POLITICAL NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH.-SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1912, 7 October 1884, Page 2

POLITICAL NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH.-SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Supply. Wellington, Monday Night. The House got into Committee of Supply, to-night, without much opposition being raised. Mr Macandrew rose to intercept the motion for going into Supply, by moving a resolution which had been on the Order Paper for nearly a month past, with reference to the desirability of a reduction being made on the postage for English letters. He said that if a penny pobtage were established all over the world the postal revenue would not suffer, as the number of letters despatched with a smaller postage would be enormously increased. Sir Julius Vogel, in reply to the motion, advised Mr Macandrew to withdraw it for the present, as it was quite posMbie the Government would shortly make other postal proposals to the House, with the view of taking advantage of the direct steamers now trading between Great Britain and the colonies. The motion was then withdrawn, and the Estimates were proceeded with.

The Vacant Portfolio. It is understood that the Government have abandoned the project of asking the House to sanction the appointment of .in eighth Minister to the Cabinet, which w.is shadowed forth early in the session ;n> one of their proposals. They will merely fill up the vacant portfolio of Lands and Mines, by conferring it on one of the Auckland member? if possible.

Members' Railway Passes. Mr J. G. Wilson is evidently detprniin >d to put a stop to the abuse of niombov-i' railway passes. With this object in vie v, he has. a motion on the paper that niciul)"i s' railway passes shall only bo available fn.m the week before to ono week after the s -v sion. The motion, of course, h,is not 1101 10 slightest chance of being carried, as in" übers are always exceedingly jealous "f ,imv interference with their own privileges, .i ul invariably negative a pioposition ot tLib nature.

Sir J. Voxel's Health. I understand Sir J. Vogel has definit ly decided to visit the Waiwera Hot Spun, s after the close of the session. Hi> is still confined to his wheeled chan, and his fe3t continue very much swollen, cuismg him at times gre.it physical pain and inoonvenienco.

The Sinking Fund. Mr Dargaville intends to move, wh <n opportunity offers, "That it is not expedient th.it the Consolidated 'Revenue of t'le colony should any longer be burdened wi«h the large payments heietofoie unduly ni.i le for the ]mi poses of a ho-Ciilled Sinki i£ Fund, except so far as such payments aie requiied by Uw to be made."