PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5177, 20 August 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegraph.] (from oub own cob respondent.) Wellington, Last night. The Post to night states that Mr Ormond's reason for withdrawing from moving the no-confidence motion, was because the Opposition party refused to allow him to exercise his own discretion aa to choosing his colleagues in a new Ministry in the event of success. I have enquired into the matter, and am now able to give you the facts of the matter so far as Mr Ormond is concerned. There is great misconception as to the ground of his position in respect to the proposed want-of confidence motion. He never agreed to move such a motion ; it was proposed to him on Saturday that he should move it, when he replied that he would consider the matter, and give a definite answer next day. After careful j consideration, he satisfied himself that he could not carry the motion, and so informed those who had asked him to do so. They agreed with him, and the idea of his moving the motion was then abandoned. You will see, therefore, that he never was in the position of having consented to move the motion, and consequently had no necessity to withdraw. I may add that in the opinion of the leaders of the Opposition it was advisable, and is still advisable, to have the Public Works Policy and Statement before determining upou any action in the matter. The noconfidence motion is still talked about, and the Opposition say they intend to move one after the Public Works proposals are brought down, but it seems to he very doubtful now if the motion will be meved at all.

The rumor that Mr Montgomery had been disposed of by an offer of the Agent* Generalship has been authoritatively denied.

This day. There are fresh rumors of a NoConfidence motion. This is not the same old No»Confidence, but a new one, the idea of which, it is said, has arisen out of the Land policy of the Government, as exposed in the Land Bill now before the House.

I understand that the Government have decided to issue free passes on the railways to Civil Servants in other parts of the colony, and grant a week's holiday to such as desire to visit the Wellington Exhibition.