POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 543, 8 July 1880, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

From our Wellington Correspondent. Wednesday Night. The Redistribution of Seats Bill comes on for second reading to-morrow. The debate is likely to be keen, and may last two or three days. A motion for wholesale reductions of salaries was made last night. Mr Saunders, with the consent of the Government, proposed that a reduction of not less than ten per cent, should be made from Ist August next in all salaries and wages, except those of officers of the Legislature, should be specially dealt with; that the Government should make as large reductions in the staff of officers as can bo effected by amalgamation and of offices ; and that such services as can be dispensed with will be abolished. No items of estimates were passed. Rumors of differences in the Cabinet are floating about, but nothing tangible can be learnt at present. CIVIL SERVANT’S DEFENCE. Mr Conyers has sent a reply to certain personal charges made by the Civil Service Commission, and it is said this document will be spicy reading for some persons, when made public. MAORI ELOQUENCE. One good speech on the no-confidence motion was made by a Maori member, Major Te Wbeoro, He said, among other things :—“ I think a great deal of money has been spent by each successive Government giving employment to their successive supporters, and as each Ministry comes in they give their supporters employment, while the original ones still stand, and they only have the same work to do, although you increase the number of persons to do it. (Laughter and cheers.) When the Government have to spend money they should do it as a private individual does—say a farmer who ploughs, sows seeds, and gets a return for his money. For instance there are some natives who are detained in prison on the West Coast. There is a great deal of money being spent on them, and we are getting no returns.” (Laughter.)