POLITICAL NOTES

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2480, 2 June 1888, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington', Friday. OPPOSITION 0 AUG US. The Opposition held a meeting this morning to consider the attitude that should be adopted by the party generally on the proposals of the Government. Thirty-six members were present, Mr Lance presiding. It in understood that a resolution was arrived at to ask the Premier to abstain from moving his resolution regarding the Customs Duty Bill that the measure take precenca of all other business forthwith. The grounds for this was that the comparative statement had not been circulated, and lion, members had so been unable to gauge the effect of the tariff resolutions as regards increased revenue or economy. The understanding was come to that under no circumstances would the party agree to discuss the financial proposals to-day. Nothing was settled as to any concerted action or otherwise by the party, who, on the whole, indicated a, desire to support the tariff as it stood with a slight modification. MR ORMOND'S RESOLUTION. The resolutions given notice of by the member for Napier, this afternoon, created quite a little flutter of excitement, and one of the liveliest debates of the session resulted over them. Mr Seddon in his r jlo of Opposition leader, which he is apparently determined to maintain, taunted the Premier with not at once moving the adjournment of the Houso on what he called a motion of No - confidence and other Opposition members spoke in the same strain alleging that it was a most unconstitutional proceeding for the Government to accept such a motion from a private member of the House like Mr Ormond. Sir G. Grey also said he should like to have some explanation of what had passed between the Premier and the member for Napier. The Opposition assert that the whole thing has been arranged between the Premier and the member for Napier, in order to create a diversion over the Budget proposals. They also express their intention of voting against the three resolutions, although many of them are favourable to raising the school age and against increased tea duty. PROSPECTS OF THE LOAN, Tlio Premier stated in the House that he had received a cablegram from the AgentGeneral to the effect that the figures in the Financial Statement are likely to have the best possible effect in furthering the raising of the loan on most favourable terms. THE FREE TRADE PARTY. Messrs Bruce, Wilson and Macarthur have written to the Premier, expressing regret at not being able to continue their support to a Government which had deliberately adopted a protective policy. Several other Government supporters have made a similar intimation, amongst them Messrs Allen, Brown, Anderson, Mills, Williy, Mackenzie (Clutha), Marchant, Rhodes, Beetham and Buchanan. In consequence r »f theso defections it was reported this morning that the position of the Government was an exceedingly critical one, but the rest of the Ministerial party appear to have no anxiety as to a change of Government being imminent, so that the probabilities are that if a direct vote of No-Confidence were brought down by the Opposition it would receive little support from even the most extreme 1 reetraders in the House. MR PYKE'S BILL. Mr Goldie has presented a largely signed petition from the northern of the colony, protesting against the passing of the Roman Catholic Schools Bill as impolitic. STRANGERS.

The galleries of the House were closed to-night almost immediately after the House resumed, both to Press representatives and the general public. The cause of this unusual proceeding was that a motion came on for discussion at half-past seven as to whether last night's debate on the repeal of the Contagious Disease Act should be reported in Hansard,and when the question came on to-night Sir G. Grey strongly protested against the motion to suppress the debate. His attention was called to the fact that there were ladies in the gallery, upon which about fifty ladies at once rose and quitted their seats. Sir John Hall then drew attention to the fact that there were strangers in the gallery, and moved that they be excluded. The House resented this, and Mr Fitchett called for a division, but it was carried by a considerable majority, upon which the Speaker gavo orders to have all the galleries cleared. The amusing part of the whole business is that the debate on the same subject lasted nearly two hours last night, while the galleries were open to the public, the only difference being that all the ladies who were present loft their gallery before the discussion commenced.

THE OPPOSITION. As an example of the remarkable unanimaty which prevails in the Opposition camp I may state that when Mr Lance said he had been requested toask that the debate be adjourned the member for Kumara_ disclaimed Mr Lance's leadership and said he was not authorised to do so by the Opposition. The debate was however adjourned till Tuesday, and the House rose shortly afterwards. THE SECEDERS. I have the assurance of one of the leading Freetraders who have temporarily severed their connection with the Government over tho tariff proposals, that although they cannot support Ministers in what they consider an unjust and oppressive tariff, they are certainly not in opposi tion, and the plain statement of Mr Seddon this afternoon, that he should be only too glad to join in turning out the Government on the first opportunity, has sounded a warning note to the dissenters which will make them somewhat careful of being made use of by the Opposition.