POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 352, 11 October 1898, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(by telegraph - SPECIAL cobkespondent) Wellington, Last Night. A STORMY WEEK.

It is generally expected that the present week will be one of the stormiest of the session, especially it the Police and Defence Estimates come on to-morrow night. The report of the Police Commission is certain to be discussed at great length when thofe estimates are before the House, and some plain truths are bound to be uttered during the discussion. The report of the Public Petitions Committee on the Wrigg case is also certain to provoke an angry debate as a very strong feeling has been awakened over the whole business. The Auckland Herald, which has published most of the correspondence on the subject, says that it constitutes one of the most scandalous revelations ever made in the prblic life of New Zealand. The East Coast Native Land Bill will also meet with strong opposition from a section of the House, as well as the Native Land Laws Amendment Bill, and other measures, which tha Premier says must be considered by the House this session. A CANTERBURY GRIEVANCE.

The Canterbury members feel much aggrieved over the proposal of the Government with respect to the public works expenditure for the p-esent year. Mr Scddon, replying to the deputation this morning, said that, although the deputation had disclaimed any such intention, the request of the Canterbury members introduced questions of policy. Eor instance, what they said was that they did not want any extra expenditure for Canterbury, but they objected to the consolidated revenue collected from Canterbury being spent on public works in other parts of the colony. This involved the question of the works being constructed out of consolidated revenue or loan money, The days of provincialism and parochialism had gone, and they must view the position from a general standpoint. He claimed, also, that on the principle laid down by the Canterbury members the unsettled parts of the country would never be settled at all, owing to their having no population or trade, and that the expenditure made in Canterbury in the past, such for instance as the railway expenditure, could not have been made, as the whole colony and not the provincial districts had to bear the cost.