POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1652, 27 October 1887, Page 3

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

The Wellington correspondent of the Press telegraphed on Tuesday :—*»'; I hear on pretty good authority that the proposals to be submitted to the House are such as will most thoroughly teat the sincerity o£ the general clamour for retrenchment. It is believed by experienced judges that notwithstanding the difficulties and disadvantages with which the Government have to contend, they will carry their proposals in their main features, and that they will hold their ground for this session at all events.

It is almost certain that the G-o----rernment will bring down proposals for a new loan, and it ia said on the beßt authority, that they cannot carry on otherwise.

3 he report is current in best in- J formed circles, that the estimated expenditure in each of the Depart-1 ments has been exceeded, and it is asserted that in the Native Department expenditure exceeds the amount voted by the large sum of £99,000. The correspondent of the Lyttelton Times telegraphed on the Bame day:— As to the Ministerial policy, forecasts are of course to be had here for the asking, from everybody except those likely to be in the secret. Ministers and officials hold their tongues resolutely. Amongst outsiders, the older hands predict a statement of the most melancholy and alarmist character, surpassing in gloom everything the Colony has seen since the famous " Blue Euin" Statement of 1879. The Major will just stop short of predicting repudiation, but will lay the utmost possible stress upon our various difficulties,—a falling revenue, depressed markets, an enormous defieit, and an extravagant system of

administration. He will show that he is £400,000 short of what is immediately required, and will propose to carry on temporarily by the aid of Treasury hills. Retrenchment to the extent of £300,000 will also be proposed; but the Ministry will avoid standing or falling by any details. An all round increase of the ad valorem duties to 20 per cent will be recommended on purely revenue grounds, and thus an attempt will be made to conciliate Protectionists without utterly disgusting Freetraders; and any further increase of revenue will | be got out of the Property Tax, by frightening the landowners into consenting to submit thereto under the threat that otherwise the Colony's credit in London will be utterly ruined. Such retrenchments as will be proposed will be arranged to fall as lightly on Wellington as possible, the Empire City being saved at the expense of local self-government in the outlying Provinces. The taxation asked for will be less or more, according as the House accepts or rejects the retrenchment proposals. The Treasury bills will be paid off by loan at a future date. No radical change in the land ia»«>: w\\ be t**©<l *i»io session.

Such are the expectations of experienced men here. You may take them for what they are worth.