POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 335, 1 September 1898, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(BY TBLEGRAPII—SPECIAL COUUESPONDKNT)

Wellington, Last Night

PARLIAMENTARY RE TURNS. The Premier caused some amusement last night by selecting a large number of returns from the drawers of the Committee table, and piliug them on each other till they looked quite a formidable heap. When he had finished his task he exclaimed quite audibly, " And yet they say they get no returns." It might be interesting to state the most important returns asked for by the Opposition members have up to the present been steadily refused by Ministers so much so that it is quite a common thing nowadays to hear members asking the Premier " Why a certain return is refused." The rule is that if motions for returns are not reached within a forthnight they are struck off the Order Paper, and notice has to be given afresh, so that it can be easily seen how important, but inconvenient returns can be refused by Ministers till the dying hours of the session, when there is no possible chance of discussing them. Many of the, returns furnished up to the present are quite unimportant in character, 42 being to the order of Government supporters and '25 asked for by Opposition members. ILLUSTRATING lIANSARD. I understand that Sir M. O'Rorke will take the chair to-morrow, having recovered from his late indisposition The general impression is tint Sir Maurice will steadfastly resist any proposal to insert the "gridiron "map in Hansard, and if this is correct the Minister for Lands will have to forego his expressed intention of illustrating this periodical in such an objectionable manner. MR TAYLOR'S SERVICES. A meeting was held last night in the Parliamentary Buildings, when it was decided to present Mr T. E. Taylor, the member for Christchurch, with a testimonial in recognition of his labours on the Police Commission and his other services to the cause ot good Government generally. It in proposed that the testimonial shall tike the form of a presentation and addrc-ss, to be given at a public meeting in two or three weeks time. The intention is not to confine the movement to Wellington, but to invite the cooperation of all parts ot the colony and of all classes, regardless of party polities or temperance sympathies. JOTTINGS. The Minister for Lands is still absent from the House, and "he was to-day reported to be suffering from an acute kidney disease. There is a strong probability that there will be no change in the editorial chair of the New Zealand Times which has lately seemed pretty imminent. Oapfc. Russell this afternoon told the House that the Government, with a great affectation of valour, were in reality as timid as a frightened hare, ind

they had not the pluck to introduce any Bill on which they could not count on a majority of votes.