POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1646, 13 October 1887, Page 3

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

It is understood that several important amalgamations of departments and portfolios will bo proposed by the new Government, including the absorption of the Native Office into another one, and that the work of retrenchment will be initiated by cutting down Ministerial salaries- -that of the Premier by £IOO (reducing from £1760 to £1250) a-d others by £250 (from £1250 to £1000; also that members honorariums shall be decieased from £2lO to - £l5O for M.H.R.’a, and £lO5 for M.L.C.’s. A no-confidence motion is already talked of. It is rumored that at the end of the session Mr Fisher will take the portfolio of Colonial Tresaurer. Mr Fisher’s ap- . pointment is not all relished by the other -Wellington members, it being considered , j that Mr Beetham had gr* iter claims. The defence force is likely to suffer .severely. It is said arrangements will be made by which Sir Geo. Whitmore will return to his seat in the Legislative Council, and will still retain control of the force, but without nay, and hio salary of £IOOO will thus be saved. Sir George says that it the permanent force are discharged damage to the extent of fully £IOO,OOO will be caused in »ix months to new material now fitted up, which re- ■ quires constant attention, besides further loss that would accrue from the loss to the colony of the services of men for whoso training so much has already been expended. Mr Mitchelson, Mr Stevens, and Sir Frederick Whitaker were sworn in on Tuesday, the last named as AttorneyGeneral. The Press Association is officially informed that a large meeting of the Opposition and Independent members was held in one of the committee rooms immediately on the adjournment of the House. The conclusion arrived at was that if the Premier’s proposal relative to an adjournment were given effect to there would be no chance of getting any local or private business through the House this session. Mr Mitchelson, it is understood, is at ' liberty to retire at the end of the session, or at any time he may deem it desirable, and Sir F. Whitaker may possibly be able '.to hold the portfolio of Attorney-General , only until the end of the session. ■<The Government are now preparing a Bill reducing the number of Ministers to , five, limiting the Governor’s salary and .allowances to £SOOO, reducing the Premier’s salary to £SOO, and other Ministers by £350, and limiting travelling expenses ■to the actual amount speot or to a guinea a day. They are also preparing a Bill dealing with the electoral law, and providing that every man shall register his owh vote. ' A rumor was current that the Government wire to bring down some proposals , ih favor of modified protection, hut this ' has been denied.