POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2380, 11 October 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

[I'.Y TEI.EUUAI’II. —OWN (A>UUESI'(INUE.N‘T.] Presenting the Speaker. Wei.i.inuton - , Saturday. Tin: newly-alectrd Speaker, Sir <l. M. () Ibakc, was duly presented to His Fxcllcncy tiie Governor at Government II m -e by Ids proposer and seconder, -Messrs .1. 1). Lance and W. F. Pearson, M.11.11. s, respectively. His Excellency having received Hie notification of Sir ((. .M. O’llorke’s appointiueut by the House was pleased to express bis approval thereof, and cordially congratulated Sir .Maurice O'llorke on Ids re-election to the high office. Monday. Sir John Hall leaves this week for Sydney, where his daughter lies extremely ill. Sir It. Stout left for the South to day by the Rotoinahaua, accompanied by Lady Stout and family. Previous to his departure he was presented with a memorial from fill members of the late (loverument partyThe new Ministers took up their positions to-day in the ('loverument offices, occupying the same rooms, with the exception of Sir J. Vogel’s, as those used by their predecessors. The vacant portfolios were the chief source of curiosity to-day. The Hon. C. 0. Stevens had an interview with the Premier this morning, and it was at first announced that he. had consented to accept the position offered, subject to his private affairs pot being interfered with by his so doing. Later on it was stated that he declined the Colonial Secretaryship, bat was willing to join the (loverument without a portfolio, and this, in fact, is (lie case with Sir F. Whitaker, who has also consented to join without a portfolio. Mr MitcheFon has not yet been sworn in, and the. three gentlemen last named will bo inducted into office together.

The Addicss-in-ltoply will bo proceeded with on Wednesday. L.vmt. The opinion is steadily gaining ground in the Lobbies that the Atkinson (lovernment will be able to bold its own for the session, but everything now hears on the nature of Ins financial proposals. Major Atkinson denies the reports that have been circulated as to his being able to effect a reduction to the extent of £.‘100,000, but he promises that the retrenchment proposals shall be of a most thorough goingcharacter, and also that no fresh taxation will be proposed till every reasonable reduction in the public expenditure shall be tried, there is no doubt but nearly every member returned to the present House is pledged tu a v igurous retrenchment policy, but the fact remains that whatever Ministry carries out such a policy will haveto incur a large amount of odium and unpopularity. That being the ease, there is a strong feeling that the present Ministry should be allowed considerable latitude in bringing down their proposals. As I have previously stated, the Government will not introduce any policy Bills this session, but will direct ail their efforts towards effecting the necessary economy, in order to restore the credit of the colony in England, and to bring our expenditure within oar present income. It is freely stated that the Native Department is to be abolished, and large reductions are to be made in the I’nblic Works and other Departments. To give some idea of the feeling entertained by the House on the subject, I may state that one of the Southern members stated at the caucus last week that “ the priming knife must be applied in the most reinorselessandcold-blooded manner," Sir F. Whitaker will probably take the portfolio of Attorney-General, and conduct the Government business in the Council. It is understood that Mr Mitcholson has only accepted the portfolio of Minister fur Public Works, till the end of the session, owing to his business requiring closer attention from him. The Press on the Ministry. The New Zealand Times’ criticism of the new Government is decidedly favourable, it says that the selection of colleagues made by Major .Atkinson appears to be generally approved among the members of the House, and to be regarded as possessingelcments of strength and stability. It also considers Major Atkinson now has such a chance as he l;ad ijever had before having the entire colony at his back m) the main question of retrenchment, which he has made his battle cry, and that if he continues to play Ids

cards as w-d as lie ha.' d-ate bek-it.i dm.mg till- crisis, his prospects ~f appear to 1 > ? very favourable. Jhe IV-t thinks tbv pr nt c nubia iti-n is scarcely to be r«2..n!-! a- a <■ . Hi; sati-factory, or v.uy sti.aw • n-. It is It) -bj-cti-ii; mi in my gr-mid-. ani contains seven, I element- ■ i w-.k,.—. Ti, I’ress say>, “ Major Atkoi-.n |. t-.k. u advantage ~f Uie r.-.--. , j :i alhiaed him by tlha th-'ii 1-ad. r, t k-ti.., i, 1 j. -> ..,,*,l. nifiit in <".<! m t in ikir,thn was ,-r ventured nji-'ii ill tin- c-■'•inti-y. Hhas placed .a -■.-i a up .n the loyalty ..f hi- paity. but w ,. me cmiiid -nl tl.-v v.i;; i.. ; .r it n ..1,]..-. < >ii the v. i; >!•• „••• -li.ili ,y the n-ve Mini-try witt '. ,y ;; their men. wh.-th-r in • , j,, a.in,ini-. traLii■n. May tii..y wnitiiily hear the hmflens )if me .State, and minfullv yrapp 1 .- With the f.nini-!.ab!e t.,-k they have und-i----taken."