PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5146, 15 July 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegbaph.] (from ottb own correspondent.)

Wellington, Last night. The debate on the second reading of the Local Bodies Finance and Powers Bill is a very hollow affair so far, the speeches of the leader of the House being so lame as to make an inexplicable situation still more inexplicable. Most people are becoming to think there is something underlying the whole situation, and an extract from the Evening Press pretty correctly interprets public opinion here; it is as follows:—" Sir Julius Vogel no longer sees any prospect of compassing his objects, at least while he is encumbered by his present colleagues. Mr Stout, on the other hand, equally despairs of compassing his objects while he is associated with Sir J. Vogel, whose objects are very far from being identical with his. It thus came about that the Ministry could no longer hold together, and it was agreed, or at all events tacitly allowed, that a crisis should be precipiated which would disintegrate the Ministry without altogether dissolving the party. The extreme moderation and self control of the Opposition have somewhat baulked and delayed that plan, but both are still in progress, and it is conjectured that no business to speak of will be done in Parliament until they are achieved. It appears to be a question of disposing of Sir J. Vogel on terms satisfactory to himself. Mr Stout owes, his Premership under providence to Sir J. Vogel, and others of the Ministry and party owe many things to him, so they cannot basely desert him after getting all they can out of him. Their present difficulty is to get rid of him by giving him what he wants, and until that difficulty is solved, the political deadlock will continue." In these few words there is plenty of food for reflection for those who are able to read between the lines.

Sir G. Grey to-day presented a petition from 2000 residents, praying for the imposition of a Land Tax.

Sir George Grey has a great scheme afoot for bursting up the big estates, and relieving the existing depression. He proposes that large blocks of land in the hands of private owners shall be taken by Government, whether the owners 'like it or not, at a valuation, and cut them up into small farms, leased under the perpetual lease Bystem. These blocks are to be paid for by the Government in £50 debentures, bearing interest at slightly above batik rates, and the lessees of the small farms are to pay rent just sufficient to re pay debentures and accruing interest.

This day. The recent allusions by Sir Julius Vogel to the distributions under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act have probably been the cause of the following motions, notice of which was given by Mr Beetham yesterday:—For a return showing the^ expenditure incurred by Government in carrying out the provisions of the Roads and Bridges Construction Act; the return to show separately the expenses under the main road and district road provisions. For a return showing separately the amounts applied for and paid to local bodies under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882, up to the 30th June, 1885.

The San Francisco Mail Service is to come up for discussion next week.

Sir Julius Vogel has given notice to move on Tuesday that that this House go into Committee of Supply to consider the following resolutions, viz.:—That the Government be requested to arrange for a fresh Mail Service between Auckland and San Francisco for five years at a cost not evceeding £30,000 per annum. The debate last night was flat, stale, and unprofitable, without a single redeeniTnj* feature, and devoid of all interest; a thin house all the evening. To day is private members' day, and not much of general iuterest is to be anticipated. I told you notne days ago that during the recent crisis Mr Stout wanted to resign, and in talking over the situation last night with a prominent member of the House, it came out that the Ministry as a whole, even including Sir Julius Vogel, were anxious to resign, and would have done so had it not been for the pressure brought to bear on them by their supporters. I. have ascertained it as a fact, that an hour before the conference between Government and their supporters took place a few days ago, Government had expressed their intention of resigning, and my telegram despatched at that moment, and stating Government would resign, was practically correct; for if it had not been for the pressure referred to, the resignation would certainly have taken place that afternoon.