POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2326, 7 June 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

[P,Y TELEGRAPH.—SPJiCJAL REPORTE.II.I The Calm after the Storm. Wellington, Saturday. The Lobbies were particularly quiet today, and especially after the exciting events of the last week or two. It appears now thorn was a strong probability that a sudden prorogation would have taken place without- passing the Representation Bill into law, if a compromise had not been effected between Major Atkinson and the Government, but fortunately for the interests of the North Island the Bill is now safe from all intrigues and opposition, The Commissioners appointed under the Bill have been sent for, and they are expected in Wellington in a few days, when they will at once commence their labours. The course of procedure will be that within one month from the date of assent to the Bill the Commissioners are to divide the colony into 01 electoral districts, each containing within 750 persons, either way, of the quota'of population which is to be arrived at by adding a nominal 18 per cent, to the actual population in each district; except boroughs containing over 2,000 inhabitants, and then dividing the total number of inhabitants including the nominal addition, but excluding majoritos, by ill. The last census returns are to be taken as the basis of population. Within thirty days after the boundaries are gazetted the new electoral rolls are to be completed for each new district from the existing rolls, and each district is to be deemed to have been constituted six months prior to date. This is necessary to enable electors at the poll to declare that they have registered six months in the district as well as to enable new applications for registration to be received under the new Act. The quota will probably bo slightly over 7000 inhabitants for each electorate.

Those Village Settlements

It is qnite likely that another warm debato will result on Monday from the votes for special settlement inaugurated by the Minister! of Lands, and Mr ISallance will no doubt have a bad hour or two over the whole business. It i.s considered on all sides a most astounding proceeding for any minister to commit the colony to such an enormous expense as £03.000 on a purely experimental scheme without the slightest authority from Parliament. It is also pointed out that Mr JJallance's action in this respect, taking the proportion of population per head into account, in equivalent to a Cabinet Minister in England spending two millions and a-half of money without the sanction of Parliament. The House will have to vote the money to keep faith with the people put on the land, but I imagine Mr Ballance will receive a strong hint that the (lovernmenb will not tolerate any more of his

special settlement scheme if the colony has to pay the piper anything like the same extent as it is called upon to do. Cabinet Changes. Notwithstanding the direct contradiction given to tlic statement that Mr Larnach was to take over the working railways from Mr' Richardson. I have good reason to believe that such a change is about to be made very shortly, but for some reason or other the matter is not considered quite ripe enough to be stated in an authoritative manner. Legislative Council Banquet. The Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, Speaker of the Legislative Council, entertained about 50 members of that body to dinner to-night in the Council Chamber. The only other invitations of outside the Council were Sir M. O'Rorke, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Major Campbell, clerk of the Bouse, and Mr Friend, assistant-clerk Interprovincial Jealousy. The old feolint' of antagonism between Auckland and Wellington is unniistakeably shown by the following question, which Mr W. F. istickland, member for Franklin North, intends to ask the Government: — Whether, in view of the earnestly-expressed desire of the House for economy they will postpone the rc-eiection <>f the Post-office buildings at Wellington, lately destroyed by fire, until next session of Parliament, and will, in the meantime, ascertain what is the saleable value of the land, and whether arrangements can be made for securing less pretentions premises at less cost. Monday. The Representation Question. The passing of the Representation Bill is a great triumph for the Opposition party considering all the ad verse interests that had to be contended with. Some of the Government supporters are furious at the Bill having passed at all, and it is now well known that if by any chance the Bill had again been forced into committee it would have never come out this session, so determined .was the opposition, to it, even at the last moment. Major Atkinson's resolution however, suggesting that the amendments should come from the Government, effectively prevented' any stone-walling members could in such an event speak once onlyon the amendments. I have good authority for stating that both

