PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3896, 24 June 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By. Telegraph.]

(fkom our special cobbespondent.)

Wellington, This day. Previous to the drbate upon Mr Murray's notice of motion, the Treasurer (Major Atkinson) intimated that after making the Financial Statement the Government would give an expression of its views on the subject of local selfgovernment. The impression made on the House was that Ministers rather shirked from facing Murray's questions. Mr Murray, however, moved his reao-

lutions in a capital speech, and was loudlyapplauded. : Mr Ormond seconded, admitting at the outset that he was embarrassed by Major Atkinson's tactics. He considered local self-government the question of the day, and did not think that any legislation could satisfactorily be proceeded with until that was settled, tie believed it underlay all questions. Existing municipalities, he thought, should not bo interfered with, but he attacked the relationship between the Councils and Road Boards, more especially in regard to reckless expenditure of ratepayers' money in litigation between such bodies. He considered the first step towards local self-government was decentralisation in the form of doing away with the direction of local affairs from Wellington. He considered the County system had proved unworkable, and the term " County" was an ignoble one. He believed the new self-governing districts should be as large as possible, compatible with the community of interests. Mr Ormond finished by strongly advising the Ministers to pass a Redistribution of Seats Bill and go into the country as quickly as possible. The remainder of the evening was wasted over Murray's Drainage Bill and the Licensing Bill in Committee.

The impression is daily strengthening that the latter will be ultimately abandoned.