposure of the weak points in Major Atkinson’s finance, and his views on the result of abolition of Provincialism wore so acceptable to the Opposition generally that there is now general acquiescence in his appointment as leader.

A Redistribution of Scats Bill lias been brought in and read a first time. The Government intend to attack that vexed question of old-world politics, the law of entail and primogeniture. Major Atkinson promises a bill for next session, The increased taxation put on by the Government amounts to £246,000. The Government do not intend to place many bills before the House this session. They are promising various large measures for next year, and arc crying out already for rest - in order to prepare measures of “ real reform” for another session. Perhaps you will think that is rather shirking work.