Sir Julius Vogel and the Minister for Public Works were striving bard to get tbc elections put oft' until October or' November, and Sir Julius' six months recess, instead of three or four months, which has now been forced on Ministers by the Opposition. Ministerial Policy. I understand that one of the chief points on which Ministers expect to secure the approval of the electors in the coming contest is their progressive property tax proposal. The Opposition, on the other hand, assert that after all Sir J. Vogel's promises that the country should progress by 'leaps and bounds," under his administration the Government have really nothing to go to the country on except the proposition of levy, £500,000 in extra taxation on the people, which will scarcely rind much favour in the present condition of alfairs here, especially when brought down by a Liberal Ministery. Stumping the Country. The electors of the colony are likely to be treated to a perfect flood of Parliamentary eloquence during the next month or two. I have informed you that the three leading members of the 'Cabinet intend stumping the country, Sir R. Stout and Mr Ballance looking after the North Island, while it is understood Sir J. Vogel will direct his attention to Canterbury. I hear also that Sir George Grey, if his health permit*, will follow up the different Ministers and denounce their perpetual leasing policy and general administration. Major Atkinson and Mr Rolleston, too, will probably visit several constituencies outside their own districts, so that the public mind will be fully educated up to the present position of the colony. The Kecent Elections. If the elections recently held are any criterion of the verdict of the country upon the Ministerial policy, it would appear that the chances of the Government coming back with a majority are very slender. For instance, Mr Monk, a strong Oppositionist, was returned for Waitetuata, and Mr Mills, the newlyelected member for Port Chalmers, voted against Ministers on the no-confidence motion. The most recent instance, however, of the loss of Ministerial influence is afforded by the Avon election. In that election, which was held in the very centre of Sir J. Vogel's stronghold, Mr Blake, a Government supporter, only won the contest by a majority of three votes over his opponent, who is classed as an anti-Ministerialist. The two new Maori members also, Kutoneand Taipua, notwithstanding having been invited to partake of Mr Ballance's hospitality at the Ministerial residence, are determined opponents of the Government, and _ vote steadily against them on every occasion. To pursue the subject a little further, it is reported that Mr Fraser, the new member for Te Aro, who was returned as a Government supporter, is by no moans enamoured of the policy of Ministers in its entirety. Representation of Marsden. I understand that Mr Mitchelson, the present member for Marsden, has definitely decided to stand for re-election, having, no deubt, yielded to the wishes of his party, with whom he is deservedly popular. Mr Mitchelson has also the reputation of being au extremely good lobbyist, although he takes no part whatever in the debates of the House. Expense of the Hall Prosecution. The return ordered by the House, showing the cost of the Hall prosecution has not yet been prepared, but the Minister for Justice states that the cost of the two prosecutions and of the inquest on the late Captain Cain amounts to nearly £3000. Te Aro Seat, It is reported here that Mr Walter Johnston, who formerly held the portfolio of Minister for Public Works in the AtkinsonBryce Ministry, intends opposing Mr Fraser for Te Aro. The name of Mr John Duthie is also mentioned as a likely candidate. The Prorogation. Ministers are of opinion, that owiug to the amount of business necessary to be transacted before the House rises, the prorogation will not take place till Thursday at the earliest. Wellington South. It is rumoured that Sir J. Vogel intends to oppose Mr George Fisher for Wellington South at the coming election. Mr Fisher's speeches against the Premier and Colonial Treasurer have been probably the most bitter of the present session. Village SettlementsThe return of Village Settlements laid on the table of the House to-night, shows the number of sections proclaimed to be 2215 ; the number of sections taken up, 11S0 ; advances made on account of buildings £1315 ; advances made on account of bush falling, etc, £950; liabilities on account of land taken up, £02,820. The names and salaries of the officers employed at the village settlements are:-C. H. J. Hill,. Auckland, £270; A. K. Mackay, Hawke's Bay and Wellington, £275; J. P. March, Canterbury, £425; Colin Allan, Dunedin, £325; A.'W. Sidcote, £50; H. P. Kavanagh, Auckland, 15s per day ; P. Pairburne, G. Menzics and 11. Lundius, also of Auckland, 10s each.