PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3918, 20 July 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Teleobaph.] (fuom ovb special correspondent.) Wellington, This day. Mr Ormond's notice of amendment on the Crown and Native Lands Eating Bill has been accepted by the Government in the light of a direct want of confidence motion, and it is understood that if carried, Ministers will ask for dissolution, and if granted, appeal to the country. It is rumoured that an attempt will be made in view of the possibility of the premature dissolution to bring about a repeal of the Triennial Parliaments Bill. The withdrawal of Mr Sheehan's motion for the repeal of abolition of Provinces Act, without his having made any attempt to make a stand on it as anticipated, is causing much comment, some going so far as to say that it was merely done at the instigation of the Government to divert attention from Sir George Grey's Local Government Measure. Mr Sheehan, however, both publicly and privately, strongly denies he is acting in collusion with any one, and asserts he will yet divide the House on the question in another form. Much unfavorable comment is being made on the fact that the Estimates are not ready yet. An attempt was made last night to elicit from the Government when the Redistribution of Seats Bill will be ready, but they made no sign The business of the House generally is getting into a disorganised and unsatisfactory condition. ihe majority on Mr Otmond's want'of confidence motion is variously estimated at five to twelve, but both sides will manoeuvre for an early division. If beaten, as it seems inevitable, Ministers will resign, throwing on Mr Ormond the responsibility of forming a new Ministry, on the belief that he will be unable to do so.. Mr Ormond, however, holds a very strong hand. Shrimski's Pension Bill provides that from and after the passing of the Act do pens\oa, swpaTa.trtv\x&,uoT\, ot o\\iev awwwaiV a//owance, shall be granted or paid to aay person retiring from the public service of New Zealand, except under its provisions; that no peusiou or allowance shall be paid without the knowledge of the General Assembly ; that no pension or allowance be paid unless, and until a proposal shall have been notified to the Assembly in Parliament assembled ; that until a report on the pi'oposed pension or allowance be placed before the General Assembly, no action shall be taken to grant such pension or allowance until the end of the session on whioh such report is presented. The House may, during the session on which such report is presented, forbid the granting of any such pension or allowance. Persons on receipt of a pension on re-entering the public service shall receive a salary less the amount of their pension; that from the date of the passing of the Act no person who shall become entitled to any pensions, superannuation, or retiring allowancs, payable out of the Colonial lievenue shall be eligible to sit in the General Assembly of New Zealand.