PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH.-SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2195, 3 August 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH.-SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

The Loan Proposals.— A Government Defeat. Wbm.inoton, Saturday. The defeat sustained by Ministers on their proposal to restore tho £175,000 to the Loan Bill which had previously been struck out, is the most e\citmg subject of comersation in tho Lobbies to-d.iy, and the general verdict of both supporters and Opponent)* of the Ministry in that they richly deserved their defeat for committing such a flagrant breach of faith with the House as they did out the business. During the previous dobato tho Premier distinctly stated that if the schedule to tho Loan Bill were reduced it would mean a real reduction, and that if any votes were struck off the million and a-half loan, tho amount struck off would bo saved the colony. Further, Sir Robert Stout challenged the House to show their desire for economy by striking out some of tho votes on the schedule. Yet, in the face of this direct statement a proposal was brought down last night to add £175,000 to the Rchedule, leaving it open for Ministers to spend it as they pleased. .During tho discussion the Premier flatly denied that he had used the words attributed to him by Major Atkinson, although there was abundant testimony that he had made the statement. Major Atkinson, in an excited speech, said that the proposal to restore the vote of £175,000 to the schedule without allocation was a distinct breach of faith on the Premier's part. He added that, Sir Kobert had broken hia word and lost hiss good name, which it would take a long time to recover. The proceedings after thin 1 became very animated, several members supporting Major Atkinson's assertion as to what the , Premier had said. Mr Hursthouse also emphatically stated that the Premier had promised that clause 3 of loan of the Bill should be altered to conform with the amount to which the schedule was reduced. When the division was called for, Ministeralists evidently scented defeat, and a vigorous whipping up was commenced. One of tho whips kept an anxious- eye on a certain North Island member, who seemed doubtful which lobby to go into, but the energetic whip eventually succeeded in making his vote "straight." It was also noticeable that one of the Maori members (Hakuene) was anxiously watched by the whips, but he calmly walked into the Opposition Lobby and recorded his vote, for the first time this session, against Ministers. Several staunch supporters of the Government also, such as Mr Donald Reid, Mr Samuel, and Mr Downie Stewart, absolutely refused to follow Ministers who had adopted such unworthy tactics, and all three voted with the Opposition, thereby putting the Government in a minority of two, when only two nights previously they had a majority of thirteen. Sir Julius Vogel was excessively angry at the result of the division, and petulantly remarked that it would result disastrously to next year's finance. Major Atkinson asked the Treasurer to explain how it would do so. Sir Julius .said it would contract the expenditure unless another loan were raised next year, or tho North Island loan were used. This latter threat was instantly ro»ented by M.ijor Atkinson, who said In* would take particular care when the Bill was in committee that the Treasurer would not. bo allowed to appropriate the North Inland Iw.in foi geneial purpose*. It has al>o had the effect of rousing the indignation of the Ministerial suppoiteis in the Ninth Island, who ate now anxious to tiy conclusions with tho. Government ovci it. Sir .Julm-.' discomfitmo may be easily understood when it is lomombeivd that ho t>ld Mr Bryce emphatically on Wednesday night] that the Government would have a million and a half, and no les.s. Tho House has shown how much weight they put upon this declaiation by reducing tho loan by £17-">,000. It is considered now that Sir Julius has virtually admitted that hi-, linancial calculations are all wrong by asseitmg last night that the i eduction, of Jt'l7-">,000 uuuld fronously interfere with next yoai'.s operations, and futthoi that Major Atkinson has lieen perfectly right ovci tint disputed t'SOO,OOO, winch Sir Julius insisted wasavaiablo for expenditure, lut which tho M.ijor said never existed. It is hinted tint still another effoit will be made by Ministers to got the t'IP.OOO placed on the schedule by stating the works which are intended to be constructed (which was the caiiso of .ill the opposition last night), but they are hardly likely to risk it unles.s they arc. sure* of succor, The Opposition are. of opinion that were it not for tho lateness of tho session, Minister would have it difficult lob to keep their scats, so strong is the feeling growing against thorn. All thioo papers. «iro unanimous in condemning the action of tho Government last night. Tho Post is paiticulaily Voveio for a Government organ. It says it has " never known a more unwise or improper proposal submitted to the Legislature than Sir Julius', except the scramble given for money by Mr Gisborno at the initiation of tho Public Works policy. The House would have shown itself utterly unworthy of public confidence had it voted the t't7.">,oUo, as requested for unspecified railways in tho Middle Island." It goes on to say that the Government tried really to play the " confidence trick*' with the House, but the Houie is far too astute to be cajoled into trusting the Government with £17.">,000 to go forth with over the Middle Island to look out where it could be spent to the best advantage.

Mr Whyte on the Government. During the discussion on the Loan Bill, last night, a good point was made by Mr Whyte, member for Waikato, when he said that the reduction in the Loan Bill would ba used by Ministers during the rece&s, in the same manner as Captain Russell's motion was constantly trotted out since last session. Mr Whyte's prophecy is almost certain to be fulfilled, judging by the tone adopted by the Trea.xiirer after the reduction was carried.

Trouble Brewing. Monday. It is reported that further trouble is in store for Ministers over the Loan Bill, and that a wiy dissatisfied feeling prevails in tho Ministerial r.mks in consequence of the wretched bungle the Government have cominittrd o\ei tlie wchelule. Even the Miniiten.il journal tu-nisrht admits that there are mhih» locks ahead for the Mmiv tiy, and s,^ tli.t th"y .should strain every ner\e to bring the session to an early close. Everything tint is not uigontly necessary should, tho Post thinks, be abandoned, for the House is getting into a nasty tempei. If they can't "send members home within the next t<Mi day-, their seats on the Trea&uvy benches will not be worth a fortnight's purchase. There has been such a want of taste displayed within the last week or two, such almost unpardonable bungling culminating in Friday's defeat that even the best friends of the Ministry find it difficult to s.iy any in defence of their recent actions, while the wavenrs show a growing disposition to go openly over to the other hide. The recent division list is full of warning, and it only wants- another such division to lead to aciisis, even at this late period of the session. No one is p,n ticularly anxious to bring such an event about, and if the Ministry will confine themselves now to the completion of absolutely necessary works and entertaining supplies, thoy will dp safe, but not otherwise The Premier wan unable to tike this seit m tho House to-day, owing to a sl.ght <ittick of gout. It is whispered by so.ne irreMnnt people in the lobbies that Sir R. Stout's absence from the House is not owing so much to indisposition as to a serious difference he had with Sir J. Vogel on Saturday. Rumour further has it that Sir J. Vogel insists on bringing up again in the House the t'175,000 struck off the Loan Bill, so as to endeavour to get it passed by the Hou«e in some other form, but that the Premier absolutely refused to .sanction it, and something like an open rupture took place in the Cabinet room. I send you the rumour for what it is worth, but as the third reading of the Loan Bill is expected to be reached to-night, it will be seen whether the counsels of the Premier or Treasmer prevailed in tho Cabinet. A ministerial statement is expected to bo made to-morrow if the Premier is able to be present.

The Innocents. There are still no less than fifty bills in various stages upon the Order Paper, but as about 20 of these belong to pi ivate members they will be ruthlessly sacrificed. Several ( invevnment bills of more or less importance will also have to go by the board if the session is to close next week as expected.

Poison is laid on the Lake pioperty for do^s. Mr 1. H. H.nwt'll, l.mi.iherc, invites tenders for stumping .md ploughing. The engineer of the Waipa County Council advertises for tenders up to August 9th, for grading, repairing 1 , &c. A nswaid is t»ffered for the lecovery of a black and grey hoise by Mr Marshall,