POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 41, 13 October 1896, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(BY I'ELKCinArU.— SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, Last Night. THE PREMIER'S TACTICS. A stka.ngk rumour is afloat in politieal circles here, to the effect that the Premier is really anxious for defeat in the coming elections, with the view of getting rid of the cares of ollioe for a few years. The report appears to lie gradually gaing ground, and even some members of Mr Seddon's own party consider it not at all improbable that the Premier shrinks from facing the inevitable consequence of an empty treasury, caused by the reckless administration and with the certain prospect of having to ask for another loan to enable him to carry on next year. It is also perfectly evident that Mr .Seddon's health is far from robust, and one can scarcely wonder at this when it is remembered that he has virtually to " run the whole show," as one member not inaptly termed it. There is no disguising the fact that the Premier's new colleagues are of little use to him in debate, especially as compared with such able speakers as Mr W. P. Reeves and Mr Ward. Mr McKen/.ie occasionally takes a turn to relieve the Premier, but he generally conHues his attention to questions of land administration, so that Mr Seddon has frequently to tight the whole House almost unaided. .Some people consider that the result of the elections will at the best give the Government only a very small majority, and one hears it stated pretty freely that if this should be the case that the majority will speedily be converted into a minority, for the Opposition party, I understand, are working quietly but very earnestly in view of the coming campaign, and it is quite on the cards that a complete surprise may eventuate after the contest is over. BANKING LEGISLATION. There is still no appearance of the Bank Bill, although it was promised for to-day. It would appear as if there was some serious hitch over the Bill, and the impression is that the Premier wants to go further than his followers approve of. One of the most consistent of the (!overnment supporters who feels very strongly on the matter declares that, if he stands alone in the House he will stonewall any proposal to go behind the Supremo Court and allow the Colonial Hank shareholders to liquidate. Mr G. W. Russell this afternoon insisted that the Premier purposely provoke 1 discussion on the Native Land Bill in order that he and his colleagues might meet in the Cabinet room to arrange the terms of the Bank Bill. Mr Seddon told the House to-day that although Ministers had devoted alt their attention to the Bill it was not yet ready, and, further, the evidence taken at the Banking enquiry had not yet been printed, notwithstanding that the hands at the printing oflice had been working even yesterday on it. The evidence he hoped to lay before members this afternoon, but it was useless to think of discussing the report to-day. He therefore proposed to go on with ordinary business to-day and to take the debate on the Bill and the report altogether. THE MINING BILL. Much opposition was shown by members representing country electorates to the confiscating and prospecting clauses of this Bill. The Bill when first introduced gave the Minister at his own sweet will the power to resume In ml acquired prior to IST.'I for mining purposes, thus taking away from freeholders a right they possess at the present time. Under the circumstances it is not to he wondered that the members whose eonstitutents would be so seriously affected should res st such a proposal, and had it not been that Ministers made many concessions the Bill would never have passed. There remains a very strong feeling, however, that a bad precedent had been established, and although the Mill has been altered so as to make it apply to land within gold mining districts only, nobody can tell when it may lie extended to districts that arc not now included in the present gold mining districts. Further, the Uill in the lirst instance intended to give compensation for surface damage only, tin word " surface " has now been struck out and " all " inserted in its plue\ It must be evident to fanners that even with this alteration much damage may be caused by prospectors and their dogs roaming all over their firms, of such a nature that it would be impossible for them to prove actual damage. There can be no doubt, that legislation of this kind causes much uneasiness in the mind of settlers, for when they see the Government taking away from them rights that they now possess they naturally wonder what they will do next. JOTTINGS. Mr Ward told the caucus on Saturday that he was not likely to meet the party in caucus again for some considerable time, from whicli it was inferred that the ex-Treasurer does not intend standing for re-election. The Minister for Lands and Mr Geo. Hutchison have made up their quarrel. Mr Hutchison made the first advance by holding out his hand to Mr Mclveuzie after the final sitting of the Ban king Committee, and as the Minister accepted it in the spirit in which it was offered, this puts an end to a disagreeable episode .