POLITICAL NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2038, 30 July 1885, Page 2

POLITICAL NEWS.

[Br TKLKCJRAPH.— SPECIAL CORRKSPONDKKT.] A Sinking Ship. Wklmnoton, Monday. The defections from the Ministry arc incroasing daily. Tho latrst soceder is Capt. Sutter, nicmbei for Gladstone, who, I undoiatand, has written to the Prnniier, stating that lm alli^iance is not to he rock<;ncd on for the East .mrl West Coast Railway scheme. Tho Premier replied rugmttuiK the circninstanccs and ntitin^ th.it tho jiroposal would ho greatly modified before bcinß submitted to the Honse. 1 hear also that Mr Buckl.md, the member for Waikouaiti, has formally withdi.wvn nis support fiom tin 1 (Joveinment, ho that at present Minister arc declared to be in a considerable minoiity.

The Railway Job. A caucus of C.intoibuiy mnmhers was held this morning to consider the best means of seeming the passing of the E.ist and West (Jn.ist liiilw.iy resolution. After a, long discussion it was proposed that the whole question should bo referred to a Select Committee to report upon. The actual decision of the c.uicus has been kept pretty quiet, but it is generally undei stood that they will lccoinincnd such a course to Ministers. Should this be the case, and the- Government ask the House to consent, tho Opposition will refuso to sanction the matter beinpr referred to a committe, and thin may precipitate a crisis Booner than was anticipated.

Looking for a Remedy. Strong efforts are being made to bring about a coalition between Mr Ortnond and Major Atkinson, and it is generally rumoured that such a union will take place a* tho only possible solution of tho present difficulty.

The Premier and Dunedin. The Premier's reply to thoPunedm Chamber of Comir cren with regard to the resolutions passed by that body yesterday, is to tho following effect. — "Ha\e received your telegrams. As to the '.Frisco Service, the Houso in connnittee passed tho resolution on Friday, and were the deshe of tho chamber given effect to I doubt if there would be any service. As to the resolution with respect to the East and West Coast Railway, unless the chamber in to be transformed into a political nociety, I doubt of such a question comes within its sphere. If it desires to acquit itself of political bias in the future, it will wait for the Government proposals before proceeding to condemn what it believes them to be." Wellington, Wednesday.

The Government and the Railway. The outcome of the various Cabinet meetings and caucuses that have been held for the last few days on the East and West Coast Railway question resulted, as I have previously hinted, in a determination on the part of the Government to move for a Select Committee this afternoon to report on the whole question. There is no doubt that by adopting this course Ministcis have for the pre-ent avoided a crushing defeat, notwithstanding the stories that have been put about that they were gradually obtaining a nujorty in favour of their proposiK It is by no means certain, however, th.vt the Hoii'-o will sanction the appointment of a committee. The Opposition intend resisting it to the utmost, and the chances aro that when Sir J. Vogel moves foi the committee on Tuesday, a stormy deluto will take place ovei the whole business. Vanons liinionrs arc afloat as to the intentions of Government in the matter, one of which is th.it Nelson will bestmck out of the schemo altogether, which would make a difference of about a million of money m the .sum requned for the construction of the r.ulw.iy. Against this it is .illepod that by cutting Nelson out of the programme Min isteis will incur the undying hostility of tin* members for Nelson l)i>tiictata tune when they c.mnot well afford to lose a vote. Howover, the proposal to refer the vexed c-uestion to .1 committeo will relievo them of an immense lesponsibility in cveiy respect. The fact of M.ijor Atkinson's name being on the committc has occasioned some comment It is well known that tho le.idcr of the Opposition is in favour of the construction ot tho lino, but not of course on such terms a.n proposed by the Treasurer. The M.nor further thinks that the line will be a distmbing element in the politics ot the conntiy for some tune to come, as is tho ca«o of the Ot.igo central, but he is decidedly opposed to Sir Tulius Vogel's method of consti notion by putting hiicli an ennunous bin den on the countiy as his proposals would undoubtedly inflict.

The Savings Bank Bill .Sir J. Voxel's Sa\ ing's B.mk Act Amendment Bill doe-* not «i)>ply to Postofhee Savings B.mks. It piovidcs that tlio tiuitees of any sa\ing*> bank may lend one-thud of its deposits on sccnriries of local bodies but does not authorise the trustees of any savings bmk to make .any investment under this act, which together with any other investment of the deposits in such savings bank shall in the aggregate exceed 11-lOths of the total deposits therein. Local bodies are not to pay a higher rate of interest than they may bo authorised by l.iw .

The Railway Job's Supporters. Mr (Jarrick thin afternoon presented a petition nigned by 69.">4 residents of Christchurch, prayincr for tho construction of the East and West Coast Railwny.

Opposition to Sir Julius. A strong fueling is growing in the House against allowing Sir J. Vogel to continue in office during the recess, the idea being that he would be likely to commit the colony to mune coolly 'scheme which it might be difficult to escape fiom It is pointed out of coin so that the sanction of Parliament would ha\e to be obtained befoio any undertaking on a large scale could be initiated, but there i«> htill a well grounded fear in the minds of many members that something in tins dnettmn would lesult, wliich the colony would be bound to cairy through. I hem to-night that sexei.il (lovernment supporters will vote for th« coiuiiiittuti .isked f<u by the Ministiy, wh > would otherwise voto afriinst the pro poi.tlx foi tin conit ruction of the railway, their reason l>»»mvj tl.at the c»mmitteo will probably recommend reasonable proposal*, wliich the House "ill be able to accept.