POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 339, 10 September 1898, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(BY TKLEG RATH - SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT) Wellington, Last Night. AN OPPOSITION VICTORY. Thebk is not the slightest doubt that the Opposition have scored a victory over the stonewall business, and they have virtually obtained from the Premier all that they contended for I may state that they demanded in the first instance that the Public Works Statement and Estimates should be brought down much earlier in the session than had hitherto been the case. The Premier, however, refused to bring them down until the Consolidated Estimates wore disposed of and the Loan Bill passed. The Opposition declined to discuss the Estimates under such conditions, and the Premier has now promised that the Public Works Estimates shall be brought down unconditional/// on or before the 27th., that date was conceded by the Opposition on the Premier's assurance that owing to the illness of the Minister for Lands it was impossible for Mr McKenzie to bring his Departmental estimates down earlier. The Opposition further demanded an early date for the consideration of the Public Works Estimates, so as to prevent a repetition of the scandal that has taken place for the last two years, when they were forced at the end of the session to pass large items of expenditure in one night. This has also been granted by the Premier. In addition, the Opposition asked for explanations of the contingent and miscellaneous items, amounting to about £144,000. They were at first told that it was impossible to supply this information, but it is p-omised. The Opposition also that a return should be furnished of the miscellaneous expenditure of the past year, or, iu other words, a detailed account of the expenditure that was unaccounted fur. This was to have been withheld, but it lias now been promised as soon after the 27th September as it can be prepared, and that date has been accepted only on the Premier's assurance that it was physically impossible to prepare the return sooner. It may be added that the Opposition were practically told they would have to pass the Estimates because they were ordered to do so. They refused, and the consequence is that the demands they formulated have now been granted in writing by the Premier.