PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4921, 17 October 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegkaph.]

(fhom ottb own cobbespondknt.)

Wellington, Last night

To-morrow will be a very heavy day, Government policy Bills in Committee and the report of the Committee on the North Island Railway claiming the attention of the House.

The anomalous position of Major AtkinsoQ having excited considerable comment, in that he is in uo sense performing the duties of a leader of the Opposition, and is allowing Mr Bryce to lead, has caused members on the Opposition side of the House to meet frequently this .week in solemn eouclaye. They have in no way asked for an explanation from the Major, but the matter has been discussed at their several meetings. Inventive correspondents have made a good deal of capital out of these meetings, but there is really nothing in them that was not known very much earlier in the session The Opposition .long ago decided that there should be no organised opposition this session, and Major Atkinson,, who urges that he requires that political rest he has for so many ye^rs preached about, does not therefore consider it his duty to raise his ?oice against tba policy bills of the Government, but is willing to relegate Ills duties as chief of the Opposition to an able lieutenant in Mr Bryce. Maj >r Atkinson's followers appear to be perfectly satisfied with his conduct, but it would be difficult to suggest in what way they could explain why he either votes with the Government in their policy bills, or walks out of the House, which is almost tantamount to the same thing. Sir George Grey, who, as he says himself, supports the Government, is the only recognised leader of the House who has sufficient courage to perform what he considers fair in denouncing the borrowing proposals of the Government and their syndicates, whereby large tracts of land arc (o be for ever taken from the hands of the people of the colony. Not that it is likely any great good will come of Sir George Grey's protests, for the Government have a large majority who seem determined to grab all they can for their particular districts, and to keep in office a Ministry that allows them so to grab the property of the colony. Mr Fergus made a capital speech last night, as did also Sir G, Grey, and the former's ridicule of Mr Ptout e.s the great exponent of the principles of Land Nationalisation, while he was r party to handing over the land of the' colony—which, according to those principles, is the property of the peopleto a company, was a splendid hit, and was received amidst applause,,

This day. It la whispered that a Legislate Councillor, hailing from the land of mists and joys away South, is indignant because his liquor supply at Bellamy's has been slopped by order of the House Committee, and be

"wants to know, you know," by what right this has been done.

Yesterday, in the Legislative Council, upon a Councillor rising to ask a question, the Colonial Secretary took the extraordinary course of calling the Speaker's attention to the presence of strangers in the gallery, and visitors, reporters, and officials, left the chamber, and the doors were locked for abont ten minutes; when admission was a^ain given the Council was solemnly delibara'ing over a measure sent to them from the other chamber, so that nothing is known as to what transpired in the ia terim ; but people are wondering whether their is aay connection between the two main facts herein related.

Sir Geo Grey has, upon the defeat < f the Gold Duty Abolition Bill in the Legis lative Council, prepared a modified measure to be introduced to day, by which 'he duty on gold is sought to be abolished gradually, by a shilling redm «■ tion the first year, and another reduction the second year.

The Government Policy Bills in Coca tr.ittee still occupy the premier place on the order paper.