LATEST PARLIAMENTARY.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 115, 15 August 1885, Page 4

LATEST PARLIAMENTARY.

•'*>'** j,«- jVVjBLLI^G^N, ,AU^USt 12.'*' Botaa eventing papers* lastlmight gav£cur-; reney to a' re^oVfc #'feW effect'that the delegates from Canterbury and Nelaon were/so confident''''Wai' 1 Jthe' "offer of Meigga and Co. for th«(! "Jqonfcf ruction x of.; the 'B&StP'and "Weetu Coaefeu , wouls Frrliarhent'that'a represent tatiYOiOitho.firnDi is already on his way ! out t*6 the 6olony byoneofitheidireot steomers.' Tbjs c^ipuq^tor^'in which' there isndti a /Wordof tryth, ;got"abrp^d(in this wayf. "A Minister) kno.wing the ppnepess of the local newspapers ,to pHbiißh,flny'Btatement* circulated*, without \pquiry intpjts authenticity, told a,l-member of the House that a Representative o|^he syndicate "was on his way out with* letters of credit ( to the extend of £600,000, TJ?e- story. soon, spread through the lobbies,' -and found its way into last night's papery. Op mv asking the Minist'eu in question pega'rding the niatter yesterday, <he<stold< me thajb the whole thing was a hoax. , , . n, ..!,'. , ' ■ • The " Mutual" .clausei which was struck out of, the, Companies Bill last week, much to the chagrin of/Sir Julius Vogel, was' reintroduced last,night m having been recast by the member for Christchurch'South. Its Becond reading was carried in Committee as a; result of har4 whipping: on the part of Canterbury men, but ib is'understood that the Legislative Council will throw out the clause. , - , Mr Ross last night, presented a petition from Mathieson JJrps., contractors, preferring a claim for moneys due for work in connection with the construction of the Green Island branch raijway. The Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill will be-further considered in committee this afternoon, the Government being anxious to get the measure thiough its remaining stage. The "New Zealand Times" to-day definitely puts forward a rumour which was in circulation last night, to the effect that the Premier intended resigning at onc<J, with a view of getting rid of Sir Julius Vogel and Mr Larnach as colleagues. I need hardly say that the statement is absolutely without foundation. The " Press " devoted a leader last night to the separation cry which is being got up by a section of the Canterbury party. ! It was whispered yesterday afternoon that the Canterbury, Nelson, and Weetland members who support the Government have required of them that the East and West Coast railway shall be gone on with immediately as a colonial public work, that a vote of £250,000 shall be taken for it this year, and that the Government were to give an answer last evening before the meeting of the House. It was also rumoured that the Government have under consideration a proposal for handing over the land fund to the various provincial districts, and allowing them to construct their own railways. In the evening it was said that the Government had acceded to the request, and the terms were stated to be that £150,000 were to beplacedon the Estimates, £50,000 to be spent during the current year on each of the following lines :—: — Canterbury end, Westland end, and Nelson. Persons interested in the manufacture of flax and binder twine have reason to be thankful to Mr Peacock for the majority! by which the proposal to admit foreign twine free (moved without notice) was thrown out, which,was gained by the "whipping" done by the member for Newton during the debate on the Australian wine duty. - Yesterday morning I advised you of Captain Sutter's defection from the Government, on account of the holding back of the delegates' telegrams re East and West Coast Railway. During the day I learnt that Messrs Ban'on and Montgomery had formally written withdrawing their allegiance. So far as I can gather, their reasons seem to be that there were several occasions during the present session when they conceived that the Government should have resigned their occupancy of 'the Treasury Benches, and that by their action in continuing to hold the reins of office, though in an admitted minority, and the questionable expedients they seemed to be adopting for the purpose, they were losing confidence both in the country and House. All these defectionspoint to Sir Julius Vogel as principal ground of objection. The influence the Treasurer exercises over his colleagues seems to be looked upon as being an unfortunate thing for the colony. Mr Bradshaw assures roe that he has not withdrawn from the Government, and will likely be found voting with them when the trial of strength takes place. He, however, appeared very much dissatisfied with ;their recont actions. It was currently reported in the lobbies yesterday that Mr Dargaville had returned to the Government allegiance—in fact, it was positively stated to me by several members. Mr Dargaville to night denied the impeachment, but I don't think that he is absolutely at one with the Opposition, at any rate on a no-confidence question. He says : " Let us go as we are till we can see daylight. I don't see daylight yet."

Railway Sidings. . Cowan, Joyce, Batch, and G;. ]?, Richardson waited on the Minister of Public Works this morning, representing that a strong feeling existed against the imposition of rentals for sidings where none previously had been charged, and pointed out that the present time of depression was peculiarly unfavourable for such extra charges. The Minister replied that where the original periods of agreement were ten yeais, and these had not run out, no charge would be levied, but that on. expiry some contribution would be required. So far as new sidings went, of cours? there would be an immediate charge. Frdm a railway point of view thefr multiplication was objectionable, they involving both danger and large expense. The existence of sidings already involved the use of something like 8.000 waggons, as against half thafcrnumber in Victdm, whilst the mileage in the latter colony exceeded that of New Zea r, land.

Defection of Another Government Supporter. Capt. Luther to-day wrote to the Premier, unreservedly withdrawing his support from the Government party. This step, _it is believed, is in consequence of the action of Government delaying the publication of cablegrams, re the East and West Coast Railway. "j ! Wellington,' August 13". ,As> wili,be seen by the report' of the House "proceedings in Committee on the Forests Bill the, railway clause was thrown 'out; you^wij^ remember that even before the bilkwas circulated, I wired that .thoantrb, fluotiontoJUuch principles into the bill was intended* but that ft was, regaled, .^merely t»s a device to catch the votes of the North Auckland members, Some thought it was

I to sweeten s^y Djirgayijle railway. Bay, ofi:lelant|p-^ailTO,^^ the^b^fc of this , Ministerial ibjandisjiflije^b., .|]ro$ o the Btart the (]^er^o|prppl^M,wilh t sincerity of, Jptentiqn ve^t^g^p.Ghnap,. •BOL,tb.a>it,goji# unhono^r/^andj unsung."* t -<:.;., « n <j', t-orrVv; Vi" l wtlt.jeilijbe, r^colfocted tha^epny % in, the. session a petition, was recsves;~fr6ro T^B. Hgnnaford^mafrimonial Agent,, Auckland, askinct-tfor^Bome -recognition, pr hjs ser'vi'pes in obtaining.! wives ,T})e Petitions Committee reported,(tb.e(y had no recommendation/to, mak^on the ><i, Among ijhje, petitions presented yesterday was. one fropouW. 4; "Graham ■thousand ot^rs, consisting qf mayora^of. boroughs, , chairmen,, of , coun.tie.fi, ,rpad -boards, aiiol, • oth,er, (i, representatives',"of commerce, \ signing , in,,, their, repres.en^ta tive .capacities^, alsp,r,of^ members, .of those bodies and.,SettlersC,generally ,^ll over the cplony, praying that,a Commission may be, for,',thp purpose, of inquiring,, into, the.g^eral oft reform in the, management, of New Zealand railways, and' more particularly to examine report'upon,, the' scheme of railway .management proposed by Mr Samuel • Vaile,,. and also -upon any „other scheme .which may (be brought under'the notice of the Commission. tit' Sir Julius ydgel's supp^mentary Finan-, cial Statement ,to be^ delivered this evening is looked, forward to, .with considerable curiosity < The Government purpose enter-, ing upon consideration of the estimates immediately afterwards. ..'/,'

The New Financial Proposals.—lncrease of the Property Tax. , All sorts 1 of guesses are being hazarded as to what will be the nature of Sir Julius Vogel's financial proposals. Ministers informed me at noon that the matter was not then definitely settled. I fancy, < however, the statement will include a proposal to increase the property tax to one penny, and a large reduction of the ex penditure in an unexpected direction. The property tax will be. levied on the new valuation, and in view of the depreciation of values in the South* it is feared that the source of revenue will not produce as much as it did under last valu ation ; that is, unless, if for the purposes,of keeping mortgages right, an inflated and false value is given by Southern land owners. ;

Tne Land Bill. The Waste Lands Committee having examined A. C. Begg and P. McKenzie finally passed the Land Bill to-day. Mr Ballance's hew clause, having reference to the Education reserves being handed to the Crown for administration was retained on a division by seven votes to three. Messrs Fulton, Lake, and P. B. VVhyte voted with the minority. ' Mr Macandrew was absent. The qneation of the disposition of revenue was deferred till the bill is before the House. ■ Later. The political kaleidoscope Ins undergone no change during the last forty-eight hour's, nor will the Opposition make any move till Major Atkinson's return, which is expected on Friday. Mr Bryce was urged to give notice of a hostile motion again yesterday, but he steadfastly declined to take any action till the Taianaki Major had' been consulted. So far, nothing definite .is settled as to who shall propose a "noconfidence resolution," but, assuming the r6le which I have already adopted—that ,of a " tipster"—l shall plump for Ormond as the "most fit" when the time for action arrives. The Opposition anticipated that the resignation of Ministers would ;be announced when the House met yesterday, but no such startling news was forthcoming. I learned this from a very well-informed member of the Atkinson party, who, in answer to my inquiry as to the position of the Opposition move, which was shortly expected, wrote : " I am not at liberty' to, tell you anything just yet, but if anything definite turns up, will advise you. We were all expecting that Mr Stout would have; announced the resignation of the Government at 2.30, as we had pretty good authority for supposing that the Government, had decided on that course." Pursuing my inquiries, I ascertained that the relations of Ministers had been more strained of late than they have been at any period since their occupation of the Ministerial benches, and this coldness led to the supposition that resignation' ,was contemplated. It is now thought that the Government (following the course pursued by the Gladstone Ministry two months ago) will court defeat, they being fully aware that some adverse action is contemplated at no distant date. ,

Opposition Claim a Majority of Seven, j An Auckland member,who was shown the Opposition card at 1 a m., says it shows a majority of six or eeven. The Government. whips during last evening wore in close I communication with Sir Julius Vogel, 1 arid more than once I have noticed him poring over his card.

Later.—Tbe Key to the Position. The following is said to be the key to the v present situation : The Atkinson believe that the disgust of the House at Sir Julius Vogel is so great that they, would rather have a purely Atkinson Government than the present Ministry. Acting under this belief, they haye been putting, off the attack till the last- moment. It appears, however, that they reckoned Without their host, 'as many of the free lances of the House were still| prepared to support the Government in preference to placing the Continuous, Ministry on the benches. Messrs Kolleston and Bryce are said to have been( the cause of this wholly 'Atkinson movement., They have found, however, that Government can' count on 47 supporters as agaipst •'Major Atkinson, and the game, can't be played. Major Atkinson has been sent for, post haste, and the coalition attack, the plan of Which I revealed laat week, will probably now go on. - The names mentioned as likely to be most acceptable to ,the majority of the House in the new .Government, are .Messrs Montgomery, Mitchelson, Ormond, and Htirsthouse, with McLean, in the Upper House. The "New Zealand-Times" of'to-day, repeats the story of the intended resignation of Ministers. lam desired authoritatively to give the report a most emphatic contra* diction.